A change of seasons signals a change of shoe styles. The cold front that blew into the city this weekend means it’s time to put away the flip-flops and do some serious shoe shopping. Tired of the mass market brands found in department stores, Woman Around Town scoped out some of the best small shoe emporiums in Manhattan in search of something better. Here are our five favorites.
Dolce Vita
Wearing affordable shoes doesn’t have to mean shopping at Payless. You will find majorly stylish-and moderately priced-footwear at this downtown staple. Shoes by Dolce Vita, which was founded a mere nine years ago, are sold in boutiques across the country, but this Lower East Side boutique is the only place where you’ll find the brand’s entire collection in one place. No matter what style you choose, from chic platforms like the Vienna (above, left) to comfy flats to over-the-knee boots, you’ll be hard pressed to find a style that tops $200.
Dolce Vita 149 Ludlow St, 212-529-2111
Tani
Shoe mavens will have good reason to browse for hours at this Upper West Side shop stocked with indie and lesser-known designer footwear. Tani actually has two New York locations, the chicer original location on West 72nd Street and the funkier Bonour a few blocks away on Broadway. Whichever spot you choose, there’s always a good mix of casual and trend-forward brands from fun Bensimon sneakers (left) to Rachel Comey heels. While the prices can run high for their well-made and unique footwear, don’t miss the phenomenal sale section, which you’ll usually find stocked with shoes costing as little as $40.
Tani 131 West 72nd St, 212-595-1338; Bonour 2020 Broadway, 212-873-4361
French Sole
While five-inch platforms are clearly the sexier option, every New York woman knows not to leave home without a trusty pair of flats tucked away in her purse for backup. At French Sole, ballet flats reign supreme and come in the form of classic leather, pointed toe and animal printed, making these flats not only the comfortable, but also the fashionable choice. Feeling overwhelmed about which pair to try in this tiny boutique that is literally stocked to the ceiling with different styles? You can’t go wrong with the classic suede Sloop style or the Chanel-esque Passports (left). With quilted leather and a capped toe, your Passports will have passers-by doing double takes.
French Sole 985 Lexington Ave, 212-737-2859; Outlet 976 Lexington Ave, 212-472-9200; French Sole Comfort 972 Lexington Ave, 212-472-9600.
Shoegasm
The (somewhat hokey) name doesn’t lie; this citywide mini-chain may take you to otherworldly places with its massive collection of on-trend footwear for both men and women. Don’t expect classic styles here; the shoes are trend-driven and rotated often so don’t hesitate when you find a shoe you love in your size because it may not be there tomorrow. Relax in one of the shabby chic couches to try on fall pieces like Chelsea Crew foldover booties (left), Franco Sarto equestrian-inspired knee high-boots or Sperry leopard print loafers. And don’t miss the killer seasonal sale section in the back.
Shoegasm 383 Broadway 212-925-3800; 71 Eighth Ave 212-691-2091; 20 West 23rd St 212-741-3288
Jeffrey
Other high-end department stores may outshine this Meatpacking District designer mecca in terms of size, but Jeffrey’s shoe department trumps Barneys and Saks in their carefully edited and extremely high-quality footwear. Deep discounts can run up to 80 percent come sale time, though don’t expect bargains here on a regular basis. While special edition top-siders in patent leather (left) may make you the envy of St. Barts in winter, prices can run up to $1,000 for a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps. Don’t let the price tags intimidate you; the sales staff is unpretentious and will patiently help you try on pair after pair of fabulously luxurious shoes until you find the perfect ones.
Jeffrey 449 West 14th Street, 212-206-1272.
