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Saks via Luxist
Saks via Luxist

Thirteen of Chicago's Greatest Spots for Shoe Shopping

By Jared Hatch
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Saks via Luxist
By Jared Hatch

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When it comes to finding the right pair of shoes for the right occasion, the shopping options in Chicago can be daunting. From trodding the city streets on hot summer days to a wild night out on the town, there is a pair that's right for you--but where to find that store? Precisely why we've listed thirteen great stores with a great selection in several areas of the city ranging from The Gold Coast's newest red soled paradise to a cozy Roscoe Village shop heavy into European brands.


· All Shoe Week 2013 Coverage [Racked] Read More

1. Click Shoes and More

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3729 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 244-9141
(773) 244-9141
Visit Website
In Roscoe Village just a few doors away from the Music Box, this is the kind of shop for an after-brunch impulse purchase. The selection in this cozy neighborhood gem is sensible and stylish for everyday wear. Prices are between $50 and $200.

2. a pied

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2037 W. Roscoe
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 281-2210
(773) 281-2210
Just a fantastic little boutique up in Roscoe Village with great taste. Brands include hard-to-find Spanish line Hispanitas, Corso Como, Jeffery Campbell, La Canadienne, and Mjus are positioned around the store, waiting for your feet. The staff approachable, talkative and calm. Prices range from the $50 bracket to the $300 bracket.

3. Belmont Army

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855 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 549-1038
(773) 549-1038
Visit Website
Lakeview staple for the punk rockers and all the hipsters before the great migration to Wicker Park. Now in a new building down the block from their old creeky Red Line adjacent space the boot and shoe floor sells a shit-ton of brands from all across the board. It's worth a trip.

4. Hanig's Slipper Box

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2754 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-1977
(773) 248-1977
Visit Website
With five Chicago stores, Hanigs power to bring European brands to the city outweighs nearly every other independent owned shoe store. The focus here are comfortable brands that still have style. Think Camper, Birkenstock, La Canadienne, Thierry, Audley London, and Hunter among many, many others.

5. Lori's Shoes

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824 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-5655
(773) 281-5655
Visit Website
Lori's has been a Chicago staple for over 30 years bringing Chicago women hundreds of styles of heels, flats and boots. Brands include Bernie Mev, Jeffrey Campbell, Dolce Vita and DV, Corso Como, Steve Madden, Vince Camuto and more.

6. City Soles

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2001 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-2001
(773) 489-2001
Located in the most convenient location possible, City Soles, connected to Niche is another one of those fall boots gold mines. Think low cut trendy American and powerful European knee highs.

7. AKIRA Bucktown Footwear

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1849 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-8684
(773) 342-8684
The base of the Akira brand has always been footwear, and starting here on North Ave out of this tiny shop, the company has in 10 years expanded to a national presence. Brands include Jeffrey Campbell, Melissa, Dolce Vita, Senso, Sam Edelman and like, a million more.

8. Christian Louboutin

Copy Link
58 E Oak Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-337-8200
312-337-8200
Visit Website
Chicago’s only freestanding boutique for the brand is tucked in a jewel box storefront in the newly converted Esquire Theater. It's a 1,700 square foot mirror maze on two levels. The signature red and variation of materials are used throughout the design. Shop high heels with spikes, googley eyes, metallic anything and patent pumps. Men, don't worry--you're not left out either--shoes for you are on level two.

9. Bloomingdale's

Copy Link
900 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-4460
(312) 440-4460
Visit Website
Remodeled and expanded (nearly double of the original size) the Bloomingdale's shoe department has now moved to the third floor as the new beacon of hope for the mall that is attached after it's other anchor tenant, Mark Shale declared bankruptcy last year. New brands to add to the store's roster are new brands including Christian Dior, Giuseppe Zanotti, Chloe, Sigerson Morrison, Superga, and Nike.

10. Saks Fifth Avenue

Copy Link
717 North Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 944-6500
(312) 944-6500
Visit Website
Remodeled in late 2011, and feted by a shoe signing by Brian Atwood, the 10022 Shoe Salon at Saks, taking its name from the zip code has every brand that you'd find at the New York original.

11. Neiman Marcus

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737 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 642-5900
(312) 642-5900
Visit Website
Nominated for a 2012 Racked Award and about to undergo one of the most major remodels a Michigan Ave department store has ever seen, Neiman's is holding steady with a ton of fall boots. The nice part about the shoe sections here is that we get not just super high end showy boots, but utilitarian styles made of top-quality material. Brands range from Ugg and Hunter to Valentino and Salvatore Ferragamo.

12. DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse

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35 S State St
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 629-5386
(312) 629-5386
Visit Website
Smack dab in the middle of the Loop, right next to the soon-to-be-open CityTarget, is the newest DSW in the city. Shop a two-level 25,000 square foot paradise of 'that new shoe smell'. This location, compared to other locations sells an enormous number of styles at 32,000 pairs.

13. Florodora

Copy Link
330 S Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60604
Visit Website
Celebrating 6 years this year, owner Michael Blossom and his team of scandalous ladies areresponsible for bringing The Loop some of the most comfortable, wearable, and accessible shoes around. This season shop peep-toe espadrilles from Coclico, official business wingtip pumps from Chie Mihara and sexy kitten heels from Gidigio.

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1. Click Shoes and More

3729 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60613
In Roscoe Village just a few doors away from the Music Box, this is the kind of shop for an after-brunch impulse purchase. The selection in this cozy neighborhood gem is sensible and stylish for everyday wear. Prices are between $50 and $200.
3729 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 244-9141
Visit Website

2. a pied

2037 W. Roscoe, Chicago, IL 60618
Just a fantastic little boutique up in Roscoe Village with great taste. Brands include hard-to-find Spanish line Hispanitas, Corso Como, Jeffery Campbell, La Canadienne, and Mjus are positioned around the store, waiting for your feet. The staff approachable, talkative and calm. Prices range from the $50 bracket to the $300 bracket.
2037 W. Roscoe
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 281-2210

3. Belmont Army

855 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
Lakeview staple for the punk rockers and all the hipsters before the great migration to Wicker Park. Now in a new building down the block from their old creeky Red Line adjacent space the boot and shoe floor sells a shit-ton of brands from all across the board. It's worth a trip.
855 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 549-1038
Visit Website

4. Hanig's Slipper Box

2754 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614
With five Chicago stores, Hanigs power to bring European brands to the city outweighs nearly every other independent owned shoe store. The focus here are comfortable brands that still have style. Think Camper, Birkenstock, La Canadienne, Thierry, Audley London, and Hunter among many, many others.
2754 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-1977
Visit Website

5. Lori's Shoes

824 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
Lori's has been a Chicago staple for over 30 years bringing Chicago women hundreds of styles of heels, flats and boots. Brands include Bernie Mev, Jeffrey Campbell, Dolce Vita and DV, Corso Como, Steve Madden, Vince Camuto and more.
824 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-5655
Visit Website

6. City Soles

2001 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Located in the most convenient location possible, City Soles, connected to Niche is another one of those fall boots gold mines. Think low cut trendy American and powerful European knee highs.
2001 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-2001

7. AKIRA Bucktown Footwear

1849 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60622
The base of the Akira brand has always been footwear, and starting here on North Ave out of this tiny shop, the company has in 10 years expanded to a national presence. Brands include Jeffrey Campbell, Melissa, Dolce Vita, Senso, Sam Edelman and like, a million more.
1849 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-8684

8. Christian Louboutin

58 E Oak Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Chicago’s only freestanding boutique for the brand is tucked in a jewel box storefront in the newly converted Esquire Theater. It's a 1,700 square foot mirror maze on two levels. The signature red and variation of materials are used throughout the design. Shop high heels with spikes, googley eyes, metallic anything and patent pumps. Men, don't worry--you're not left out either--shoes for you are on level two.
58 E Oak Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-337-8200
Visit Website

9. Bloomingdale's

900 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Remodeled and expanded (nearly double of the original size) the Bloomingdale's shoe department has now moved to the third floor as the new beacon of hope for the mall that is attached after it's other anchor tenant, Mark Shale declared bankruptcy last year. New brands to add to the store's roster are new brands including Christian Dior, Giuseppe Zanotti, Chloe, Sigerson Morrison, Superga, and Nike.
900 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-4460
Visit Website

10. Saks Fifth Avenue

717 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
Remodeled in late 2011, and feted by a shoe signing by Brian Atwood, the 10022 Shoe Salon at Saks, taking its name from the zip code has every brand that you'd find at the New York original.
717 North Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 944-6500
Visit Website

11. Neiman Marcus

737 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Nominated for a 2012 Racked Award and about to undergo one of the most major remodels a Michigan Ave department store has ever seen, Neiman's is holding steady with a ton of fall boots. The nice part about the shoe sections here is that we get not just super high end showy boots, but utilitarian styles made of top-quality material. Brands range from Ugg and Hunter to Valentino and Salvatore Ferragamo.
737 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 642-5900
Visit Website

12. DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse

35 S State St, Chicago, IL 60602
Smack dab in the middle of the Loop, right next to the soon-to-be-open CityTarget, is the newest DSW in the city. Shop a two-level 25,000 square foot paradise of 'that new shoe smell'. This location, compared to other locations sells an enormous number of styles at 32,000 pairs.
35 S State St
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 629-5386
Visit Website

13. Florodora

330 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60604
Celebrating 6 years this year, owner Michael Blossom and his team of scandalous ladies areresponsible for bringing The Loop some of the most comfortable, wearable, and accessible shoes around. This season shop peep-toe espadrilles from Coclico, official business wingtip pumps from Chie Mihara and sexy kitten heels from Gidigio.
330 S Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60604
Visit Website