Most might accredit it to stereotype, but it seems a universal truth that woman love shoes. there are probably lots of well thought-out theories as to why this is, but i have a humble one of my own- shoes are equalizers. no matter what your body type, personal style, or age (to a certain extent), shoes can flatter and show off any woman's style equally well. you don't have to look like a supermodel to wear the shoes that are in-vogue, and you can wear a bold piece without the giant statement of a stand-out garment. a different shoe can change an outfit entirely, maximizing your wardrobe possibilities.
And in the Metro-Detroit area, the go-to place for shoes has got to be The Somerset Collection. It's not only (in my opinion) the mall with the greatest range of high-end to bargain stores in Southeast Michigan, it's also a shoe lovers haven.
The first place I always head when on the hunt for footwear are the farthest points East and West. At these far ends are the department stores Macy's and Nordstrom, respectively. Both offer large selections of every kind of shoe imaginable, and generally with some great deals lurking amongst the designer collections. No matter what season you're shopping in, a guarantee you that Macy's has some sort of mega shoe sale going on. Don't skip over the intimidating racks just because they're crowded with people and fairly unorganized- scour all the sizes for misplaced gems at a fraction of their original cost.
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| A few of the fearsome, awe-inspiring sale racks of Macy's shoe department |
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| Don't step on my blue suede shoes |
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| A more harmless incarnation of the stud trend, done in rhinstones |
On the other end of the spectrum are the specialty shoe stores. These can be a bit more expensive (despite having small promotions of their own now and again) but also have a more on-trend selection and require a lot less effort to shop in. Aldo is probably the most popular store in this category, though Steve Madden (which is conveniently located directly across from Aldo) is a close second. Both offer popular styles- from sky-high platforms and over-the-knee boots to flat boyish brogues and skimpy sandals- in various colors and materials. Prominent in my recent trip were jewel toned suedes and neutral patent leather. And studs! Everything was studded and spiked, which may seem like a really scary trend best left to goths, but it's actually surprisingly wearable when paired with more conservative or girly outfits. I personally like to look for studs with a neutral color, as opposed to the harshness of black, and for ones that are more pyradmid-shaped than full out dangerous.
Overall though, I cannot stress enough the amazing potential shoe shopping to be done at Somerset. Even most of their regular boutiques carry footwear in addition to clothing, and a dizzying array of options to choose from. Let's not forget the prices are pretty amazing to boot (pun somewhat intented.)
Well, you've probably had enough of my chatter for one post... but you're going to have to get used to it because my busy schedule has ruined my timing and now it's about to be raining posts! Until tomorrow, keep it classy :)
