Lookbook: Hottest Spring Footwear at City Soles

Tue, Mar 2, 2010

I was lucky enough to visit City Soles recently to view their latest spring footwear collection. Oh. My. Gosh. That about sums it up. These shoes were so adorable, it was difficult for me to restrain myself. Especially since I LOVE shoes.

City Soles is on the pulse of some of the hottest trends in footwear this season, which are: neutrals (which I mentioned last week in my Spring Trends article), wooden clog-inspired wedges and heels, and muted metallics. Embellishments (studs, zippers, etc.) are still in as well (thank goodness because we know how I love embellishments – the zip up snake skin wedge on the right is my favorite!).

If you are unfamiliar with City Soles, their main location is in Bucktown at the main crossroads of North, Milwaukee, and Damen. Who visits City Soles and why go there? Well City Soles’ main focus is exclusivity and individuality. As Jesse, one of the shoe consultants, appropriately puts it: they carry “unique daywear.” You won’t find dressy shoes here. What you will find are functional styles for both men and women that you won’t see everywhere. Everything in the store hovers around $250-$350 per pair. They only carry 2 of each size, so if you like what you see in this article, be sure to pay them a visit at one of their 2 locations or call at 773-489-2001. Otherwise, they’ll be gone before you know it, especially if you have a common size like me. (I wear 8.5-9′s, and sadly always seem to encounter shoes being sold out.)

The below shoes are hot sellers right now. These lace up, shiny ballerina flats are even cuter in person, and the blush pink ballerina flat by Cavage was recently featured in People StyleWatch.

City Soles’ main clientele are shoe-lovers who want unique, high quality shoes they can wear on a regular basis. Thus it’s no reason why many New Yorkers frequent the shoe boutique on vacation or routine visits. Another reason is service, which is a rarity overall these days. The atmosphere itself is warm and inviting…lots of plush couches and chairs…it almost looks like someone’s cozy, modern apartment. Everyone was greeted welcomingly – no “elitist” attitude here – you really felt the staff wanted to help you find a fabulous pair of shoes made just for you. And fabulous they are…take a look at some of these sandals for spring (perfect for spring break!)

They also carry accessories such as handbags, belts, and jewelry by local Chicago designers. Again even the accessories have a unique twist. The below handbags are all by Cynthia Vincent. I really love the metallic one on the left…it’s very soft and roomy inside so you can fit a ton of stuff and still be stylish.

Here’s just a sample of some locally designed finds: If you are looking to make a statement, Dollybird’s obsidian pendant is a gorgeous, yet practical option. You could wear it for an evening out or even at the office with a white button down top or plain sweater. Lana Williams specializes knit creations, such as this weaved, ultra-soft metallic evening bag. Aja Engel incorporates texture and asymmetrical design into her latest collection of metal cuff bracelets, earrings, and rings like the two finger ring below (Thanks Kate for modeling!). Finally, you can see how ancient and modern inspiration come into play in Rachel Zemans‘ copper galaxy dangle earrings.