Shoes Galore
Men don’t understand why women need so many pairs of shoes. Shoes are an accessory for us, while they are more of just a serviceable item for men. Shoes are part of the overall look for the ladies, so women’s shoes come in many styles and heels, which they match to different outfits.
This season, the styles of shoes have really taken off in so many directions that you almost have to buy a whole new wardrobe of them. Animal prints are out there and patent leather in many colors is hot. Peep toes – remember those from the forties – are fun in all kinds of heel configurations. Ballerina flats are so comfy that they are taking over. Little “kitten heels” are another style you see around. Wedges are useful to go from casual to dressy, so you’ll see lots of them. Colors are popping – reds, greens and yellows are being shown in shoes along with lots of floral patterns.
Whew! Can you see, guys, why we need so many pairs? You can’t possibly wear your polka dot kitten heels with the same outfit with which you would wear the lime green ballerina flats. If it’s a day that you’re out walking, the wedgies might be comfy, but your feet wouldn’t be happy if you were sporting the ones with high heel peep toes – you’d save those for the day you were sitting in the office. And we haven’t even touched on the tie-up sport shoes here.
Thank goodness there are some shoe stores around town that can let you support your habit for very few bucks. At prices around $40, shoes become a disposable item. You can have fun and buy a wild print or canary yellow patent leather sandal this year and toss it away next year when the styles and colors change – and not feel guilty about it.
Strata, 4279 St. Jean Blvd. at Roger Pilon Blvd. Phone: 514-624-3629. Hours: Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m to 5 p.m Other locations: 1625B Daniel Johnson Blvd., Laval (450-978-0920); 8025 Taschereau Blvd. (450-462-9996). At $40 (tax included) or less, women are walking out of here with four or five pairs of shoes (sizes 5-11) at a time. They only feature this season’s hot styles, and you will find names here (Delicious, KGB, Shelly’s of London, Jessica Simpson, Totes and Guido Martinez purses) that are selling for double the price at trendy stores around town.
House of Shoes, Phone: 514-783-1727. Hours: by appointment. It’s hard to believe you can buy major name brand shoes – BCBG, Enzo Angiolini, Nine West, AK, Aerosoles, Franco Sarto, Nina Michael Kors, Diesel and Guess for $28-$40 including tax. This home-based business is open less than a year and is already booking shoe parties. They’re on the idea of the Tupperware ones, but you get to buy famous labeled shoes, and the person who organizes it earns “shoe dollars”. Of course, there isn’t everything in every size (6-10), but what there is, is a steal.
Chaussures X2B, 8484 Lacordaire Blvd. at Langelier Blvd. Phone: 514-324-2510. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s like a circus of colors when you walk in here and see the youthful shoes lined up. There are lots of ballerina flats, pointy high heels, desert boots, sneaks and flip flops in prices similar to Payless shoes. The purses have lots of bling (some by Guess and Betty Boop), and there’s belts and jewelry. Other location (mostly purses): 7144 St. Laurent Blvd.
Shoe Liquidation, 5643 Cote des Neiges Rd. at Cote Ste-Catherine Rd. Phone: 514-344-8894. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5p.m. The price for ladies’ (5-11) and men’s (7-12) shoes in this shop, which has been open for eleven years, are all in the $10-$70 range (tax included). Since it’s mostly clearances, you never know what brands will be there or in which sizes you’ll find each style. You could come across: Nine West, Rockport, Clark’s, Stonefly, Soft Spots, Ferra Giacomo, Steve Madden, Sacha of London or Franco Sarto.