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[title]A Pied The motto of this Roscoe Village shop is “we carry shoes so beautiful that you’ll want to wear them forever, and so well-made that you actually can.” But the ambience of the space is just as nice. French rugs and countertops made from reclaimed wood lend a European vibe, while the footwear (including lines such as Taryn by Taryn Rose, Biviel, Hispanitas, La Canadienne, All Black and Jeffrey Campbell) is lovingly displayed on antique ladders and old-school trunks. 2037 W Roscoe St (773-281-2210, apiedshoeboutique.blogspot.com).Mon–Fri 11am–7pm; Sat 11am–6pm; Sun noon–5pm.
Aberle This small, posh Lincoln Park boutique is known for its well-edited collection. Look for sandals, boots and pumps by stylish brands such as Cynthia Vincent, Joie, Loeffler Randall and more. But it’s not all fancy footwear here: The shop also stocks a nice selection of handbags and jewelry. 1101 W Webster Ave (773-477-1101). Mon–Fri 11am–7pm; Sat 10am–6pm; Sun noon–5pm.
Akira Footwear Whatever the current shoe trend, you’ll find it at this Chicago empire. The selection runs the gamut from cheap/moderate (Jeffrey Campbell, Steve Madden) to moderately pricey (Corso Como, Sam Edelman). We covet the often-in-stock playful plastic kicks by Brazilian brand Melissa. 122 S State St (312-346-3034). Mon–Thu 10am–8pm; Fri, Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 11am–6pm.
House of Sole This storefront has made a name for itself not only as a pioneer of the South Loop retail scene but also for its stellar selection of mostly European ladies’ lines. You’ll be tempted to drop serious dough on fashion-forward styles by Chie Mihara, Cydwoq and Camper. 1237 S Michigan Ave (312-834-0909). Mon noon–7pm; Tue–Sat 11am–8pm; Sun noon–6pm.
Lori’s Shoes Speaking of Ms. Bradshaw, if Sex and the City were set in Chicago, she would’ve had at least a few scenes in this Lincoln Park shop. Not only does Lori’s have one of the city’s largest ranges of American and European designer shoes, but they all come with a discount: between 10 percent and 30 percent less than department-store prices. 824 W Armitage Ave (773-281-5655). Mon–Thu 11am–7pm; Fri 11am–6pm; Sat 10am–6pm; Sun noon–5pm.