Boston's best: Shoe stores
Berk's Shoes
Its location in Harvard Square is a no-brainer, as the selection of Vans, Toms, Dr. Martens and Converse fits the student demographic (and anyone else looking for cool kicks) to a T. Seasonal styles like Wellingtons and strappy sandals are salient picks. Keep your eye out for dirt-cheap sidewalk (literally) sales. 50 JFK St, Harvard Square, Cambridge (berkshoes.com, 888-GO-BERKS)
The Tannery
This gorgeously laid out unisex boutique–all sleek lines and luminescence–doles out a full spectrum of trends, from perfectly sensible leather flats to stiletto pumps attacked by an armada of studs. The clothing racks intermingle gossamer pieces from the likes of Helmut Lang and ACME with legit heavy-duty outerwear like Arc’teryx and Canada Goose. 39 Brattle St, Harvard Square, Cambridge (thetannery.com, 617-491-1811); 11A Brattle St, Harvard Square, Cambridge (617-491-0810); 711 Boylston St, Back Bay, Boston (617-267-5500)
George's Shoes
Don’t blink. This tiny, easily-overlooked shoe store is possibly the best kept secret in the city. Family-owned (with wonky hours to match), George’s quietly shelves high-profile shoes on severe discount. We’ve spotted labels ranging from the contained cuteness of Kate Spade to the retro eccentricity of Poetic License; every visit is a gamble on serious style snaggage. 669 Centre St, Jamaica Plain (bentonshoeco.com, 617-524-4866)
Moxie
It’s a mystery how Beacon Hill can be home to both this store–with its designer heels and feminine accoutrements–and heel-munching cobblestone. No matter: Logic is dead in the face of luxurious foot-candy of this caliber, from Loeffler Randall to Marc by Marc Jacobs to Sigerson Morrison. Be prepared to lust, ladies. 51 Charles St, Beacon Hill, Boston (moxieboston.com, 617-557-9991)
Bodega
Arguably Boston’s modern pioneer in the let’s-pretend-we-don’t-exist class of businesses (you know, speakeasies and their ilk), Bodega is basically outed at this point. Still, the soda-machine sliding door is still hella cool. A veritable museum of limited-edition kicks, hats and street-smart hoodies lie beyond, plus graffiti books and gracious service aplenty. 6 Clearway St, Back Bay, Boston (bdgastore.com, 617-421-1550)
Cambridge Clogs
No shoe style is quite as polarizing as the clog. But what it lacks in shapeliness, it more than makes it up for with superior ergonomics and more resilience than an army tank. This clog-centric shop has stocked European styles since 1987, from chef to steel-toed to comfort clogs, plus a tsunami of colorful socks and hosiery. Don’t judge. 1798 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge (crazyclogs.com, 617-497-1516)
Rick Walkers
With its selection of vintage cowboy boots, be-yoked Western shirts and belt buckles bigger n’ Texas, this leather-laden shop is an Americana oasis in the Yankee desert that is Boston. In business since 1932, Rick Walkers is a bootlovers’ dream, with pointy-toed pairs stitched and embellished in every which way. 306 Newbury St, Back Bay, Boston (rickwalkers.com, 617-482-7426)
Marathon Sports
Not sure if you’ve noticed, but Boston takes its running pretty seriously. Marathoners and recreational joggers alike flock to this running store (victoriously located at the Boston Marathon finish line in Copley Square), where associates let you test-run different shoe styles for fit. Snag some socks and some insoles, and you’re off to the races. 671 Boylston St, Back Bay, Boston (marathonsports.com, 617-267-4774)
Sudo Shoes
This stark, welcoming boutique merely whispers its agenda: All the shoes are vegan (i.e. leather- and vinyl-free). From haute-concept heels by Cri de Coeur to snazzy brogues by Bourgeois Boheme, no one will be missing the moo. Also notable: dapper bags from the likes of Matt & Nat and Malcolm Fontier. 1771 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge (sudoshoes.com, 617-233-2987)
Nahas Shoes
Nahas is a little bit fashionable, a little bit practical and a little too smart for its own good–kinda like a certain city we know. You can outfit the entire family for pretty much any occasion, with a selection that includes classic Keds, Tsubo heels, ladybug rainboots and Timberland lugs. Even cooler, they’ve been kicking it in Boston since 1973. 285 Hanover St, North End, Boston (617-523-6520, nahasshoes.com); 65 Charles St, Beacon Hill, Boston (617-723-6176)
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