Much like the electricity bill, the dollar amount spent on
summer clothing is traditionally much less than for fall and winter.
The warm weather demands less covering altogether, and light, washable
fabrics that can be breezily tossed in the wash after each sweaty
summer day are more appealing than anything that asks to be
dry-cleaned. Shoes are open, perfunctory vehicles to bring you from one
barefoot destination to the next. Such is the broad sketch, anyway, of
summer’s freeness of mood, especially in comparison to the looming
reform of fall fashion.
Winter simply takes more equipment, and the more serious your
supplies the longer they will carry you through winter months to come.
Everyone, regardless of age or income, needs a coat, a pair of warm
gloves, and—of course—shoes fit for the nasty weather.
If you ask me, I’ll tell you that the best and most important thing
to invest in each fall is that pair of shoes that’s going to be your
go-to. They’ll pair with damn near everything in your wardrobe, be
water resistant, and comfortable enough to walk to work and back in.
Most importantly, you’ll love them enough to not get sick of them until
at least January. They should upgrade everything you wear, so that on
the days you’re grubbing around in whatever is handy and warm and
passably clean, it all looks intentional when you add your good
shoes.
Without wanting to steer anyone off a financial cliff, I will say
that in the case of fall shoes, especially if you choose carefully,
you’re going to get what you pay for. The ultimate luxury, of course,
would be a custom pair. This could mean going to Mario’s (833 SW
Broadway) and ordering leather, crocodile, or alligator men’s dress
shoes to be handmade in Italy for $995-4,000, but even small-time mopes
can squirrel away for a pair of Ese Carnal (esecarnal.com) shoes for men or women,
handmade in Portland for a fraction of that cost.
If your idea of a splurge is satisfying a status craving, consider
purchasing a high fashion pair of fall shoes. You may not be able to
wear Prada and Marni all year, but if you saved your
pennies and actually bought yourself that pair of Chanel shoes,
you’d probably wear your money’s worth out of them before the sticker
shock even wore off. Just don’t forget to pass them on to your
grandchildren.
But label chasing isn’t really Portland’s game, and the creative
class’ tastes demand quality shoes in original designs. This is where a
shop like Halo Shoes (1425 NE Broadway) comes into play, where
sky-high oxford wedges straight off of the Dries Van Noten runway share shelf space with the gorgeously textured, intellectual
lines of Cydwoq shoes for both men and women. Halo has also been
adding lines at a more moderate price point. I know a number of people
who simply avoid the temptation of visiting the place for fear of their
urge to splurge, but even the frugal among us should check in with them
routinely—the already good sale section is only going to get
better. Other good shops for fall dress shoes for women are Olive
Shoes (1040 NW 10th) and Zelda’s Shoe Bar (633 NW 23rd),
where one great pair of Bettye Muller party pumps will get you
through every holiday party until Easter of ’08.
Great shoes can be found at other, less expensive stores all around
town—pedX Shoe Shangri-la (2230 NE Alberta), Imelda’s
and Louie’s (3426 SE Hawthorne & 935 NW Everett), and
Baddoll Shoes (1639 NW Marshall) are some great places to scout
out less expensive versions of key styles. Another of my favorite shoe
sources are the boutiques—sometimes the perfect pair of shoes is
found off the beaten shoe store path, when store owners pluck just a
few (or even just one) pairs that complement their overall aesthetic.
This fall Denwave (811 E Burnside, #113) will carry the
Common Projects Italian sneakers, while their neighbors at
Stand Up Comedy (811 E Burnside, #119) are awaiting a fall
sandal from Rachel Comey, for example. Other shops worth peeking
into: Moulé (1225 NW Everett), Olio United (1028 SE Water), Local.35 (3556 SE Hawthorne), Odessa (410 SW 13th), Souchi (807 NW 23rd), Seaplane (827 NW
23rd), and Le Train Bleu (748 NW 11th).
Whatever you end up with this fall, make sure to get the most out of
your purchase by having a cobbler protect leather soles with waterproof
rubber, scoring some Scotchgard, and shelling out every now and again
for a good old-fashioned shoeshine.
Put some shoes on, hippie: marjorie@portlandmercury.com