Despite what they say about Arkansas, most of us live a shod life. Many women are, in fact, multi-shod. They’re easy to shop for — trying them on is no bother — if not always easy to purchase.

Our guide here includes local boutiques for work and evening, vintage and consignment stores for worn-in leather boots and high-end labels with good price points, and chain stores.

Advertisement

The locals

Solemates

Advertisement

Solemates, a local boutique in Pleasant Ridge Towne Center, is a narrow, bright pink shoe shop that carries several styles of boots, pumps, and flats, and an impressive selection of dressy shoes — satin sandals in neutral colors such as gold, silver, chocolate, and black as well items from the brand Olivia Rose Tal, a line that is hand-made in New York and features unconventional shapes with mixed materials.

Solemates also has a wide selection of fashionable shoes with low heels — a combination that can be somewhat allusive — and custom-painted Toms. Solemates also stocks a wide selection in narrow widths. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center, 11525 Cantrell Road. 501-716-2960

Advertisement

Warren’s

Warren’s has several boutiques across Arkansas with the most recent location opening in the Promenade at Chenal. It carries an expansive selection of shoes: work-wear in neutral leather and sensible heels, “Saturday night out” shoes in bright colors and lots of embellishment, and many styles of boots, loafers, and flats. Up-to-date styles include leopard-print loafers and black pumps with cone spikes up the heel but also UGG boots and the knee-high fringe Minnetonka’s that show up frequently on young celebrities in People magazine. Warren’s also carries Toms, Frye, Sam Edelman, and Steve Madden shoes as well as Hobo and Michael Kors bags and wallets. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sat. Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center, 11525 Cantrell Road. 501-225-3515

Advertisement

Scarlet

Scarlet Shop is a clothing boutique that focuses on high-fashion mid-range brands such as Elizabeth and James and Alice and Olivia. It now applies that same brand power to shoes. Scarlet will be stocking more styles than ever this fall, and will be the only store in Little Rock carrying the hot label Jeffrey Campbell. Along with other brands such as Kelsi Dagger and Dolce Vita, Scarlet’s footwear features skyscraper heels, covered platforms, and unusual materials. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center, 11525 Cantrell Road. 501-223-8585; www.scarletclothing.com.

Advertisement

Paul’s

Paul’s family-owned shoe store has been in business since 1967. There are two locations in Little Rock (Promenade at Chenal and The Crossing at Shackleford) and one in North Little Rock’s McCain Mall. Paul’s stocks men’s, women’s, and children’s footwear. At Paul’s, a customer will find budget-friendly trendy shoes but also comfort shoes from brands such as Clark’s and SAS. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat, 1-5 p.m. Sun. 2612 S. Shackleford Road. 501-312-7463

Advertisement

Barbara Jean

Barbara Jean is another clothing boutique with an eye for footwear that complements its apparel. For fall, it’s carrying several styles of boots from Aquatalia, Stuart Weitzman, Valentino and Tory Burch. Barbara Jean also carries the fashion-forward line Brian Atwood — including classic pumps and peep-toes in rich colors and tall platforms (as seen on many a celebrity) mixing in hugely popular materials such as fringe, studs, and feathers. Stuart Weitzman, an exclusive line to the store, also has several evening shoes to go with gowns by Roberto Cavalli and D&G and cocktail wear from Halston and Rachel Zoe. 10 a.m. Mon.-Sat. 7811 Cantrell Road. 501-227-0054. www.barbarajean.com.

The Department Store

Dillard’s

Advertisement

This Little Rock-based department store covers everyone’s shoe needs. Here, customers will find a large selection of well-priced lines such as Steve Madden, Gianni Bini, BCBG, and Vince Camuto. But you’ll also be able find Coach, Hunter, Sperry, Crocs, and UGGs. Something for everyone, right? The best part about chain and department store are their regular, end-of-season sales when shoes can be discounted up to 75 percent. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-6 p.m. Sun. Park Plaza Mall, 6000 W. Markham. 501-661-0053. www.dillards.com.

Little Rock is home to several other chain shoe boutiques including Aldo, Bakers, and Shoo Woo, all found in Park Plaza Mall, and DSW, the discount footwear behemoth, found in The Promenade at Chenal.

The Classics

Vintage Socialite

Vintage Socialite, a new store in the Hillcrest neighborhood, provides a steady selection of clothes and accessories that fit easily into both the vintage lover’s and modern women’s wardrobe. Owner Solita Davis considers shoes a personal mission of hers and seeks out good condition styles from the late ’50s through the ’90s from private estate sales and vintage markets on the West Coast. Her store selection always includes pumps and peep toes in metallics, animal prints, and neutrals from lines such as Stuart Weitzman and Ferragamo. These are styles that have stood the test of time and always translate into a contemporary wardrobe. Flat boots in worn-in leather are another style prevalent in each decade that Solita finds in good condition. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thu., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 2915 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Help to Keep Great Journalism Alive in Arkansas

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 50 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Previous article Charlaine Harris tries hand at comics Next article Arkansas Poll: Beebe rides high, economy top concern