TOP SELLERS

Summer sandals are all the rage at Susan Michelle Shoes in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., where ladies are looking for a new take on last season’s gladiator silhouette. “They don’t want the gladiator; but something similar and a little different,” explains owner Susan Seeger. Situated in a suburban beach town, the boutique is dependant on local ladies—whose needs Seeger is sure to keep in mind when shopping for new styles: “We’re in a beach town so it’s very beachy and light here; I have to be very careful with the colors I choose and with the heaviness of the shoe.” Also, since the store caters to a wide range of customers—women from 18 to 55—Seeger stocks a variety of silhouettes from flats to platform heels, in styles from understated to out-there, but colors seem to be a common denominator. “They all love gold and silver, and natural colors,” says Seeger.

Ankle Wrap Python by All Black

Price:

Retails for $142

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“It’s a flat sandal with a python print on this really soft material, it has a wrap-around ankle cuff, a strap across the toe and it zips up the back of the heel. I think people like that it’s not the gladiator style anymore but it’s still something similar, although it’s more modern, more glamorous than the gladiator.”

Steeley by Daniblack

Price:

Retails for $160

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“It’s a heeled sandal in tangerine suede with a fringed ankle cuff and chocolate cork heel. The color is really the selling point—they call it Tangerine, but it’s more of a pretty burnt sienna orange, which looks great mixed with the chocolate cork. Also, it’s got a bit of the fringe trend but it’s not too out there; they’ll still be able to pull this shoe out next year and not say, ‘Oh my god, why did I buy a fringe shoe?’”

Xan by Max Studio

Price:

Retails for $168

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“It’s a high-heeled sandal in beautiful tobacco leather with a lot of straps on the top of the instep and then a strap around the heel and one across the toes. It’s a shoe that you could wear with a sundress or jeans. It’s definitely more on the European-looking side just because of the distressed- leather; it looked really rich and I think that’s why the shoe did so well.”

Holly by Pelle Moda

Price:

Retails for $180

Why It’s a Top Seller:

“This shoe channels designer style without the designer price tag. It’s a black satin strappy sandal with a ceramic flower heel. This is definitely a special occasion shoe and the unique heel makes it an eye catcher.”

Micol by Matiko

Price:

Retails for $130

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“It’s a flat sandal with about a half-inch stacked-wood wedge—just so it’s not flat—and then the upper is a beautiful nude leather with gold lining. The shape of it actually looks like a fleur-de-lis on the top of your foot; it’s very elegant and pretty. I think it was popular because it’s not a gladiator shoe, but more bohemian looking; and the natural color makes it that shoe that you can wear with everything.”

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