Local artist's rendering of the Tops For Shoes storefront

Located in a trendy shopping district in downtown Asheville, N.C., Tops For Shoes brings in plenty of foot traffic. “It’s definitely a funky, eclectic neighborhood, so there are a lot of young people,” explains buyer Alex Carr “But we’ve got shoes for her mom, too!” So what are shoppers looking for when they stop into Tops? “We sold gray very well this fall, and on the fashion side we’ve been selling a lot more vintage looks, I would say 1940s throwback styles.” But the thing customers ask for most is narrow sizes. “We do a big width business, so a lot of people want the super slims and narrows in fashionable product. It’s really hard for a girl to find the fashion in a narrow, so when they find it they buy it.”

Candra by Söfft 

Price:

Retails for $98

Why It’s a Top Seller:

“It’s a suede Mary Jane on a 1 1/2-inch heel. We carried it in four colors and the dark purple sold real well. It’s a very versatile shoe because you can wear it with jeans or you can wear it with a dress or skirt. It’s selling so well because it’s a great mix of fashion and comfort.”

Aeria by Tsubo 

Price:

Retails for $135

Why It’s a Top Seller:

“It is a round-toe bootie with a covered platform. Again, not only is it a very stylish shoe but it’s got the comfort factor. People get it on their feet and they’re really surprised how comfortable it is because it’s a 3-inch heel, but the platform really takes away a good inch of that.”

Carmen 3 Strap by Frye 

Price:

Retails for $349

Why It’s a Top Seller:

“It’s a round-toe boot that comes about halfway up the calf and it’s got three buckles that wrap around the shaft. I haven’t had to mark down any Fryes all season—they’ve been really hot. The boots are Western inspired, and the leathers are really nice with a vintage, worn look.”

Unpoem by Unstructured By Clarks 

Price:

Retails for $110

Why It’s a Top Seller:

“It’s a flat with a Mary Jane strap on the instep. This shoe is very light and also has a removable insole. One thing that’s really great about the Unstructured line is it comes in all the widths—narrows, wides—and you still get the fashion looks and the comfort.”

Classic Tall by Ugg 

Price:

Retails for $180

Why It’s a Top Seller:

“Ugg was huge again. It doesn’t matter what color we get it in, what size, it just sells. They’re very trendy and they’re very comfortable—it’s like wearing bedroom slippers, they get them on their feet and they can’t believe how comfortable they are. They just raised their prices about a month ago and there really hasn’t been any price resistance.”

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