Shoe Candy boutique

One of only two shoe boutiques in Chattanooga, Tenn., Shoe Candy recently celebrated its 3-year anniversary. “Chattanooga is more like a big town than a city, and we’ve gotten to know our customers very well,” explains owner Lori Boyd. With shoppers coming from Atlanta, Knoxville, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., and even Birmingham, Ala., Shoe Candy caters to style-savvy 28- to 65-year-olds. “My customers are very fashion forward,” says Boyd. “They’re looking at magazines and following the latest trends, and looking for what’s next.”

Located just behind the largest mall in Tennessee, the boutique’s main-street setting boasts a high car count, but unique styles are what set them apart. “When I went to my first shoe show, the first thing I would do is ask [the manufacturer] if they had other accounts in Chattanooga,” says Boyd. Today, she continues to build relationships with manufacturer reps who know she’s only interested in exclusive styles.

Feminine cutouts and bright colors take basic styles up a notch at Shoe Candy; here are some of the store’s bestselling styles.

Medieval Stone by Bernardo

Price:

Retails for $99

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“It’s a very comfortable flip-flop that you’ve seen on a lot of celebrities—Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry. The Bernardo name has been around for a long time, and this style looks great on all ages, from 16 to 70.”

Sard by Costablanca

Price:

Retails for $225

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“All Costablanca wedges sell well, and wedges make great outdoor shoes. It can be dressed up or down—the cork makes it more casual, but the embossed pewter-colored leather makes it more dressy and a good match for unusual colors.”

Roulette by Carlos by Carlos Santana

Price:

Retails for $99

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“This aqua leopard peep toe has the neatest pattern, and the way the material is cut makes every shoe look different. The shoe picks up lots of colors from lime green and aqua to yellow and peach, and it looks great with jeans.”

Nifty by Aquatalia

Price:

Retails for $250

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“It’s a slide with a 3-inch stacked demi-wedge and two microfiber straps that cross the top of the foot. It’s definitely one of the more conservative styles in the store and a good in-between shoe—not too casual not too dressy.”

Hill by Butter

Price:

Retails for $209

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“This black patent leather peep toe is more of a dressy, fun shoe. The geometric cutouts on the side give the basic shoe an edgy feel. This is a popular option for career women.”

Sedge by Claudia Ciuti

Price:

Retails for $384

Why It’s A Top Seller:

“The strawberry color is the main attraction of this peep-toe slingback—it really pops and will ‘make’ any outfit. Also, the cutouts are very feminine and the material almost has a little sheen, like a satin leather.”

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