Shoe Salon at Bergdorf Goodman

 
  Christian Louboutin
 
  Edon Manor
 
  Pierre Hardy

"Alber Elbaz once remarked that Shoe Salon at Bergdorf Goodman isn’t really a store at all, but more of a club for women,” recalls Linda Fargo, senior vice president for Bergdorf Goodman’s fashion office and store presentation. “That thought has always stayed with me.”

That grand notion is echoed throughout the new salon, decorated with all of the comforts of home and an array of furnishings that one could imagine were collected throughout a lifetime. “It’s an eclectic heritage inspired by the chic 1940s, the curve of Italian 1950s furniture, the gloss and swank of the American 1970s, with an unexpected layering of primitif,” says Fargo.

The expanded Shoe Salon encompasses five rooms to showcase a sprawling selection of designer footwear, from classics like Chanel to newer designers such as Tom Ford and Nicholas Kirkwood. “Women have an insatiable obsession with beautiful shoes, and we have no shortage of tempting choices. We only had a shortage of space to put them,” Fargo says. In conjunction with the redesign, photographer John Clang has captured some of the standout shoes of the season around New York, depicting shoes as iconography for Bergdorf’s Fall/Winter Shoe Book. The project has expanded even further to #BGShoes, inviting an interactive element via social media.

The language of footwear is universal among the female population. We all speak stiletto. However, there may be no collective group of women more infatuated with their shoes than Manhattanites, who get more mileage out of their heels than most. Here, we present the ultimate guide to shopping the city on foot.

Barneys
Boasting one of the best-tailored shoe selections of any department store, Barneys New York houses two shoe floors, Co-op and designer, to cover a range of lines and price points, including their own private label, which seasonally targets the must-have staples. 660 Madison Ave., 212-826-8900

Christian Louboutin
One trademark decision, emblazoning all of his shoes with a signature red sole, defined Christian Louboutin as a designer. This fall, be on the lookout for a new book celebrating the master’s work. 965 Madison Ave., 212-396-1884; 59 Horatio St., 212-255-1910

Edon Manor
In the tradition of English salons, Edon Manor provides a retail experience like no other, allowing customers to shop in the luxurious parlor-meets-shoe-library setting, where confectionary heels adorn every surface. A go-to resource for hard-to-find, premier European designers such as Azzedine Alaïa, Giambattista Valli and others. 391 Greenwich St., 212-431-3890

Giuseppe Zanotti Design
This Italian-born designer has quickly risen to the top of stylish New Yorkers’ must-have heels lists. Sky-high stilettos and platforms are his specialty, but Zanotti has branched beyond his namesake label to design accessories for ready-to-wear brands, such as Vionnet and Thakoon, making his reach broader than ever. 806 Madison Ave., 212-650-0455

Iris
A beacon for serious shoe lovers, Iris only stocks shoes made in Italy, at its private factory, so quality control and exclusivity come hand-in-hand when shopping the downtown stronghold. 827 Washington St., 212-645-0950

Jimmy Choo
Decorated in muted hues of lavender, beige and silver with Art Deco details, Jimmy Choo’s three Manhattan stores evoke the brand’s modern elegance. The newest outpost opened on Bleecker Street earlier this year, effectively covering all of Manhattan in feathers and fringe. 407 Bleecker St., 212-366-1305; 716 Madison Ave., 212-759-7078; 645 Fifth Ave., 212-593-0800

Manolo Blahnik
The original high-fashion high-heel brand, as made famous by Carrie Bradshaw, Blahnik holds court on 54th Street. His designs continue to inspire traditionalists and trendsetters alike. 31 West 54th St., 212-582-3007

Pierre Hardy
Last December, Pierre Hardy opened his first stateside boutique, on Jane Street. While he doesn’t design specifically with New York in mind, his architectural heels mimic the landscape while being supportive enough to actually wear around our metropolis. 30 Jane St., 646-449-0070

Saks Fifth Avenue
The Saks shoe department on Fifth Avenue is so expansive that it has its very own zip code, 10022- SHOE. The sleek space features a private VIP room, express elevator, café and, of course, a plentiful array of fabulous footwear. 611 Fifth Ave., 212-753-4000

Stuart Weitzman
Twenty-five years of creating shoes has taught Stuart Weitzman how to keep the women who wear his heels (and flats) happy and comfortable. A native New Yorker, Weitzman designs with the city and the women who inhabit it in mind. 625 Madison Ave., 212-750-2555; 10 Columbus Circle, 212-823-9560