by Steph Lewis

Self-respecting shoe darlings who fancy themselves in-the-know KNOW of Footcandy Shoes—whose gallery-setting boutiques of must-have shoes originated in St. Helena, CA. The meticulously edited collection of designer shoes and handbags continues to garner accolades from women who want (and satisfy!) their footwear fix. During shuzsociety.com’s launch, you read of Footcandy Shoes’ franchise in Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA. They also have stores in Walnut Creek and Sonoma, CA. If you’re on the West Coast, it pretty sweet!

Carolyn and Perry Butler, British-born techies turned American vintners with panache for success and passion for footwear, opened their first doors in 2002. The visionaries, already with a celebrated winery “Juslyn” in Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain, began Footcandy Shoes as a way to combine their two passions—wine and shoes.

People immediately took notice of the boutique, and still gush accolades for the online shop! Gendy Alimurung at LAWeekly.com [1] recently cooed, “Footcandy, the most beautiful, decadent and luxurious shoe boutique on the Westside.” Lucky Mag wrote, “Footcandy Shoes is the first boutique to offer the BIG THREE: Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin.” FabSugar.com offered, “Not only does Footcandy carry all of the best designer brands, but it also organizes its Bargain Basement items by price, so you can immediately hone in on the ones you can afford.” Yes, indeed for $100 you can stock your boudoir with these embellished linen pumps by Casadei [2], which originally sold for $490, or the $200 Emilio Pucci [3] leather and mesh crisscross heels (originally $495).

What makes Footcandy Shoes tops? The stores’ consistent offering of other sought after high-end shoe designers such as Luciano Padovan, Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. collection, and Alejandro Ingelmo. Styles carried are both timeless and inspirational: updated Mary Janes by Christian Louboutin and high, high heels from Claudio Merazzi.

Footcandy has a conscience. Remember the special-edition peep-toe patent leather d'Orsay animal-print pump by Casadei, designed exclusively for Footcandy Shoes [4]? 100% of the proceeds from sales of this shoe, along with their 2001 Napa Blend—a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc—benefited Golden Triangle Asian Elephant foundation (GTAEF), which aims to rescue elephants off the streets in Thailand.

What’s in store for the stores next? They are looking forward to UK’s Strutt Couture for spring, and Oscar de la Renta for fall, which WE HEAR is spectacular! In July they will add another West Coast store to their boutique empire with the opening of their newest location on Santana Row, in San José. Stay tuned.

Footcandy Shoes [5]

707.963.2040

Hours: Monday thru- Sunday 11am-5pm