I firmly belive that a girl can never have enough shoes and I have never been happier to be proved right.
This month I had the pleasure of visiting Shoetique, an independent footwear retailer based in Hale, Cheshire and now one of the leading online footwear retailers in the UK; they were recently nominated for ‘Best Multichannel Retailer’ at the Drapers Independent Awards 2014, ‘Best Footwear Retailer’ at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2014 and ‘Best Multi-channel Retailer’ at the prestigious Paypal Etail Awards 2014.
With over 30 years of experience in the footwear trade, and one of the longest serving businesses in the area, the store pride themselves on bringing their customers high quality shoes, that are hand-picked from approved suppliers, making sure that every pair of Shoetique shoes are comfortable, durable….and look great!
Stuart Conroy, owner of Shoetique, said: “We’re proud to have grown from humble beginnings selling shoes on Altrincham market to now selling shoes as far afield as Australia and America. We launched Shoetique into the online world in 2009 … and we haven’t looked back since! We have experienced significant growth via our website and marketplace such as Amazon and eBay and of course our store in Hale, Cheshire. We stock many of the leading footwear brands and this list continues to grow season on season.
“It is our vision to become one of the leading suppliers of footwear in the UK. We’ve got a great team in place in our Hale store and our Altrincham Head Office that will help us to achieve this. We will also be eternally grateful to all the loyal customers to our Hale store who have helped shape Shoetique to the business it is now.”
I was invited to preview their Autumn Winter 2014 collection and like ‘a kid in a candy store’; I couldn’t get the lids of boxes fast enough!
‘Best of British’ brands Clarks and Barbour sit alongside leading Country Clothing brands Joules and Hunters in a warehouse of epic proportions, and out of the corner of my eye were row upon row of innovative sports sandal FitFlop. Did you know Shoetique have one of the largest FitFlop ranges in the world?
With all the latest collections from the most popular stores…all in one place, you could say I was spoilt for choice.
Given the range of brands I was expecting classic comfort and timeless style, all present and correct, but this collection is also fresh, cool and just a little bit rebellious! Texture is a key trend for AW14 and there is no shortage of interesting detail such as strong buckles, trims, patent finishes, pony hair and animal print embossed leathers.
The classic brogue (right), a footwear style that can transcend the seasons and looks great all year round, has been given an autumn makeover, with lots of interesting detail and in a range of on-trend deep, dark hues that are just perfect for the forthcoming season.
The humble trainer, no longer confined to the treadmill, has sneaked into daywear wardrobes and statement finishes, like reflective patents, are a quick and easy way to make a fashion statement.
And who can resist a touch of shearling when the chilly months roll around! The essential biker style ankle boot is given a refined update with a super soft layer, and these cute, cosy, über-covetable ‘SnugMoc’ slippers are the stuff feet dreams are made of!
So with the new season in full swing, I’ve chosen some of my favourite texture-inspired styles from Shoetiques’ collections and I encourage you to do the same… just add turtle necks, unstructured skirts or cropped ankle trousers to complete the look.
Exclusive Reader Offer
15% off new season styles at Shoetique, online and in-store, until 30 November 2014
TERMS AND CONDITIONS This offer is open to all UK residents aged 16 and above. The offer cannot be transferred, sold or exchanged. There is no cash alternative. The offer is valid in Shoetique, 185 Ashley Road, Hale, Cheshire WA15 9SQ on presentation of the voucher/magazine article, and online at www.shoetique.co.uk by using the discount code ‘HALE1’ at the checkout. The offer is valid on full-priced products only and expires on 30 November 2014.
Images (from top):
Clarks Movie Retro Boot, £89.95; Clarks Hamble Oak Ox-Blood Leather Brogue; £54.95; FF2™ by FitFlop™ Shoes F-Pop™ Loafer Urban White/Black, £84.95; Clarks Shoes Busby Jazz Dark Grey Leather, £69.95; FF2™ BY FITFLOP™ Shoes F-Pop™ Ballerina Shoes Pewter, £79.95; Clarks Boots Lisette Blues Dark Tan Leather, £109.95.
