Picture this: 4,000 pairs of stylish shoes, displayed within six uniquely themed galleries and eleven luxurious designer boutiques, all stretched over 35, 000 square feet of glamorous retail space… No readers, this is not one of your delightful ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ daydreams; this is the scene of Selfridges’ newly opened Shoe Galleries. With a record-breaking title of ‘largest shoe department in the world,’ this is quite literally shoe-a-holic heaven!
Located in the Oxford street store’s second floor, the chic shoe space designed by Canadian architect, Jamie Fobert, houses fun and quirky footwear themed features such as a giant Cinderella-style glass shoe, display tables created completely out of old wooden shoe-lasts and an instore photo booth where shoppers can pose with their wishful purchase.
The extensive galleries and boutiques (or should I say ‘shoe-tiques’) are home to over 150 different labels ranging from high-street favs, Topshop and River Island, to mid range brands including L.K Bennet and Kurt Geiger… and of course, any shoe gallery wouldn’t be complete without classic Louboutins and Jimmy Choos, amongst an array of further high-end designers.
Selfridges’ wide offering of different styles, sizes and price tags creates a shopping experience accessible for all; from teenage girls wishing to treat themselves to a brand new pair of party heels, to the retailer’s regular and wealthier clientele.
After a fun-filled preview party on the eve of London Fashion Week, the doors to the Shoe Galleries officially opened last Friday by British actress and model, Gemma Arterton. In conjunction with the launch, Selfridges revealed their first ‘Shoe Galleries’ ad-campaign, shot by fashion photography great, Bruce Weber: A series of photographs depicts a ‘shoeper hero,’ who saves the day by solving the shoe crisis and fulfilling all shoe dreams… aaaah how nice!
With London quickly becoming the world’s favorite luxury shopping destination, Selfridges will surely become the heart and ‘sole’ (excuse the pun) of shoe shopping worldwide.