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Trudy Robinson Foley, owner of hip maternity shop Kickin', has set out on her second Roscoe Village retail venture with this sleek shoe shop. Obsessed with all things European (and French especially) she christened the boutique A Pied, which means "on foot" or "by foot" in French, stands out as the only shoe shop in the neighborhood, stocking a hand-picked collection of well-crafted, on-trend shoes that will stand up to the wear and tear of urban living. "Women are always saying, 'I love shoes,'" she says. "But do you love that shoe at 12 at night when you get home?" You may find four-inch heels on the shelves here, but they'll have extra room in the toe box or hidden support to help the wearability factor match the wow factor.

You'll find footwear perched on old ladders and among antique trunks, while Persian rugs and countertops made from reclaimed barn wood lend an Old World flair to the otherwise urban, brick-walled space. As for the shoes themselves, look for lines such as La Canadienne, Corso Como and Jeffrey Campbell. You'll find fashion-forward picks like indigo patent leather slingbacks from the Taryn by Taryn Rose line, the younger, more affordable collection from a former orthopedic surgeon-turned-shoe designer. Check out dainty flats and wedges by All Black, a company that looks to not only snakeskin, but eel and tilapia skin, to add some sheen to its designs. And while brands like Born or Patagonia may conjure up images of practical, but not particularly pretty, kicks, Robinson Foley has hand-picked the lines' most fashion-forward designs, such as espadrilles and bright cork wedges.

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Roscoe Village stores, Chicago stores, Shoe stores