Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
When you hear that one of downtown Kirkwood’s newest shops, Sole Comfort (108 N. Kirkwood, 314-863-3600), sells comfort shoes, you might envision shapeless brown or beige monstrosities. But owner Tammy White has been working for 16 years to change that image with her denim–and–comfort shoe store on the Delmar Loop, Sole & Blues.
Sole Comfort is White’s second storefront in the war against ugly comfort shoes. The shop is lined with fashion-forward shoes in colors like burnt orange, green, and metallic bronze. It carries a wide variety, from pumps to cowboy boots. “So many stores only represent comfort shoes as Frankenstein shoes,” says White. “But there are so many cool, hip footwear lines out there.”
White sources styles from around the world. “People say, ‘I’m going to New York or I’m going to go to Paris, and I’ll just get my shoes there,’” she says. “But they really don’t have to leave.” For women, there are Softinos loafers from Portugal ($149), supple ankle boots from Spanish brand Pikolinos ($210), and brown leather pumps from U.S.–based Tsubo ($139). The smaller selection of men’s shoes includes Gola sneakers from England ($72), U.K.–based Cushe loafers ($109), and suede slippers from Canada’s Sorel ($85).
Like its Loop counterpart, Sole Comfort also offers denim, but it focuses on darker washes. “I grew up in Kirkwood,” says White. “Here, the guys are wearing dressier jeans with a suit jacket. And the women are going out for the evening with their husbands. They’re wearing dark denim with riding boots or ballet flats.” The store also carries soft leather bags from Pietro Alessandro ($299), dresses from Joy Joy and Ella Moss, and sweaters from HaIL3Y:23 ($98).
“Just because we’re in the Midwest doesn’t mean you have to be brown, brown, and more brown,” says White. Instead, her store carries a combination of “that little bit of edge, that little bit of funkiness. It’s not too much, but just enough style. And plus, it’s really comfortable.”
