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EmporiumDNA, image: R. Lopez

We Mapped 14 Of The Best Shoe Shopping Bets in Washington

By Adele Chapin
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By Adele Chapin
EmporiumDNA, image: R. Lopez

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Finally, it's time to pack the boots away and assess our closets' sandal situation. To get you inspired for spring shoes, we've listed 14 best bets for shoe shopping in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The stores are listed from north to south, and we've included everything from discounted deals to designer footwear. And to keep things interesting, sneaker boutiques are in the mix too. Let us know if we missed any of your favorite spots in the District, and happy shoe shopping!


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1. Sassanova Shoes & Accessories

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7134 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
{301) 654-7403
{301) 654-7403
Visit Website
Head to the back wall at this Bethesda Row shop for some major shoe inspiration. Brands at Sassanova range from L.K. Bennett to Ted Baker to Splendid to Matt Bernson to Dolce Vita, but all the shoes are united by one thing: they are super cute. [Image]

2. Saks Fifth Avenue

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5555 Wisconsin Ave
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 657-9000
(301) 657-9000
Visit Website
Saks Fifth Avenue's downstair shoe department is the stuff designer shoe dreams are made of, with plenty of Manolos, Louboutins, and Chanel heels to reverently admire. The awe-inspiring 10022-SHOE department is designed after Saks flagship in New York. [Image: Adele Chapin]

3. emporiumDNA

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1666 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-1770
(202) 232-1770
Visit Website
The shoe gallery at new shop EmporiumDNA is filled with sky-high pumps and daring options from designers like Rebecca Minkoff, Pour La Victoire, and more. [Image: R. Lopez]

4. Hu's Shoes

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3005 M St NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342-0202
(202) 342-0202
Visit Website
Hu's Shoes is beloved in Washington for its curated, exclusive selection of designer footwear. Any store that carries this geometric Fendi pump is a special place indeed. [Photo]

5. The Frye Company

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1066 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-3793
(202) 337-3793
Visit Website
The Frye Company's two-story Georgetown flagship is a beautiful place for boot shopping, but the brand has options for spring and summer too, like oxfords, sandals, ballerinas, and loafers. [Photo: R. Lopez]

6. The Sports Zone

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3140 M St NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 337-9773
(202) 337-9773
Visit Website
Local chain and sneaker emporium Sports Zone Elite has 30 shops in the D.C. metro area, Baltimore, and Southern Virginia. But we're stoked for their new Chinatown shop, slated to open this spring. [Image]

7. DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse

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3222 M Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20007
Visit Website
The newest DSW in the District opened this month in Georgetown at the Shops at Georgetown Park, with 22,000 square feet of discounted shoes. And here's a coupon for $10 off at DSW Georgetown through May 14! [Image]

8. Relish

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1800 M St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 333-5343
(202) 333-5343
Visit Website
Relish's shoe selection is a thing of beauty, with architectural, quirky gems from brands like Marni, Y-3, and Maison Martin Margiela. [Photo]

9. KickkSpott

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1436 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Visit Website
Kickkspott's Facebook page just says "Sneaker Heaven." Yep, this is the place for the true collector, offering hard-to-find kicks.

10. MAJOR

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1426 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 625-6732
(202) 625-6732
Visit Website
Another spot for sneaker shopping in Georgetown is Major, a sneaker boutique that's been around since 2006. [Image]

11. South Moon Under

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2700 Clarendon Blvd, #R440
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 807-4083
(703) 807-4083
Visit Website
We love this Mid-Atlantic chain for affordable takes on the latest trends, from brands like Jeffrey Campbell, DV by Dolce Vita, Sam Edelman, and Steve Madden. The sale section is always worth a look too. [Photo]

12. Palace5ive

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2911 District Avenue #140
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 591-3003
(703) 591-3003
Visit Website
Skater shop Palace5ive has got you covered in the sneaker department, with a shop on 14th Street and in the Mosaic District. [Image]

13. Bishop Boutique

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815B King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(571) 312-0042
(571) 312-0042
Visit Website
Old Town's adorable Bishop Boutique sells outfit-making Loeffler Randall flats, L.K. Bennett heels, Joie sandals, and more chic brands. Brides and bridesmaids, this needs to be on your list for shoe shopping. [Image: R. Lopez]

14. The Shoe Hive

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127 S Fairfax St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-7105
(703) 548-7105
Visit Website
Alexandria's The Shoe Hive has the perfect black pump, of course, but they're much more than that. This is a store that carries camp Supergas and Kate Spade's crazy quirky Taxi flat, after all. [Image]
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1. Sassanova Shoes & Accessories

7134 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814
Head to the back wall at this Bethesda Row shop for some major shoe inspiration. Brands at Sassanova range from L.K. Bennett to Ted Baker to Splendid to Matt Bernson to Dolce Vita, but all the shoes are united by one thing: they are super cute. [Image]
7134 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
{301) 654-7403
Visit Website

2. Saks Fifth Avenue

5555 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Saks Fifth Avenue's downstair shoe department is the stuff designer shoe dreams are made of, with plenty of Manolos, Louboutins, and Chanel heels to reverently admire. The awe-inspiring 10022-SHOE department is designed after Saks flagship in New York. [Image: Adele Chapin]
5555 Wisconsin Ave
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 657-9000
Visit Website

3. emporiumDNA

1666 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
The shoe gallery at new shop EmporiumDNA is filled with sky-high pumps and daring options from designers like Rebecca Minkoff, Pour La Victoire, and more. [Image: R. Lopez]
1666 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-1770
Visit Website

4. Hu's Shoes

3005 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Hu's Shoes is beloved in Washington for its curated, exclusive selection of designer footwear. Any store that carries this geometric Fendi pump is a special place indeed. [Photo]
3005 M St NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342-0202
Visit Website

5. The Frye Company

1066 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
The Frye Company's two-story Georgetown flagship is a beautiful place for boot shopping, but the brand has options for spring and summer too, like oxfords, sandals, ballerinas, and loafers. [Photo: R. Lopez]
1066 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-3793
Visit Website

6. The Sports Zone

3140 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Local chain and sneaker emporium Sports Zone Elite has 30 shops in the D.C. metro area, Baltimore, and Southern Virginia. But we're stoked for their new Chinatown shop, slated to open this spring. [Image]
3140 M St NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 337-9773
Visit Website

7. DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse

3222 M Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20007
The newest DSW in the District opened this month in Georgetown at the Shops at Georgetown Park, with 22,000 square feet of discounted shoes. And here's a coupon for $10 off at DSW Georgetown through May 14! [Image]
3222 M Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20007
Visit Website

8. Relish

1800 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Relish's shoe selection is a thing of beauty, with architectural, quirky gems from brands like Marni, Y-3, and Maison Martin Margiela. [Photo]
1800 M St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 333-5343
Visit Website

9. KickkSpott

1436 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Kickkspott's Facebook page just says "Sneaker Heaven." Yep, this is the place for the true collector, offering hard-to-find kicks.
1436 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Visit Website

10. MAJOR

1426 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Another spot for sneaker shopping in Georgetown is Major, a sneaker boutique that's been around since 2006. [Image]
1426 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 625-6732
Visit Website

11. South Moon Under

2700 Clarendon Blvd, #R440, Arlington, VA 22201
We love this Mid-Atlantic chain for affordable takes on the latest trends, from brands like Jeffrey Campbell, DV by Dolce Vita, Sam Edelman, and Steve Madden. The sale section is always worth a look too. [Photo]
2700 Clarendon Blvd, #R440
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 807-4083
Visit Website

12. Palace5ive

2911 District Avenue #140, Fairfax, VA 22031
Skater shop Palace5ive has got you covered in the sneaker department, with a shop on 14th Street and in the Mosaic District. [Image]
2911 District Avenue #140
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 591-3003
Visit Website

13. Bishop Boutique

815B King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Old Town's adorable Bishop Boutique sells outfit-making Loeffler Randall flats, L.K. Bennett heels, Joie sandals, and more chic brands. Brides and bridesmaids, this needs to be on your list for shoe shopping. [Image: R. Lopez]
815B King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(571) 312-0042
Visit Website

14. The Shoe Hive

127 S Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Alexandria's The Shoe Hive has the perfect black pump, of course, but they're much more than that. This is a store that carries camp Supergas and Kate Spade's crazy quirky Taxi flat, after all. [Image]
127 S Fairfax St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-7105
Visit Website