Footwear and accessories stores in Moscow

A guide to the best footwear and accessories stores in Moscow

Footwear specialist brands that are known to have a narrow focus are the most usual suspects when you're looking for a pair of new shoes. It makes sense then to shop for sneakers and slip-ons by Vans and Converse, rubber footwear by Hunter, working boots by Timberland and Dr. Martens, desert boots by Clarks, moccasins by Tod's, and so on. You've got the idea.

If you're unsure of what you want to buy, go no further than multi-brand stores. Porta 9 stocks a decent, both design- and quality-wise, footwear made available at a decent price point. Their buyers are constantly in the market for the brands that are hard, if possible at all, to get your hands on in Moscow: Think Senso, Miista, Jeffrey Campbell, and a dozen other obscure labels. Not that long ago, the company has launched its almost namesake footwear brand named Portal. They release up to 250 styles per season with an average price of ₽10,000 for a pair of shoes.

Nevalenki, a concept store based in Saint-Petersburg, is not that popular with the Moscow public, but still merits attention. Just like Porta 9, it carries the labels that are rarely available in Russia, but has a predilection for more avant-garde fashion, than for minimalism. Even though some of the items they stock may struck as tasteless, while others look plain weird, overall design and quality live up to the expectations. Just like Porta 9, Nevalenki has recently launched its in-house footwear line.

The Tsvetnoy department store offers footwear by ASH, United Nude, Wood Wood, and All Saints. During seasonal sales, don't hesitate to browse through the stores located on the 3rd floor of the department store, and take your time to stop by TSUM, Aizel, SVMoscow, Leform, UK Style, and KM20. Be sure to check out Sneakerhead, Drop, BNWT, Stride, Street Beat, and Brandshop stores for sneakers.

Do not neglect mass market brands either. The footwear they sell will not last long, but there's always good chance that you'll bump into those coveted perforated suede ballet flats at H&M and nowhere else. Topshop stores regularly feature a wide selection of boots and ankle boots, plenty of good slip-ons, sneakers, and sandals land on Pull&Bear shelves, while Mango shines when it comes to office shoes. Zara stores are a go-to for the most hyped styles of the season that come there at a bargain but with a bastardized twist.

Quality and relatively inexpensive footwear is available at Uterque. Platform weatherproof boots with fur lining that were developed by Inditex to cater the Russian market, will cost you ₽15,000. Be that as it may, but it's calf-boots and ankle boots that reign supreme at Uterque: they come in suede and velvet, tinged with the 1970s-ish style and paired with appropriated accessories.

Vagabond, a Swedish retail chain, has built a cult following among Scandi-style minimalism fans. Free of superfluous detailing and available only in versatile styles and universally appealing blacks, beiges, whites, olive greens, and grays. It's the last shape and quality materials that add a refined touch of to Vagabond's footwear. Vagabond are known to use natural leather and suede, with recyclable wood detailing.

If it happened so that none of the above mentioned stores fit you, then try to fall back on a rule of thumb from the old days: go to a shopping centre of your choice and then exhaustively browse through the entire range of footwear stores it hosts. Perhaps those very shoes you're coveting are waiting for you at Ekonika, Corso Como, or Carlo Pazolini.