A wagon-wheel chandelier gives off a faint glow as the light from antique lanterns dances along silver art deco tiles and exposed brick walls. One step inside and you'll see that Gypsy Sole is all about putting its best foot forward.
The wispy, Americana vibe of the Chagrin Falls boutique — the sister store to nearby 11-year-old Winds of Change — carries on in its selection of bohemian-style women's clothing, accessories, shoes and boots.
Handmade Douglas fir shelves are packed with vintage jewelry, furs, Western belt buckles, colorful tops with fringes, luxury leather boots and bold-patterned dresses.
The boutique, which opened in October, aims to express the same style elements as Winds of Change but with a greater focus on high-quality shoes in a variety of price points.
"People want to have a boot that's going to last for eight years," says co-owner David Walker.
The store's nearly 200 brands — such as Very Volatile's lace-overlay bootie ($78) and the knee-length Freebird Coal boot wrapped with several leather laces that continue up the back like a corset ($350) — offer a free-spirited vibe. "It's business in the front, party in the back," Walker jokes.
Other brands include Wild Fox, Free People and Gróa, all of which carry an eclectic, vintage look.
"You take a piece and you kind of repurpose it. You put it in a setting where it doesn't really belong but it fits," he says. "We have a lot of that design going on."
For the fall season, Walker and co-owner Angela Huang will travel to Paris, London, Las Vegas, New York City and Milan. While globe-trotting, they'll be on the hunt for 1920s-inspired footwear but will also bring back the bohemian and '70s gypsy-style pieces their customers flock to for fashion inspiration.
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Buckle Up
When You Go
Gypsy Sole, 71 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls,440-247-8088, shopgypsysole.com
Nearby Find
From colorful accessories to designer jeans, Sanity changes up its affordable inventory as quickly as the shifting trends. 8 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, 440-893-9279, sanitystyle.com
