Made for walking

If it's been a while since you've been to J. Gilbert Footwear, now's the time for a return visit. The purveyor of comfortable, wearable and fashionable shoes (note the -able, meaning you're able to walk in them) is having a big, fat spring sale starting May 30. That means you can buy in-season shoes at discounted prices to wear right now.

A recent remodel gave the shop an updated look, with trendy tones of green, brown and aqua, more display shelving and an influx of some fantastic handbags. "We get new styles daily," says owner John Gilbert, whose philosophy is to buy variety and keep it coming. More than a shoe store, J. Gilbert also has a selection of clothing and denim that focuses on fit, like Jenne Maag pants and Majestic T's. A men's corner features Lucchese cowboy boots for both men and women.

But back to the sale: You'll find dozens of brands of shoes and sandals for up to 50 percent off -- and higher in some cases. Brand staples such as Paul Green, Donald J. Pliner, Arche (the ultimate French-made "comfort" shoe) and Taryn Rose (a foot doctor turned shoe designer) are all on sale, as are just-in suede platforms from Los Angeles company Chocolat (tagline: "highly addictive shoes") and even cute cowboy boots. They also have lots of great It handbags, from Francesco Biasia, Isabella Fiore and others (instead of $425, you might pay $325). Big deals await on past-season clothing, too. Looking for killer bargains on boots? Ask nicely and one of the enthusiastic sales staff will dig out a few past-season pairs for you to try.

Go early for the best selection of sizes. The sale ends June 6.

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