Sak Fifth Ave’s 10022-SHOE department | What’s in store

343.sh.ss.wis.10022

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  In addition to appearing at the store during Fashion’s Night Out, Brian Atwood brought along shoes from his überexclusive B By Brian Atwood line. The selections were available in the store for only a few days.

  Photo: Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue343.sh.ss.wis.10022FNOx476.jpg149476031
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  The chandelier installation is a signature art piece for every 10022-SHOE. The one in New York practically takes up an entire wall.

  Photo: Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue343.sh.ss.wis.10022SakChandelierx476.jpg149476052
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  With comfortable chairs in neutral shades scattered throughout the space, the department store is going for a living-room vibe. To that end, all the registers are located in the storage space behind the scenes.

  Photo: Krystal Thibault343.sh.ss.wis.10022Shoe.Registersx476.jpg149476094
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  The store features a slew of designer lines, as well as shoes and boots from its in-house Saks label.

  Photo: Krystal Thibault343.sh.ss.wis.10022Shoe.SaksBootsx476.jpg149476115
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  One of the newer shoe designers Saks started carrying, Jerome Rousseau, will make a personal appearance on October 5.

  343.sh.ss.wis.Saks10022Jeromex476.jpg149476136

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In addition to appearing at the store during Fashion’s Night Out, Brian Atwood brought along shoes from his überexclusive B By Brian Atwood line. The selections were available in the store for only a few days.

Photo: Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

A couple of weeks ago, 450 shoppers swarmed Saks Fifth Avenue’s women’s shoe department (700 N Michigan Ave, 312-944-6500) during Fashion’s Night Out. Most people in the crowd were there to rub shoulders with big-time shoe designer Brian Atwood (originally from Chicago!), but got a bonus perk: They were the first to check out the remodeled shoe department.

Luckily, the third-floor department was able to handle the crowd: The renovations resulted in an additional 1,000 square feet. Bigger shoe boutiques are something Saks is becoming known for. In 2007, the flagship in New York remodeled its shoe department and the floor ended up getting its own zip code. In fact, the zip code (10022-SHOE) has become so catchy that other outposts have taken the name when they upgrade their shoe salons. As Julie Selakovich, the store’s director of marketing, gives me a tour of the space, she says about 25 percent of Saks have upgraded their shoe departments.

More space means more shoes. Selakovich tells me the store is focusing on adding emerging designers, such as Nicholas Kirkwood and Jerome Rousseau, to an inventory that already features a variety of heels, boots and flats from a bevy of top names. The department is also planning more personal appearances from shoe designers, as well as ongoing special offers. For instance, when you spend at least $250 on shoes (which is pretty much the entry-level price tag here) in September, you’ll get a gift certificate for a gratis pedicure from the Peninsula Spa.