I’ve popped into this store on a couple of occasions while mosying along Spring Garden, just to peek around at some of their new arrivals. At Winsbys, it seems as if their philosophy is function before form, as they have a rather extensive selection of comfy Rockports, Fryes and Sartos(among other quality brands) to choose from. To date, I’ve only purchased one pair of shoes at Winsby’s– a pair of black Franco Sarto«pumps» with a 1″ heel. I bought the shoes for work so I’d feel more comfortable while on my feet all day– and they didn’t disappoint! As mentioned earlier, the shoes that Winsby’s carry seem to focus primarily on comfort, so fashionistas seeking cutting edge, trendy footwear would be best to search elsewhere for shoes. Also, while there are some shoes that might appeal to my generation, for the most part Winsby’s inventory seems to cater to a more«mature» clientele that would prefer low-height, practical shoes rather than towering heels. Bottom line: Winsby’s is an excellent spot for those who like comfort, functionality and«traditional» shoes– but it never hurts for everyone to visit from time to time. Sometimes there are great deals to be found!
Ron I.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Halifax, Canada
I love Rockport shoes, but will never give anymore money to Winsby’s. The snooty attitude of some of the staff members makes for a bad shopping experience. I don’t even mind paying their inflated prices if it means shopping closer to home, but this place is a lost cause. Soft Moc has tons of Rockport, much better prices and consistently great service. One last warning for anyone interested in shopping sales items at Winsby’s: they never have anything left in stock and the sales staff will ignore you if you’re not shopping the full-price merchandise.
Laura P.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Toronto, Canada
I keep Winsbys on my radar for one reason: Frye Boots. A brand I’ve become attached to throughout the years ‘cus they just know how to cut a boot. Incredibly crafted with timeless allure… its reason enough to check in and see what styles Winsbys has going on. And while a Frye’s purchase is a little out of my price-line for the time being, it doesn’t hurt to look. In observing Winsbys collective offerings, it seems that they lean towards a classic and upscale genre of footwear. Brands and style tend to stay pretty conservative. Baby boomers with office jobs could have a field day. Winsbys has a wide range in heels, boots, menswear, moccasins and even purses. Its a large store with lots to offer, but with reserved and deep pocket guidelines. Staff seems friendly but quiet. You may have to make the first move for some active customer service. Its pleasant shop, although I haven’t seemed to find much besides my Fryes. And even the Frye styles aren’t always the ‘most preferable’. Safe and conservative. If you’re in the market for some new footwear, Winbys is worth checking out. They have a few surprises from time to time and will be a sure bet for some.
Cheryl d.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Halifax, Canada
Like all have said walking down Spring Garden Road there is always something in you that will drag you into Winsbys. It might be those sexy shoes in the front window or that purse that is so preciously hand placed on the shelf. Whatever it is I always do it. Not being the perfect size 7 shoe I do find it hard to find something that is nice, sexy, comfortable and the ability to afford that will not leave me on the outside looking in. With the wide variety or lines at Winsbys I have come across the occasion where I have purchased something. But sometimes I can say the guilt kills me until I but on my pretty shoes.
Lacey H.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Berlin, Germany
Winsbys is fine. I’m sure if I went with the intention of dropping some cash, I could accomplish said task at this large shoe store. But, you can also find fairly inexpensive summer kicks, so letting go of serious dough isn’t always necessary here. There are tootsie coverings of every variety at this shop: flats, pumps, boots, deck shoes, sandals — and materials of every texture: leather, canvas, shiny stuff that I don’t even know what it is, plus colors galore. Its target market is women, with a fairly uninspired men’s section consisting almost entirely of Rockport and Clarks(not that these lines aren’t grand, they just seem to carry particularly drab items from these designers). Actually, come to think of it, I saw an amazingly hilarious pair of chalk white men’s leather clogs with huge soles(side bar: please go and buy these then message me). Today when I ventured in there were some new spring lines available, as well as an amply stocked sale section offering reduced prices on out of season stock. This would probably be an ideal time to pick up the expensive boots you were admiring during the snowy season but couldn’t afford. Overall, this isn’t my first choice for shoes in Halifax, but it’s also not my last. I think going in with a mission would be the best way to approach Winsbys. I suggest your specific undertaking consisting of the purchasing of white men’s clogs… I would really appreciate that.
Bethany J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Halifax, Canada
Winsby’s may strike you as appropriate for women«of a certain age». I’m here to tell you that this is not the case, at all. Sure, it’s no KAS — but most of us can’t wear stilettos anyways. Winsby’s fronts on Spring Garden Road, handy to almost everything downtown. Inside, you are greeted with an array of shoe choices, from cute to comfortable — and sometimes both at once! Those of us with foot problems know how difficult it is to buy shoes that don’t hurt our feet. Payless and other discount shoe sellers are out of the question and that leaves limited options especially since most of the mall shoe stores don’t tend to cater to comfort but instead to fashion. Winsby’s exists to prove that style and support can go hand-in-hand. They offer many upper end shoe manufacturers — Clark, Rockport, Dankso, Skechers and Mephisto, just to name a few. I can’t remember when I last bought a pair of shoes that didn’t come from Winsby’s; they’ve become my go-to retailer when I need something new. Winsby’s also offers a generous men’s selection. Try to get to Winsby’s when they’re having an end-of-season sale; the bargains are incredible.
Ang M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Halifax, Canada
I just realized as I started to write this, that even though I go in this shop a lot, I don’t think I’ve ever actually bought anything here. I like a lot of their shoes, though. They stock Rockports and Frye Boots, two styles I generally like but can’t afford. Perhaps that’s why I’ve never bought anything here. Yeah, that’s becoming clearer now. Winsby’s does have a fairly decent sale section for the less financially-endowed, like myself. Friendly staff and stock changes regularly. Maybe one day I’ll actually make a purchase!