By Carla Jean Whitley

carlaw@cullmantimes.com

Sequins, beads and bright colors are lighting up the aisles at area shoe stores this season as spring fashions take on footwear.

“Nearly everything we’ve got in has a little bling to it, or a little dress,” said Paulette Williams, manager at the Shoe Dept. in Cullman Shopping Center.

Williams said there are very few casual summer shoes this year. Even otherwise ordinary flip-flops are dressed up a bit.

“Everything they’ve sent us this year has a little embellishment to it,” she said.

Rebekah Moss, manager at Payless Shoe Source in Cullman, noted that trend as well. On Thursday she illustrated the point by grabbing glistening wedges and heels from her store’s racks.

“Gold shoes are really selling well,” she said. “Beads are really selling good, too.”

At Three Pears Shoe Outlet, which opened in Cullman on March 25, Joan Smith said everything has been popular. There’s simply a demand for cute shoes said Smith, who co-owns the store with her daughters Carrie Taylor and Kim Ydel.

“Pants fit everybody different,” Smith said, laughing. “Shoes just fit great.”

But Smith was able to identify a few stand-out items on her store’s shelves.

“Wedges — that’s the big thing,” she said. “Wedges with cork heels and ankle straps.”

Other retailers noted that trend, also.

“Espadrilles, the wedges are coming back from the ’70s,” Moss said, mentioning that big, retro sunglasses have also been popular.

“It’s like everything we’ve gotten in has got a wedge to it,” Williams said. “They’re really comfortable.”