I will be in Madrid to shop for women's shoes....This is my 1st time...Where should I shop & in what area should I stay...I will be in Madrid for 3 days....

The upscale shops are in Salamanca district, just north of park Retiro
You will find many shops in the center near Sol.
El Core Ingles is the major dep./store.
where to stay may depend on your budget and interests
( other than shoes)

If you want to shop for women's shoes, Salamanca, as danon mentions, is the best location in the city, but the big sales take place in January and July, with some carryover. Spain has this rule about putting things on sale every week, but some stores have gotten around this by various means (close outs, etc.).

Try Casa Hernanz for espadrilles. They have been making hemp products for over 150 years. Maybe not that one.

cindy, not trying to hijack this but I have the same question for Barcelona and also Lisbon if anyone can comment?

I´d go to Augusto Figueroa street (some normal shoe shops, some of them outlets) and the area between Chueca and Salesas ( Almirante, Piamonte, Campoamor).

Rgds, Cova

Cova's got it. Get Calle Augusto Figueroa just below Plaza de Chueca and head west 3 blocks to Calle Fuencarral. It's one stylish shoe-shop after another. Then head downhill on Calle Fuencarral towards Gran Vía for more clothing and shoe shops. You'll be in clothes-heaven in Madrid's "SoHo-ish" area.

Saludos, MadridMan @ you-know-where!!