Go ahead and call me Carrie Bradshaw because I can be *kind of obsessed* with shoes. There are actually only 4 things I am consistently willing to splurge on: food, vacations, manicures and a great pair of shoes. Does that mean that I want to pay an arm and a leg for something that touches the ground all day? Not necessarily. In women’s fashion, you can basically find an inexpensive dupe for anything. I recently hauled a few pair of shoes, and I’m spilling the beans on high-end/low-end dupes (be sure to have your wallet handy).
Block Heel Sandals
Every girl needs the perfect spring and summer sandal to pair with sundresses, culottes and jumpsuits. This shoe is simple and therefore a go-to staple in my shoe collection. It adds height but not in a way that makes walking around at an all-day food festival impossible and you can find them in a bunch of colors.
Steve Madden is offering the block heel for about $80 bucks, which isn’t a bad price to pay for a shoe! In this case, the soft cornflower blue color is my favorite but it doesn’t make it super versatile. I went ahead and splurged on the Merona pair in black and nude from Target and I got BOGO 50% with their recent sale! Know what that means? I spent half on two pairs of shoes what I would have paid for a higher-end designer version. #totalsteal
Steve Madden Irenee Ankle Strap Sandal $80
Target Merona Low Block Heel Pumps $28
Platform Sneakers
Platforms are back and they are giving me total 90’s/Lisa Frank/Fila nostalgia feels. The platforms we see now are more elevated style wise and don’t feel as juvenile making them a lot easier to weave into our style aesthetic. A simple platform just won’t do, so I’d chose this frilled version that pairs perfectly with pants, minis and dresses. These two aren’t exact dupes; one is satin while the other is faux-leather, but I actually prefer the Missguided leather look. I am definitely snagging these in my next Missguided haul.
Joshua Sanders Frill Satin Slip-On Trainers $298
Black Oversized Ruffle Trim Skater Pumps $22
Slides
I have never been a flip flop person but slides I can get behind. If I am going to throw on some casual shoes, why not add a little faux fur into the mix? These pale pink furry slides are great for a spa day, lounging by the pool (outside of splash range) and Sunday brunch with my girl squad. After reading the reviews (and my size repeatedly being sold out) I decided to go with the bow pair of slides from Missguided. Same color and effect, but slightly more fashionable I think. Plus I bought them during a 50% off sale so it was another #totalsteal
Target Mad Love Phoebe Fur Slide Sandals $23
Missguided Pink Knot Sliders $20
Pointed Flats
A pointed flat looks chic and never goes out of style and the color blush is having a love affair with fashion at the moment so I am totally hopping on the train. The high end flats are backless which makes them easy to throw on, but maybe not so comfortable to walk in long distance. The affordable alternatives aren’t as simple design-wise but probably deliver higher on uniqueness and wearability. I haven’t decided which pair I’d like to invest in just yet. Thoughts?
Charlotte Rousse Ankle Tie D’Orsay Flats $20
Forever 21 Knotted Bow Satin Flats $23
Booties
I don’t know when this happened but all of a sudden everyone is obsessed with booties, me included! They literally can be worn with anything, even sweatpants or leggings, and it doesn’t look ridiculous. I am definitely willing to pay more for a bootie because my booties need to be made for some serious walkin’. Plus a bad bootie can give you blisters like you wouldn’t believe. I love Dolls Kill but I decided on the faux-leather ones from Ego Official. In general US sizing I wear 7.5-8 but I have to size up a bit with Ego (which I forgot when I ordered these booties so I am considering exchanging).
Saint Laurent Rock Suede Ankle Boots $995
Dolls Kill MTG Napa Cut Out Bootie $150
Mules
Mules remind me of the 80’s in the best way possible; too much blush, big hair, drapey fabrics in muted neutral tones and Melrose Place. When I wear mules I feel like striking a pose on every street corner and in every shop window. The ones below are a seamless fit for any wardrobe and I am predicting that similar to blush, pale blue will be the next color obsession.
Robert Clergerie Abrice Suede Block Heel Mules $550
Urban Outfitters Jeffrey Campbell Perpetua Mule $110
Studded Sandals
Every few years I look at my shoe collection and realize how hard I have been on my summer sandals. They are usually worn up, scuffed and out of commission just a year or so after I buy them, especially since I wear sandals beginning in April extending well into October. I like simple sandals, but I do occasionally like them with a bit of umph. The Valentino rockstud line is probably on every girls need list. And you can pick up a pair of those sandals for the minimal price of $845. I much prefer the #totalsteal I nabbed from Target during the BOGO sale. They’re much more aligned with my style and a fraction of the price.
Valentino Rockstud Sandal $845
Espadrilles
Nothing says spring and summer like an espadrille shoe. Seriously, do people wear these any other time of the year? These are a great alternative to a sandal or heel but deliver the same amount of style. The shoes I picked aren’t exact dupes, but they’re definitely comparable. Which do you prefer?
Valentino Rockstud Leather Espadrilles $795
Nasty Gal Link Up Vegan Suede Espadrille $40
Furry Loafer
Love it or hate it, loafers have been in for awhile now and these furry ones are kind of a need for me. Or at least they were, before I bought them, haha. Ego Official has some #dupes for the real Gucci ones. I’m sure quality wise, Gucci is top notch, but for an easy throw on pair of shoes I’d much rather pay $33 than $995. I’m not sure if this is really a summertime shoe, but I will be wearing it mostly around the office or in indoor situations.
Ego Official Leona Flat Mule $33
In the world of fashion, something is only too expensive if you aren’t willing to pay that much for it, so if you prefer high end items go ahead and splurge girl! I am definitely not judging. One thing we do know is that investing in quality items that you love is what’s most important. With that said, I can’t wait to get my hands on a few pairs of new shoes! I will be sure to add a style post with how I rock my new steals. Let me know which pair was your favorite in the comments section 🙂
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