At this point you could almost joke that my favourite pastime is tracking down affordable alternatives for the season’s most wanted designer shoes. I actually shared a rather extensive round up recently on my YouTube channel (you can watch here!). Two of these styles made their way into my basket, and I wanted to share them with you as they both feel pretty timeless. Despite having serious champagne taste on a beer budget in my early twenties, these days I’m much more inclined to think about how I can emulate a mood or a feeling. Seeking out more budget-friendly alternatives to designer must-haves. Nine times out of ten it always extinguishes the desire for the more high end option, too. So let’s chat through these two chic, minimal shoes which will give you the designer look, for much, much, less.
Nelson Made Juliet Midi Dupe
First up is this strappy style which bears a striking resemblance to the Juliet Midi Sandal from Nelson Made. Which in turn, feels a little inspired by The Row’s bare sandals. Basically, that 90s vibe minimalist strappy sandal. Chic, and to me feels less like a micro-trend, and more like a classic. This style has a squared off heel which gives plenty of support, and I love the tubular straps. The curved nature feels really comfortable against the foot. 10 out of 10, these are easy to walk in, the leather feels soft and malleable, and I like that there’s a few colour options to choose from. There’s often a promotion on too, so you can usually snap these up for 30% off. You can shop the dupe HERE.
Aeyde Uma Mary Janes Dupe
The second style, I actually have the designer version of. A dupe for Aeyde’s Uma Mary Janes. A few months’ back, you’d be hard pressed to get your hands on the Aeyde pair, though there’s plenty of options out there now. I personally love the squared off toe, which adds a bit of a modern touch. I was asked recently if I think Mary Janes are a classic, and my answer was two-fold. Yes, in the sense that they’ll always be part of a specific style library – feminine, slightly preppy. And if that’s you, you may have been wearing these all along, and right now you’re lucky enough to have options. Lots and lots of options. But also, no. In the sense that, right now they’re popular. We’re seeing this style everywhere. But in a year or two, that interest will fade as trends shift towards a different flat shoe (probably back to loafers in a big way – right now it’s a ballet flat mood).
It’s why my personal view point on trends is to consider longevity for you. Some trends will end up forming part of your personal style story regardless of whether other people move on. And that’s how the mary-jane feels for me. I love a ballet flat and this is an easy alternative which has a slightly different profile – I love nuance, so it feels justified for me.
But back to the shoes. It’s interesting reflecting, that the Aeyde style was essentially a less expensive take on The Row again. Which leans in on the very fact that the Olsen’s brand has played a role in setting shoe trends over the past 5 or so years. And these are such a good affordable option, which again you’ll regularly find on sale for 30% off. These are a regular fit, so would best recommend them for those with narrow or regular width feet. If you have a wider foot like I do, you’ll find that they feel like a little bit of a squeeze. One of the things I really like is the puffy cushioning at the heel, and also the colour range. And unlike the originals, these are in a matte leather so add in a softer element to your outfit. You can shop the dupe HERE.
