I Love Designer Shoes, But My Wallet Doesn't—22 Affordable Pairs That Still Hit

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(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

Most fashion people are shoe people. Naturally, theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing team has collected our fair share of designer shoes over the years to add to our growing wardrobes. While it's quite easy to justify investing in a great coat or timeless bag, convincing yourself to spend hundreds of pounds on a pair of shoes that will see the city's worst (e.g. the floor of the underground at 2 a.m.) is a hard pill to swallow. Thankfully, there are lots of affordable options that just might satisfy your needs in lieu of spending thousands of pounds on a pair of boots.

Below, browse all of the designer shoes our editors are thinking about taking the plunge on—and the affordable options that are nearly as good at a fraction of the cost.

1. T-Bar Sandals

I'm a total sucker for simple, chic footwear—something that The Row specialises in more than any other brand. Unfortunately, I haven't exactly budgeted this month for £740 shoes no matter how gorgeous they are. To maintain the same look without completely blowing through my monthly allowance, I'm eyeing these T-Bar sandals from Mango.

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2. Sculpted Heels

It's safe to say that Prada's warped Mary Jane pumps have permanently altered my brain chemistry. There's something so satisfying about the contrast between the Western stacked heel and the ultra-feminine Mary Jane style, but at £1050 a pop, it's not so satisfying for my wallet. This pair from Charles Keith is doing a good job at filling the Prada-shaped hole in my heart at a mere fraction of the price. I bought them instead and have hardly looked back since. They're just as comfortable as they are cool.

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3. Sophisticated Slingbacks

I've been coming back to these Saint Laurent slingbacks every other day, but the price keeps holding me back from actually adding them to my cart. After a little research, I came across this Zara pair that just might do the trick without draining my shopping budget.

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4. Metallic Heels

These ruched, silver Khaite slingbacks are my springtime dream shoe, but leave it to Zara to create a wonderful alternative. They're simpler than the Khaite pair, but they'll provide a similar trend-forward element to whatever outfits they're paired with.

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5. Circular Cutouts

Alaïa definitely falls into the less duplicatable of designer brands (there's so much intricate detail in every design), so when I fell in love with its sculptural mules, I didn't expect to find something similar within my price range. Jeffrey Campbell's version managed to nail the main elements of the Alaïa pair with a fun, modern twist of its own: an ankle strap and circle cutout.

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6. Ballerina Flats

Anyone who's anyone knows my love for ballerina flats. Frankly, they're the only thing I wear. And while I've shelled out an arm and a leg for not one, but two pairs of Miu Miu lace-up ballerinas, I can't justify buying a third pair even if they're slightly different with a satin finish and elastic strap. Maybe one day in the future I'll pick them up, but for now, I'll take the under-£80 Mango option. They have the same shape without being extremely out of my price range—a total win in my book.

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This story originally appeared onBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing U.S. 

Next up: I Have Simple Style and Live In Flats—These Are the Only Styles I Care About

Assistant Shopping Editor
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitated). AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joiningBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)