Hey!

So if you’re a Fashion Bomb vet, you’d know that I’ve had my run ins with rocking knockoffs. When my family took a trip to China in 2006, I copped a fake Burberry scarf that led to a queen calling me out…it was embarrassing enough for me to swear off knockoffs for good!

For that reason, I hmmm very hard when I spy a knockoff anywhere, especially outside of Chinatown stalls.

Reader Chesley alerted me to a site called www.amiclubwear.com that sells an exact replica of Giuseppe Zanotti’s $1,020 open toe ankle boots …for $46:

Can you spot the difference?

If you can’t, then you may be able to justify buying the lower priced version. I mean, you can definitely get the look for a lot less.

But typically with a $46 shoe, you get what you pay for: a slanted, easily breakable stiletto heel, fake leather, and studs that will pop off with even the slightest turn.

Is it even worth it? And can you handle the fear of being spotted with a *gasp* fake?

*The $46 Open Toe Studded Dress Bootie is on the left. The Zanotti’s are on the the right.

35 thoughts on “Fashion Discussion : Knockoff Shoes?”

  1. I dont see was wrong with wearing the cheaper version. Im not trying to live outside of my means so if I see a good replica of a shoe that I like, Im gonna cop it. Sorry

  2. Agreed. I’m not spending my last dime so that others can be impressed with my clothes’ price tags. That’s not important to me. Now some blatant fakes are just awful…for example fake coach purses. But a cheaper version of a dress or shoe? Come ON, I mean unless you’re just ballin’ outta control I don’t see a problem with going a cheaper option.

  4. Unfortunately, as a young girl (freshman in college, haha) I bought some shoes from amiclubwear.com….with much regret to this day. The shoes were cheap and painful.

    I guess if you’re only going to spend a few hours at the club and then drive back home, these might be acceptable, but you will look broke down.

    Just wanted to share my experience since I wasn’t able to find reviews before my purchase. Claire is right: You get what you pay for.

  5. I agree! I spent like $600+ years ago on those Manolo Blahnik Construction Boots and yes they were VERY real, and the heel broke twice! Mind u my some of my friends had the Steve Madden version and they never broke. So ur not always paying for quality. I do High-Low with my wardrobe.

  6. I don’t do knock offs. I would rather buy a nice DKNY or Guess bag than buy a fake (fill in the blank) handbag anyday.

  7. I see nothing wrong with buying something that is inspired by high end designers. Steve Madden, Aldo, Bakers, bebe (recognizable brands) all have shoes that are similar to high end designers and are of good quality. Even high end designers have shoes that look alike. Its best to purchase what you can afford. But keep quality in mind.

    I have an issue with trying to pass off shoes as something that they are not. You can buy a black pump without a red sole, and still achieve the same amount of style. Here’s an inspired shoe I bought without knowing. http://thestyleaficionado.com/2010/04/splurge-vs-steal-black-cage-detail-booties/

  8. I don’t mind replicas of expensive shoes, but you can look at those and tell they will hurt the hell out of your feet. If you’re going to sit down the whole night, go for it!

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  10. I can’t wear very cheap heels for the fact that I’m rather top heavy and the added pressure of cheap heels will usually give me severe back pain. My best heels are great quality but still only cost me $160 (Australian dollars, and on sale) and I feel the greatest test was the night that I wore them, walked in them, and danced in them for 6 hours straight and was able to walk the next day without crying :) indeed, you do get what you pay for.

  11. Expensive is not always better. I have a real pair of Louboutins and let me tell you THEY HURT! They look nice but are not comfortable. I also have shoes from Aldos, Steve Madden, etc and some of them I can walk in all day. I think an inspired shoe is okay as long as your not parading around calling them the real thing

  12. this is somewhat off topic but every pair of steve madden boots i have purchased have had the heel part worn out rather quickly. I am a college student so when I spend $100+ on a pair of shoes I expect them to last more than 2 months. Its not like I wear them every week or that I put alot of weight on them (I’m 120- 130)..after 2 pairs I’m convinced its due to poor quality…but yea I just wanted to vent. lol

  13. @Frankie, sounds like you’re doing something wrong, hun. All of your shoes wearing out on the second wear…hmmm.

  14. I’ll spend the money on a ‘classic’ piece, but if it’s just a trendy item, I don’t see the problem with buying a lower-priced version. I don’t want to live beyond my means. If I had the money, it would be a different story.

  15. Ok, so I don’t wear cheap knockoff ones from Rainbow or Deb in the mall. But I will put on a pair of shoes from Bakers, or Macys that were inspired by a certain look.

  16. Trendy shoes can always get away with knock-off style. There are some brands that make really nice knock-off (Nine-West, Bakers, etc). You dont always have to buy the $15 Rainbow jawns…yes, you can even step-up your knock-off game! LOL

  17. I will never buy a pair of cheap knock off shoes. I have a high arch and usually cheap shoes are not only cheap material but very unsupportive.

    When buying expensive shoes I always divide the price by how many times I will wear them, ie: a $600 pair of shoes worn 6 times really only cost $100.

  18. Good point – retailers like Nine West, etc. do sell better quality ‘inspired’ items that last MUCH longer than the cheap ones.

  20. I will wear an “inspired” look as long as it’s good quality. I can’t justify wearing a pair of shoes that cost more than my monthly rent.
    I bought my first pair of Manolos years ago and the heel broke after 2 months. After that, I was convinced designer shoes aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. I prefer good quality over a widely recognized name.

  21. I’ll spend the money on a ‘classic’ piece, but if it’s just a trendy item, I don’t see the problem with buying a lower-priced version. I don’t want to live beyond my means. If I had the money, it would be a different story.

  22. look, I refuse to pay $4000 for the Louboutin heels I want so when Steve Madden made a knockoff that was only a mere $120… best believe I bought them and I wear them and will continue to do so.

  23. I dont have a problem w/ shoes- inspired by…or replicas.. like the Ambiclubwear..or when stevemadden, or bebe copies a shoe or dress.

    what I dont like- is when the shoe is all out fake w/ the word Christian Louboutin in it and all…or a bag w/ LV all over it..when you got it from Canal…
    there are tons of fly bags that have similar looks…shoes as well…without being a straight bootleg version
    That’s tacky to me.

  24. There is a huge difference between a knockoff and an inspired look. Designers make their clothing and shoes to inspire trends and trickle down to lower end department stores and trendy stores like H&M, Zara, Forever21 etc.

    Inspired is TOTALLY fine. Rocking a shoe with a fake label not so much.

  25. I will buy a knockoff in a minute, I am not spending a grip on something that is in for a couple of months

  26. I’m not crazy about knockoffs, especially when they’re trying to showcase the name brand’s logo all over the item. Super tacky! However, I do love an inspired design. I usually purchase my shoes from Nine West, Aldo, and Baker’s. Their shoes are well made for the most part, they don’t break the bank, they’re usually pretty comfortable and I’ve owned mine for years and I’ll still compliments on my shoe game. Now sometimes I’ll shop for shoes at Barefeet and get a really cute pair that cost me no more than $30. I usually do that if I want something really trendy or I want a pair to match with a certain outfit. We need to learn to not sacrifice all our money on style and that what brand of clothing we wear and how much we spend does not determine our self worth anyway.

  27. i’ll buy a pair of inspired shoes, but not straight knockoffs. if it has the logo of the designer piece that it was inspired by anywhere on it, then that’s tacky, but if it’s in the same style as a designer brand, and i like it, i’ll buy it. i never get shoes from rainbow or forever 21 or any store like that though. i try to stick to nine west or aldo if i’m going buy something designer inspired.

  28. I think just be real, not everyone has $1000+ to drop on a shoe for name sake. There are plenty of “real” shoes that have failed the test of time just like the knock offs. I mean with the knock off at least you know they’re bound to fail. I mix it up any which way, but don’t ever claim to be rocking the real thing, that’s just sad and I don’t need a name to give me confidence.

  29. I think some cheaper shoes can be better than the real, but it’s rare. So “you get what you pay for” isn’t always right but it normally is.

  30. I worked at steve madden many moons ago and while I was there many shoes were returned bc of shoddy workmanship. One customer in particular bought a pair of “Prada” platform sandals, wore them to a party that night and ended up breaking her arm and collar bone bc the sole came unglued while she was walking down stairs.
    The problem with knock-offs is some of these lower priced designers dont even take the time to change any of the design details to make the item their own and thats stealing. Yes I know everyone is inspired by everything but when youre too lazy to change the zipper pull or swith to studs from grommets I wonder where else you are cutting corners.

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