I absolutely adore the look of the Loeffler Randall signature pleated lamé knot heels; they’re such a versatile pair of shoes and are the perfect little pop of shimmer to an outfit! I originally fell in love with the Emilia and Penny mule styles, but Loeffler Randall also offers two versions with an ankle strap — one with a taller heel height called the Camellia as well as one with a shorter heel called the Dahlia.
I want to preface my post with this note: normally, when it comes to designer items I will save up to buy the real thing (I want to support designers by buying their products!), but because of my hyperhidrosis I tend to RUIN shoes in a very short time so I just can’t justify the cost of these adorable shoes! I wish so much that I could invest in a real pair… I hear great things from friends that own them!
This prompted me to go on an extensive digital hunt for a similar-enough replacement at a more affordable price. I found a few versions of the ankle-strapped heeled mules, but all of the available options seemed to be made with poor quality, and worse, some were just very obvious rip-offs of the designer pair — I just couldn’t bring myself to support that kind of business! Thank goodness my new favorite clothing brand (Sézane) created their own variation in the Noelie Sandal (also here). You already know that this girl loves her bows and I especially love them on my shoes as a little flair of interest to an otherwise simple or “boring” outfit.
Sézane is currently offering the Noelie sandal in Gold, Navy, Green; they did have a beautiful Peach color which is sold out at the moment, but if you’re interested in that color you should sign up for their email newsletter and give them a follow on their social media accounts). Additional advice I will offer when it comes to ordering from Sézane: DO NOT WAIT TO PLACE AN ORDER. Their items are made in small batches (as part of their commitment to sustainability) and when they’re gone, they’re gone. On the rare occasion that someone makes a return, you may be able to find what you’re looking for if you monitor the website pretty closely, but I’ve been disappointed by this before; if the items don’t end up working for you, you can always return them. I don’t often encourage this kind of behavior (I typically mull over purchases for weeks -or longer- before I pull the trigger), but for pieces from this brand, you’ve gotta pounce on the stuff you love when you can!
The only major difference between the two versions of the shoe is that the material isn’t quite the same — the gold pebbled leather and crinkly lamé both look very luxe, but the textures are definitely different. At least they both have the bow on the toes which I absolutely LOVE and is one of the main reasons why I fell for Loeffler Randall shoes in the first place! Unfortunately, I think that if Sézane had chosen a material closer to the lamé, it would no longer be considered “inspired by” and become more of a “knockoff” so this is as close to a legitimate replacement as I will be able to get (hey, I’ll take it!). I am trying to decide whether I want to order the Gold or wait for the Peach (as a possible Rose Gold substitution)… but I’ll have to act fast or else they’ll be gone in my size!
If you’re lucky, you may be able to find a pair in your size on Poshmark, but I have personally been hard pressed to find this style available there in any size… it’s been a customer favorite!
* EDIT 08.08.2022 *
I found another!! These adorable gilded bow knot heels are from J.Crew Factory (surprising, right?!) and they look like they’d be an excellent option! I haven’t tried this pair so I can’t speak to their quality, but they sure have a great look to them. Worth a try!
* EDIT 09.09.2022 *
If you are of the platform persuasion, these new Sam Edelman stunners should fit the bill! They’re a knot that doesn’t include a bow, but the gilded vibe is very much the same. They also come in a non-platform style that has the same glittery gold knot and ankle strap. Such fun party shoes!!!
I hope that this post helps you if you’re in a similar situation where you love the designer version, but the pricepoint is a little too far out of your budget. I’m including a few of the outfits that I’ve created within the StyleBook app to give you an idea of how I plan to wear these shoes and provide you with a little inspo too!
It would be remiss of me not to mention that Loeffler Randall recently started offering AfterPay which allows the customer the ability to pay for their desired product(s) in 4 equal installments. So, if you just can’t live without “the real thing” (and I totally get it! I adore LR!) you can take advantage of this new feature on their site at checkout!
I hope this post was helpful for those of you also wanting the look for less!
You can find more of my dupe finds here.
Happy shopping, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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