I absolutely adore the look of the Loeffler Randall signature pleated lamé knot heels; they’re such a versatile pair of shoes and add just the right amount of zjoosh to an outfit! I originally fell in love with the Emilia and Penny mule styles, but Loeffler Randall also offers two similar versions that have the addition of 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 personally can’t always justify the cost of high-end shoes!
While e-shopping, I stumbled upon a pair of shoes that distinctly reminded me of the Loeffler Randall Dahlia shoe in leopard print (which was a limited edition)! 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 — the addition of a little leopard just kicks (😏) it up an extra notch! I’m not usually one to wear much animal print (only because when I do I feel like Fran Drescher in “The Nanny”…), but I definitely enjoy using the pattern to accent my outfit with something like a belt, bag, or shoes. As Jenna Lyons says, “As far as I’m concerned, leopard is a neutral.” 😉
The major difference between the two versions of the shoe is the material — the crinkly lamé texture of the LR version is definitely different from the polyester material of the Loft pair. 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 Loft had chosen to cover the block heels with fabric, used a different spotted print, or a material more similar to 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 you’ll probably be able to find if you want a similar look for less.
If you’re lucky you may be able to find a pair in your size via Poshmark — it’s my favorite place to shop for things that are sold out (it can be challenging to search on Poshmark if the seller doesn’t use the right terminology for the item, but these were called “LOFT bow high heel sandal” so those terms may help your search!). You may even be able to find the leopard Loeffler Randall version there as well!
What I love about these shoes is that the leopard pattern is extremely versatile… they could work with both dressy and casual outfits during any season that you are able to wear open-toed 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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