Charlotte Olympia Maxine sandals

• 38,940 PHP ($825) - net-a-porter.com
• Plum suede slingback sandals with a heel that measures approximately 140mm / 5.5 inches with a 30mm / 1 inch island platform. Charlotte Olympia sandals have a metallic fuchsia leather heel and platform, a peep toe, cutout detailing at the sides, a tassel-detailed gold-tone zip fastening at front and a gold-tone spider web design on black leather sole.

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Python Web Suede Sandals

• 1.100 EUR - luisaviaroma.com
• 135 mm suede covered tapered heel. Cut-out open toe. 25 mm suede covered platform. Cut-out Python leather application across arch creating web shape. Back zip closure. Leather sole.

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Camilla Skovgaard Leather cutout sandals

• $475 - net-a-porter.com
• Burnt orange crocodile-pattern stamped leather sandals with a heel that measures approximately 120mm / 4.5 inches with a 15mm / 0.5 inch platform. Camilla Skovgaard sandals have cutout detailing, a serrated contrast platform, contrast black stitching and a buckle fastening at the back. Designer color: flame.

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Charlotte Olympia Dolly leather platform pumps

• $795 - net-a-porter.com
• Gold, black and brown leather animal print pumps with a black ribbed heel that measures approximately 140mm / 5.5 inches with a black velvet 30mm / 1 inch island platform. Charlotte Olympia pumps have an almond toe, signature spiderweb on sole and simply slip on.

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Christian Louboutin Candy studded flats

• $675 - net-a-porter.com
• Black patent leather flats. Christian Louboutin flats have a round toe, demi-sheer lace side panels, silver-tone studding at toe, silver-tone zip trim and bow detail at toe, a black grosgrain trim, signature red soles and simply slip on.

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Gian Marco Lorenzi Fringed Leather Boots With Studs

• 799 GBP - farfetch.com
• Black leather high heel calf boots by Gianmarco Lorenzi. The boots have a high double platform sole and a rounded toe. The top of the boot is decorated with leather fringing, embellished with chrome studs with a leather strap running down the outer side. The high heel has a glossy black finish.

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Leather Platform Shoe with Suede Toe

• 42,860 PHP (575 GBP) - brownsfashion.com
• Black leather platform shoe with suede toe. The shoe has a hidden platform and an almond shaped toe. High heel. Raise your fashion profile with these leather platform shoes from Charlotte Olympia. Team with any outfit this coming season for uptown status with an edge.
• Buy at brownsfashion.com

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Christian Louboutin’s Fetish-Worthy Sandal Boots

Is it designer shoe deja-vu when it is high-end borrowing from high-street and/or alternative fashion?

I have seen a lot of online rants over copycat and designer-inspired fashion. Certain consumers hate the idea of brand-dilution that they perceive to occur as trends spread out into the general populace. Others love the opportunity to get a designer look or similar style at a fraction of the runway price.

Interestingly, I rarely see discussions on brand-dilution or concerns over intellectual property when this situation occurs in reverse.

I’m also curious when this style-borrowing happens at the haute-couture level. At what price range and perceived quality level do shoes move from being outrageously stripperlicious (thank you jitterbugbaby for adding that word to my vocabulary) and instead transform into glamourous, runway-quality, high-fashion objects? If these styles were made by anyone other than shoe-royalty, would women be lining up to own such styles?

Today’s case in point:

Christian Louboutin’s ‘multi-buckle sandals $1495 at Saks.com

This hybrid sandal boot is straight out of the ‘more buckles, more skin’ school of footwear-as-lingerie. Heck, if you are a size 6, you can get a very similar look on clearance over at 6pm.com; and at a fraction of the above price:

Report ‘Diaz’ $87.75 $175 at 6pm.com

I actually prefer the Report boot over the current season Louboutin version. I like that the Report boot has a softer feel due to its natural leather upper and its more-rounded cut-out styling.

Anyway, I’m of the opinion that fashion is cyclical. High-fashion borrows from low and low-fashion borrows from high; this back-and-forth cycle helps keeps fashion feeling fresh and dynamic.

Here’s a question:

What type of consumer criticisms might have occurred if the Report shoes had appeared the season after the Louboutin’s instead of before? I’ve seen enough folks cry ‘Copy!’ ‘Get your own designs!’ over the appearance of a plain black platform pump that I have to admit to being curious to the answer on this one.

I welcome your thoughts and observations.

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Nike Terminator High Basic Womens – White Emerald-Green Orange

These Terminators are real basic, yet unique. The shoe features a white leather base with patent leather along with metallic emerald green on the swoosh, back heel and ankle panels. Laces, tongue and midsole stitching sport Orange. The rest of the shoe is white. These are available now at select retailers for $110.

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Azzedine Alaia Tie-Up Leather Sandal with Rivets

• Tie-Up Leather Sandal with Rivets

• 80,637 PHP (1,035 GBP) - brownsfashion.com
• Black tie-up leather sandal with rivets. Peep toe. Sandals tie with lace. Rivets sit throughout the sandals. A zip sits at the back of the shoe. The top of the shoe sits just above the ankle. High heel. Elevate your chic status with these tie-up leather sandals from Azzedine Alaia. Wear with skinny denim or an LBD for a chic yet downtown look.

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