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    1. Fashion

    I've found the most-expensive looking shoes on the high-street

    You spent how much?

    Penny Goldstone's avatar
    By Penny Goldstone
    Published 11 August 2024 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    expensive looking shoes
    (Image credit: Massimo Dutti/ Zara)
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    I've been a fashion editor long enough to know that you don't have to spend a fortune to look chic, and that goes for expensive-looking high-street shoes.

    Of course, I love a designer handbag as much as the next person, and there are cult designer items that just can't be copied, however, if you look in the right high-street stores, you can find some luxe-looking pieces that won't trigger alarm bells with your banker.

    These expensive-looking handbags and fashion high-street buys prove it. Just a couple of months ago, I bought these Zara strappy sandals for just £35.99, and I always get compliments when I wear them, so much so that several women in the office have bought them too.

    There are plenty of other premium styles at stores like COS, Arket and Massimo Dutti, as well as H&M and Mango. Some of the pricier styles tend to be made of leather and will set you back around £100, but compared to designer heels, that's a bargain. And remember leather styles will last that much longer.

    Influencers are embracing high-street styles too, with Vanessa Rose Blair styling Mango heels with straight leg jeans, a white t-shirt and a blazer, and Zeena Xena pairing River Island ballet flats with a bubble skirt and printed tee.

    expensive looking shoes

    (Image credit: Instagram/vanessaroseblair)

    expensive looking shoes

    (Image credit: Instagram/zeenaxena)

    But you can also buy plenty of sandals, ballet pumps and heels for less than £50, and no one will be able to tell the difference. I particularly love H&M's mesh flats, a huge trend this Spring/Summer 2024.

    The key is to finding simple, paired-back silhouettes with minimal embellishments (these are often the tell tale signs as they can look cheap).

    For summer, I'm loving barely-there sandals and wedges (very new Chloé), and I'll be transitioning into simple ballet flats and ankle boots when it gets cooler. I've included plenty of styles to suit all occasions below, so keep scrolling.

    Shop expensive-looking high-street shoes

    river island sandals

    River Island, Black Leather Flatform Sandals
    £40 AT RIVER ISLAND

    Heel Leather Sandals

    Mango, Heel Leather Sandals
    £49.99 AT MANGO

    massimo dutti shoes

    Massimo Dutti, Flat sandals with metallic embellishment
    £119 AT MASSIMO DUTTI

    massimo dutti shoes

    Massimo Dutti, Crossover wedges
    £129 AT MASSIMO DUTTI

    Embellished Slingback Pumps

    & Other Stories, Embellished Slingback Pumps
    £125 AT & OTHER STORIES

    Mesh Ballet Pumps

    H&M, Mesh Ballet Pumps
    £21.99 AT H&M

    Buckled Ballet Flats

    COS, Buckled Ballet Flats
    £115 AT COS

    Zara sandals

    Zara, heeled sandals
    £79.99 AT ZARA

    Leather Loafers - Black - Arket Gb

    Arket, Leather Loafers
    £179 AT ARKET

    Zara sandals

    Zara, embroidered sandals
    £69.99 AT ZARA

    Zara sandals

    Zara, embellished sandals
    £35.99 AT ZARA

    Kurt Geiger sandals

    Kurt Geiger, tan slides
    £99 AT KURT GEIGER

    Lace Ballerina Shoes With Bow

    Mango, Lace Ballerina Shoes With Bow
    £19.99 AT MANGO

    Square Toe Zip-Up Ankle Boots

    Charles & Keith, Square Toe Zip-Up Ankle Boots
    £75 AT CHARLES & KEITH

    Office boots

    Office, Karly Kitten Heel Knee Boots
    £25 AT OFFICE

    Next clogs

    Neutral Forever Comfort Leather Clogs
    £38 AT NEXT

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Penny Goldstone
    Penny Goldstone
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    Contributing Fashion Editor

    Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

    She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.

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