• The Look For Less: Valentino Rockstud Kitten Heel – $995 vs. $115
• The Look For Less: 3.1 Phillip Lim Medium Pashli – $895 vs. $75
• The Look For Less: Hermés Lindy – $5,900 vs. $47.74
• The Look For Less: Balenciaga City Bag – $2,190 vs. $105
• The Look For Less: Balenciaga Ceinture Ankle Boot – $1,275 vs. $100

Pros

• Price ($100)
• Genuine leather
• Comfortable
• Perfect stitching

Cons

• Ankle straps unbuckle often
• Tongue slides to the side
• Slight differences in design compared to original
• Ships from China

Genuine Leather

Because these shoes are made with polished calfskin, it can be a little tricky to figure out which Aliexpress sellers are selling genuine leather ones or polyurethane (PU) pleather. Make sure to read the item description carefully before purchasing from any seller – if you’re vegan, it would be unfortunate if you wound up getting a pair of genuine leather boots in the mail, or vice versa. If you’re extremely unsure, you can always send the seller a message to confirm.

RELATED POST – THE LOOK FOR LESS: STUART WEITZMAN’S HIGHLAND BOOT – $798 VS. $99

I personally always try to go for genuine leather goods because I prefer longevity to any shoes or handbags I purchase. My boots are made with leather, although unlike the original, it lacks thickness. The Balenciaga’s tongue and 2 front folds that wrap around the left and right of the tongue are made of 2 layers of leather stitched together, whereas these boots only have one layer of leather.

Despite that, by no means does this mean the shoe is cheap in quality: it’s still got some weight to it thanks to the thick and supportive sole, and the stitching ensures that nothing will unravel at the seams.

Comparable Hardware

The original Balenciaga is made of thin metal buckles, eyelets and hardware that definitely isn’t plastic. Neither are the ones on these boots: they’re quite durable.

I’ve also yet to see any tarnishing or discoloration on the hardware yet after 1 year of owning these shoes, so I take it as a good sign that the hardware isn’t low quality.

RELATED POST – DESIGNER-INSPIRED HANDBAGS UNDER $80 FOR FALL AND WINTER 2017

The problem I do have with the hardware is that the buckle frequently seems to undo itself, but I also feel like this is an error in design and not the shoe itself. The ankle strap is awkward if you buckle it too tight, but wearing it loose results in the buckle flopping around as you walk and may unbuckle itself from time to time.

Another flaw is that the tongues tend to stray sideways, but that seems to be a universal problem with any kind of combat boot during the “break-in” phase. My Doc Martens also had this problem in the beginning, but being adamant about sliding them back into place will “train” them into the correct place.

Soles

The soles of the shoe are surprisingly comfortable: although they don’t have a fancy arched footbed, they’re made of a cushioned material that your feet somewhat “sink” into. Over time, it’s contoured to the arches of my feet.

Take note that the cutout design of the boot will show your socks, even ankle socks. So if you’re like me and can’t stand to wear enclosed shoes without socks, then invest in ballet flat socks because they’re low enough to stay concealed but won’t get your feet sweaty. I actually buy mine for $3/pair at my local Daiso store, so if you’ve got one near you, it’s worth getting a pair. If not, you can always try getting some of these on Amazon.

RELATED POST – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEGAL DESIGNER-INSPIRED HANDBAGS AND FAKE DESIGNER GOODS

More Designer-Inspired:

• Designer-Inspired Handbags Under $80
• The Look For Less: Hermés Lindy – $5,900 vs. $47.74
• 4 Hermés Birkin-Inspired Handbags By Ainifeel: Crocodile, Ostrich and More
• Designer-Inspired Gift Guide: Italian Leather Handbags Under $105 From Fashion Drug
• Designer-Inspired by Ainifeel: Chanel Medium Classic Flap Bag – $4,900 vs. $125

Overall: These boots are a win in my book if you’re looking for a comfortable flat boot that is unique in design. You can grab them in silver hardware, gold, or even gunmetal gray depending on what seller you pick. Some sellers also carry the shoe in white or burgundy – see links below.

To buy these Balenciaga Ceinture-inspired boots for $100, click here or visit the other sellers below. Will you be getting yourself a pair? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get more news of designer-inspired items delivered straight to your email.

Sold out? Check out other sellers:

• Men Handmade Oxfords Store – $75.95 (genuine leather)
• Chmaori Beautiful Footwear Store – $90.73 (genuine leather)
• Luchfive Sexy Shoe Store  – $95.22 (genuine leather)
• Trend Footwear Store – $98.70 (genuine leather)

Vegan synthetic options:

• Wetry Store – $100.47 (vegan synthetic PU)
• Moraima Footwear Store – $65.00 (vegan synthetic PU)
• Carole Levy Shoe Store – $55.92 (vegan synthetic PU)
• Niu Niu Boutique Store – $38.79 (vegan synthetic PU)
• Good Footwear Store – $72.99 (vegan synthetic PU)
• Carpaton Fashionable Official Store – $76.00 (vegan synthetic PU)