Cheryl Shops

I bought these leopard-print Madewell Dimes boots earlier this year on major sale, shoved them in the back of my closet...then promptly forgot about them until I was recently doing some cleaning. This doesn't happen to me as frequently as you'd expect; most of the time, I am very excited to wear my new things, but in this case, my timing was off in terms of seasonality. Thankfully, it's now peak fall and peak boot season, so here they are. I was first attracted to the Dimes boot because it's a dupe of the Staud Wally boot, which is itself a dupe for the Khaite Arizona boot. (Yes, I'm sharing yet another Khaite dupe—the fact that this brand is so popular yet so easy to knock off is...thought-provoking.) What all of these styles have in common is a squared toe, a boxy ankle, and a low, set-back heel—all of which are things I love in a boot. There are pros and cons to each (starting with price!), but I've done a thorough analysis. Read on for my honest thoughts.

Khaite Arizona vs. Staud Wally vs. Madewell Dimes

The Khaite Arizona boot: This is the "original" and I put that in quotes because it's honestly a '90s-inspired low black boot with a squared-off toe, e.g. not reinventing the wheel. The inward slope of the heel is really cool, though, and the fact that these are pull-ons appeals to me (I am really not a fan of zippers on boots), however that can make these hard to get in and out of for some people. The other defining feature is a seam that runs vertically along the instep, all the way to the toe—it's interesting from a design perspective but can create a bifurcated effect (and potentially make your feet look extra-long, if that's a concern). And while made of Italian calfskin, they're also $990, which is likely cost-prohibitive for most people. 

The Staud Wally Boot: This boot gets the center seam detail and the toe shape correct, but the heel—while still with an interesting sculpted shape—is more vertical, so it lacks that cool backward-leaning effect. The shape through the ankle is a little more fitted as well, which necessitates the presence of a dreaded side zipper (although to many people, this may be a plus rather than a minus). I think this would be a solid everyday investment boot, i.e. the pair you are willing to spend a little more on because you'll be wearing them so much—they're a fairly reasonable $395. 

The Madewell Dimes Boot: Sometimes an original has to walk so a knockoff can run (and honestly, the Dimes is so comfy, you probably can run in them). This boot has a lot going for it. The boxy shape of the shaft is more similar to the Khaite, but Madewell solved two problems by 1) putting a zipper in and 2) placing it along the back of the boot, rather than the sides, to not ruin the line (and to obscure it from the view of picky people like me). The height and shape of the heel is closer to the Staud—again, it's missing the inward slope—but this boot then totally veers off course with a traditional two-piece construction, rather than the vertical center seam that the Khaite and Staud boots have. And while that totally disqualifies this style as a 1:1 dupe, I actually like it better; I ordered the knee-high version, which does have that center seam, and I absolutely hated how they fit (too narrow in the foot, too slouchy in the shaft). The Dimes also gets bonus points for coming in a variety of suedes and leathers; my leopard-print haircalf is unfortunately no longer available, but they do have a really cool studded black leather this season. Oh, and did I mention it's $198? (Wait for Madewell's upcoming Black Friday sale and you can get them for even less.) 

My honest review

Of course, the Madewell Dimes boot is not a 1:1 dupe—like my Gap cardigan, it's more heavily inspired by than exact replica—but it improves on the original in several ways, from the back zipper to the more comfortable toe shape. While I have not tried on the Staud or Khaite boots, I can attest the Madewell Dimes is incredibly comfortable; I can wear them for hours of walking or standing without any pain in the ball of my foot, which is major for a person like me who now works from home and spends most of her day in slippers. They run true to size (I'm in my usual 8.5) and you can comfortably fit a thin sock underneath. I would definitely consider buying them in another color, and the studded black leather is especially tempting. Sure, it doesn't have that telltale curved heel, but I think this boot is cool enough to stand on its own. And for a fraction of the cost, it can afford to. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Old Navy barn jacket | Xirena gauze Scout shirt | Zara marine straight jeans | Isabel Marant Lecce belt | Madewell Dimes Boot