Heels, flats, loafers, boots, sandals, dress shoes and luxury sneakers for women and men, judged on make, comfort and value.
Best ListWomen’s luxury sneakers
Designer sneakers for women from Golden Goose, Alexander McQueen, Common Projects, Loro Piana, Dior, Gucci, Chanel and more, judged on comfort, materials and value.
Top pickCommon Projects Achilles Low for Women
Best ListMen’s luxury sneakers
Designer sneakers for men from Common Projects, Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, Berluti, Christian Louboutin and more, compared…
Top pickCommon Projects Original Achilles Low
Best ListMen’s dress shoes
Oxfords, derbies and monk straps from John Lobb, Edward Green, Berluti, Church’s, Crockett & Jones, Santoni, Ferragamo and more, judged…
Top pickJohn Lobb City II Oxford
Best ListMen’s loafers
Penny loafers, horsebit loafers and driving shoes from Gucci, Tod’s, Loro Piana, J.M. Weston, Alden, Ferragamo and more, compared on…
Top pickJ.M. Weston 180 Moccasin
Best ListMen’s luxury boots
Chelsea boots, chukkas and lace-up boots from Saint Laurent, Church’s, Crockett & Jones, R.M. Williams, Berluti, Alden and more, judged…
Top pickJohn Lobb Lawry Boot
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
John Lobb Lawry Boot or Edward Green Cranleigh? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change…
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
Crockett & Jones Chertsey or Alden Indy Boot? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change…
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
John Lobb Romsey or Church’s Leicester Chelsea? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change how…
ReviewDesigner heels
Is the Manolo Blahnik Hangisi 70 worth it? Our buy-or-skip verdict, who it suits, who should skip it and what…
VerdictBuy $1,195–$1,395
ReviewMen’s dress shoes
Is the Berluti Alessandro Galet worth it? Our buy-or-skip verdict, who it suits, who should skip it and what to…
VerdictBuy $2,600–$3,100
ReviewMen’s loafers
Is the J.M. Weston 180 Moccasin Crocodile worth it? Our buy-or-skip verdict, who it suits, who should skip it and…
VerdictConsider $4,500–$6,000
Buying GuideWomen’s flats and loafers
Buying GuideWomen’s designer boots
Buying GuideDesigner sandals
Buying GuideWomen’s luxury sneakers
Every product with its verdict. Buy picks first.
Alaia · Designer heels
Buy it if you want a cult heel.
Pros
Cons
Alden · Men’s luxury boots
Buy it if you want rugged heritage.
Pros
Cons
Alden · Men’s loafers
Buy it if you want an American classic.
Pros
Cons
Alden · Men’s dress shoes
Buy it if you want an American classic.
Pros
Cons
Ancient Greek Sandals · Designer sandals
Buy it if you want handmade leather at a fair price.
Pros
Cons
Aquazzura · Designer heels
Buy it if you want a comfortable slingback.
Pros
Cons
Axel Arigato · Men’s luxury sneakers
Buy it if you want a minimal sneaker for less.
Pros
Cons
Bally · Men’s luxury sneakers
Buy it if you want Swiss heritage.
Pros
Cons
Bally · Men’s dress shoes
Buy it if you want Swiss heritage.
Pros
Cons
Baudoin & Lange · Men’s loafers
Buy it if you want insider elegance.
Pros
Cons
Belgian Shoes · Women’s flats and loafers
Buy it if you want a NYC classic.
Pros
Cons
Berluti · Men’s dress shoes
Buy it if you want Berluti.
Pros
Cons
Berluti · Men’s dress shoes
Buy it if you want Berluti.
Pros
Cons
Berluti · Men’s dress shoes
Buy it if you want a distinctive, patinated oxford.
Pros
Cons
Alexander McQueen · Men’s luxury sneakers
Buy it if you want height.
Pros
Cons
Alexander McQueen · Women’s luxury sneakers
Buy it if you want height and bold look.
Pros
Cons
Amina Muaddi · Designer heels
Buy it if you want a modern statement heel.
Pros
Cons
Aquazzura · Designer sandals
Buy it if you want drama.
Pros
Cons
Aquazzura · Designer heels
Buy it if you want glamour.
Pros
Cons
Aquazzura · Women’s designer boots
Buy it if you want a sleek sock boot.
Pros
Cons
Aquazzura · Designer sandals
Buy it if you want a romantic heel.
Pros
Cons
Berluti · Men’s luxury boots
Buy it if you want Berluti.
Pros
Cons
Berluti · Men’s luxury boots
Buy it if you want distinctive luxury.
Pros
Cons
Balenciaga · Men’s luxury sneakers
Buy it if you want a statement chunky sneaker.
Pros
Cons
See more Designer shoes on Amazon Paid link
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
John Lobb Lawry Boot or Edward Green Cranleigh? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change…
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
Crockett & Jones Chertsey or Alden Indy Boot? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change…
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
John Lobb Romsey or Church’s Leicester Chelsea? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change how…
ComparisonMen’s luxury sneakers
Berluti Playtime Scritto Sneaker or Zegna Triple Stitch Sneaker? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually…
ComparisonMen’s dress shoes
John Lobb City II Oxford or Edward Green Chelsea 202? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that…
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
John Lobb Lawry Boot or John Lobb Romsey? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change…
ComparisonMen’s luxury sneakers
Loro Piana Summer Walk Sneaker or Santoni Leather Sneaker? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually…
ComparisonMen’s dress shoes
Berluti Alessandro Demesure or Carmina Inca Oxford? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change how…
ComparisonMen’s luxury boots
John Lobb Romsey or Red Wing Iron Ranger? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the differences that actually change…
ComparisonMen’s dress shoes
John Lobb City II Oxford or Gaziano & Girling St James II? The buy-or-skip call in one line, then the…
Designer shoes on Opulique covers 9 categories: designer heels, women’s flats and loafers, women’s designer boots, designer sandals, women’s luxury sneakers, men’s luxury sneakers, men’s dress shoes, men’s loafers and men’s luxury boots. In each one we checked the pieces people save up for and gave every one a plain call, buy it or skip it, with the usual price and a one-line reason you can trust.
Designer heels: the Manolo Blahnik BB Pump 90. See the full list.
Women’s flats and loafers: the Loro Piana Summer Walk. See the full list.
Women’s designer boots: the Gianvito Rossi Rolling 85 Boot. See the full list.
Designer sandals: the Hermès Oran Sandal. See the full list.
Women’s luxury sneakers: the Common Projects Achilles Low for Women. See the full list.
Men’s luxury sneakers: the Common Projects Original Achilles Low. See the full list.
Men’s dress shoes: the John Lobb City II Oxford. See the full list.
Men’s loafers: the J.M. Weston 180 Moccasin. See the full list.
Men’s luxury boots: the John Lobb Lawry Boot. See the full list.
Pick a category, read the one-line answer at the top of the list, then open the review or comparison for the piece you like. The skip-if lines are there to stop you paying for a label alone.
Buying in Europe: Italian and French sizes are used on most designer shoes, and they differ from US sizes by brand. Check the house’s own size chart, and remember that many Italian brands run about half a size small.
Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.
Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.
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