Alright so here’s how my whole shoe hunt went down. Seriously obsessed with those Miu Miu Mary Janes lately, you know the ones? Chunky heel, that perfect strap, just screams cool. But girl, my wallet screamed back even louder. Way too pricey for me right now. So I figured, other brands gotta make similar stuff, right? Let’s go digging.
Stage One: Trying To Google Like A Detective
First thing I did? Stared at my screen typing every combo I could think of. Punched in things like:
- brands similar to miu miu shoes
- miu miu mary jane look alikes
- cheaper version of miu miu mj
- chunky heel mary jane with thick strap
Got pages and pages of results, mostly full of more Miu Mius or totally different styles. Annoying. Also got flooded by those cheap copycat sites. Scrolled past those real fast.
Stage Two: Actually Hitting Up Stores & Websites
Since google wasn’t playing nice, I decided to just start looking at brands I kinda thought might have that vibe. Went online first ’cause walking around all day wasn’t happening.
- Charles & Keith: Found a few pairs! Some had the chunky heel but a thinner strap. Others had the strap but a block heel instead. Close, but not quite hitting that exact MJ coolness. Prices were way better though.
- Sam Edelman: Always reliable for trends. Found two contenders! One had a super thick strap and chunk heel, almost perfect. Leather felt different though, less buttery maybe? Price was decent.
- Steve Madden: Tons of Mary Janes. Like, overwhelming amounts. Sorting through them took ages. Found a few with chunk heels but often too many buckles or extra bits. Feels more trend-pumpy, less timeless cool like Miu Miu aims for.
- Zara: My usual go-to. Hit and miss. Found one pair that looked promising in pics. Ordered them. Tried them on. The leather felt… well, like Zara. Stiff. And the fit was weird, boxy toe. Sent ’em back. Next!
- ASOS: Just dove into their own brands and others they carry. Filtered for Mary Janes, chunk heel. Found some gems from brands like Missguided or New Look. Some looked great online but reviews mentioned flimsy straps or heels snapping. Passed on those. Found a cool pair by “Public Desire,” the heel was right, strap was thick, reviews seemed okay. Took a note.
- & Other Stories: Got excited here. Saw a few pairs last season that nailed it. Sadly, nothing exactly right now during my hunt. Reminded me to check back often though.
Stage Three: The Hidden Gems & Niche Players
Thinking I needed to look beyond the mall brands.
- Jeffrey Campbell: Always does quirky-cool. Found a pair! Super chunky heel, thick strap. Loved it. But it had like, little metal stud details? Made it feel edgier, not the clean Miu Miu look. Still cool, but different.
- L’Intervalle: Came recommended. Scrolled their site. Beautiful shoes! Quality looks top-notch. Found a MJ with a nice block heel and strap. Definitely sophisticated, but maybe leaned a bit more classic than ‘cool girl’? Beautiful though.
- Coach: Poked around. Some MJs tend to be more preppy or vintage inspired. Not quite hitting that specific Miu Miu modern chunky vibe. Found a platform version that was kinda cute though.
- Marc Fisher Ltd: Actually found a pair that almost made the cut! Thick strap, good chunky heel height, clean design. Reviews said they ran small. Almost pulled the trigger.
What I Figured Out (After All That Clicking!)
After spending way too many hours online and trying a few duds, here’s the lowdown on brands that get kinda close to that Miu Miu MJ magic:
- Charles & Keith: For almost-there styles at a good price. Check details like strap width.
- Sam Edelman: Gets the vibe right sometimes! Good quality for the cost.
- Jeffrey Campbell: If you want the chunk and strap but with a bolder, edgier twist.
- Marc Fisher Ltd: Worth checking, found one strong contender, watch sizing.
- ASOS Own Brands/Designers: A deep dive can yield results like Public Desire, but watch reviews like a hawk for quality clues.
Biggest takeaways? No one brand is pumping out exact copies constantly. You gotta hunt. Search terms like “chunky heel mary jane” + “thick strap” work better than just using “miu miu dupe.” And yeah, you often sacrifice a bit of that luxurious feel or perfect clean line for the lower price. But cool MJ energy? Absolutely achievable without the Miu Miu tag.
