Right off the bat, what *is* it about Bottega Veneta? The intrecciato thing? Yeah, it’s cool, iconic even. You see those woven leather loafers or those chunky sneakers and you *know*. But, like, *know* that you’re probably looking at a month’s rent on your feet. No judgement, if you can swing it, swing it! They are gorgeous!
But what if you *can’t* swing it? Or maybe you just don’t *want* to spend that much on shoes? That’s totally valid. Like, I personally think it’s kinda crazy. You’re walking all over the place in them! Anyway, that’s where the “dupes” come in. And I gotta say, some of them are getting REALLY good.
I’ve been seeing some pretty decent Bottega-esque loafers popping up, especially on the ‘gram. I’m not gonna name names, because, you know, brands. But seriously, a little digging and you can find some pretty similar looking stuff. Just, uh, maybe don’t expect the leather to be *quite* as supple, or the stitching to be *quite* as perfect. You get what you pay for, ya know?
And the sneakers! Okay, those Pillow and Vulcan designs are tempting, *real* tempting. But, tbh, there are tons of brands doing chunky, padded leather sneakers these days. You could probably find something similar without the BV price tag. Plus, personally, I think some of the smaller brands are doing even *cooler* stuff, more unique designs. So, it’s worth exploring!
Now, South Africa and Bottega Veneta shoe prices? That’s a whole other thing. I bet the import costs are insane. I’d be all over those dupes if I lived there, for sure.