Designer Alternative: Valentino Rockstuds

The Valentino Rockstud. Studded and caged, the entire line can only be considered massively popular, especially with nearly every blogger worth her salt (and wallet) owning a pair of the shoes. Well for those of us who aren’t in the position to be $1,000 out for a single pair of, granted fabulous, shoes, I’ve found some alternatives. With these shoes you can get that Rockstud kick-ass feel without the actual designer price.

I will say that while “researching” this post, I went and tried on a pair of the real deal. Yeah, you feel like you can kick some serious ass and take names with a pair of those on. Normally I am advocate for splurging on something like designer shoes or handbags as your shoe size is likely to remain the same and these are pieces that you can get much more wear out of compared to say a designer sweater. However as a recent grad, I am not in a place to splurge on designer pieces but I still love the designer look. This post is for the other fabulous fashionistas out there who, like myself, are still working their way up to their fabulous potential.

BCBGeneration ‘Darron’ Pump

These are pumps that I own personally and can be found, exclusively I believe, at DSW. The 3.5 inch pair of heels comes in a variety of colors and BCBGeneration are launching more colors often due to the popularity of these pumps. You can see them on here and here

Halogen ‘Martine’ Studded T-Strap Pump

After the extreme popularity of their Olson flat, Halogen (aka Nordstrom) created the high heel version of the style. It launched around the time of the 2015 Anniversary Sale and were an instant hit. These are the pairs that least resemble the Rockstud however are extremely comfortable and easy to get your hands on.

Halogen ‘Olson’ Pointed Toe Flats

The Halogen ‘Olson’ flat comes in a variety of colors and the top selling colors often sell out of Nordstrom. Sadly once they are sold out you need to play the waiting game as Halogen is an exclusive brand to Nordstrom. However they always restock and come out with new colors annually.

SheIn Riveted Pump

These SheIn pumps are one of the most affordable options as SheIn always has sales or discount codes that you can take advantage of. They have some slight differences from the original inspiration but are great if you are on a tight budget. The only down side to this pair? They only come in black or nude.

SheIn Rivet Pointed Toe Flats

SheIn also has a pair of flats inspired by the Valentino original. This pair is also very budget friendly and comes in two colors: al black or black and nude.

SheIn Pointed Toe Flats

These pointed toe flats from SheIn are a hybrid between the original Valentino style and the Halogen Olson flats. A stylish addition to any outfit, these flats come in three colors: black, white, and pink.

Wild Diva Gladiator Pumps

These Wild Diva pumps are very similar to the BCBGeneration model however are more easily accessible as they are sold on Amazon. These pumps come in what seems to be every color under the sun, so if variety is a problem this may be the option for you. These also have the highest heels out of the bunch, coming in at 4 inches versus 3.5″.

Amazon Chicstud Kitten Heel Pumps

Finally, these pumps found on Amazon.  The most expensive choice of the group, they are also by far the most similar to the original Rockstud and could probably pass for the real deal. This shop carries all the styles and colors of the original Valentino line: high heels, kitten heels, caged flats, and regular flats. However, this presents a bit of a problem for me. When do you draw the line between a shoe that is inspired by the original and one that is a counterfeit for the real deal? From the looks online, these are pretty much the exact same shoe however the label has a different name stamped on it. Food for thought.

What do you think think about the Valentino Rockstud? Would you consider purchasing a pair of look-a-likes? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

*I do not own any of these images. Header image via