The M&S trainers are so comfortable, they're like 'walking on a cloud' – they look just like a £225 designer pair, for... THEY'RE known for being at the forefront of high-street fashion. And it looks as though Marks & Spencer has done it again, with a pair of white trainers that look exactly like a pricey pair – for £166 less. The £59 Leather Slip On Platform Trainers come in white and in sizes from 3 to 8, and are almost the spitting image of a £225 pair from Russell & Bromley. "These contemporary trainers are crafted from grained leather for a premium look and feel," M&S say of the footwear on their website. "They feature chunky, mid-height platform soles for a striking silhouette." And the positive reviews of the shoes kept on coming on the website too. Read more Dupe stories "Great trainers," one customer wrote. "Light as a feather, like walking on a cloud. "Very similar to well known more expensive brand Russell & Bromley." "Great trainers. Perfect fit," another agreed. Most read in Fabulous "Would love a matte gold pair, and also in silver. Beige suede also please M&S!" "These are very Russell & Bromley and nice to wear, very light," a third gushed. "These slip on trainers were just what I was looking for in white leather and platform as well and a good price too!" someone else said. "Just have to wait until it stops raining to wear them!" "Lovely leather and look great with jeans or casual trousers," another wrote. "Will be very useful in the Spring/Summer." While others shared one warning about the casual trainers – namely that the run big. "I downsized and then they were perfect. Very comfortable," one wrote. Why you should always buy a dupe over designer... Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend says it’s time fashion snobs stopped looking down their noses at affordable versions of designer buys. Bargain US supermarket Walmart became a social media sensation when its £60 dupe of Hermès’ Birkin bag, dubbed the Wirkin, went viral. Influencer @styledbykristi gushed: "Eighty dollars (£60), you can pretend that you got a Birkin. I mean, everyone will probably know it’s not, because who the hell has the money to spend on the real Birkin? Not me." Me neither. And why bother? I would never spend that on a designer bag (although if someone wants to buy one for me, that’s a different story). Plus, if I splashed that much, I’d feel I was being ripped off... We’ve all been told how the leading brands use the finest leather, thread, dyes and craftsmanship in the world. But all that is inflated by fashion houses to create the desired illusion of exclusivity. Just last year, Dior came under investigation for paying £44 to assemble a bag that sells for £2,000. So while you might think you are paying for top-level craftsmanship carried out by a true artisan, chances are the poorly paid workers are not seeing any of your hard-earned cash. Dupes— not to be mistaken for knock-offs that copy everything from the logo to the inside label — are a more practical and all-round sensible way to go. I bought my first when I was 18. It lasted me four years and only broke after I wore it in the shower. And these days, British high streets have plenty of dupes. In the past three years, Marks & Spencer, H&M and Mango have all seen huge spikes in sales thanks to their canny copies. They use the same viral, must-have marketing tactics that pricey brands have. Fashion folk will tell you that you are making an investment and buying a "heritage piece" and will turn their noses up at a high street equivalent. But we’ve been wearing looks inspired by catwalk designers for decades. If we can buy a bag that’s the spitting image of the pricier version, but doesn’t mean you have to remortgage, why not? "Run one size larger than you are," another said. As a third commented: "They came up large so I went down a size." While Russell & Bromley has ceased trading as a standalone store, shoppers will soon be able to get the designer items from Next. Comments ---
