Sam Edelman Zoe Boots and Mary Kate Olsen’s Balenciaga Harness Boots

It’s been 4 years since Balenciaga came out with these platform harness boots:

It was part of  the Balenciaga 2006 Fall/Winter collection. The true test of a particular design’s influence is (1) if it doesn’t decrease in value, (2) it still remains to be much-imitated and sought-after, and (3) it is still relevant after some time.

These boots past that test with flying colors.

Even Mary Kate Olsen, the person responsible for making them famous, is still seen wearing these boots around like, well, they were never going out of style. Mary Kate Olsen was photographed just in the last 2 weeks clomping around again in the Balenciaga Harness Boots:

Mary Kate Olsen in Balenciaga Harness Boots

As much as we want these boots and to cop MK’s style, the Balenciagas are nowhere to be found. Even if you did find them, they would be at least a whopping $1,795! The sellers on eBay aren’t going any lower than $1,600, and even the knock-offs are trying to ride on this legendary shoe’s coattails and not going for any less than $500.

We’re pretty sure that this comparison is everywhere, but we just want to feature them here again. Here are the Balenciaga Harness Boots side by side with the best knock-offs there are, the Sam Edelman Zoe Boots:

Sam Edelman Zoe Boots on the left, Balenciaga Harness Boots on the right

If you regret not buying the Balenciaga boots when they were still available, you can still get the very similar Sam Edelman Zoe Boots. Mind you, they are not cheap: these babies will still run you a cool $345.00, a steep price to pay for knock-offs. But these boots have proven their staying power and for the true style disciples, a few hundred dollars spent for a piece of fashion history is worth every penny.

Get the Balenciaga Harness Boots from Mary Kate… or the Sam Edelman Zoe Boots at Shoes.com.