Splurge or Save: Summer Wedges from Michael Kors and Target

Doppelgängers: Target Merona Wedge and Kors Damita Wedge

My friend and fellow blogger Target-Addict has a keen eye for spotting designer goods and their Target replicas.  Recently she posted on these Michael Kors Damita Wedges and Target’s Merona brand wedge. Frankly, it’s hard to tell the difference. The MICHAEL Michael Kors Damita Wedge retails for $99.00 on the Zappos website. The  Target Merona  wedge is $70.00 cheaper at  $29.99 in-store and online at Target. That’s a big price differential.  Both shoes have the fashionable front zipper closure with zipper pull. Both shoes have an Espadrille type wedge with a rope wrapped platform heel with a rubber sole.  The differences between the shoes is quite subtle.  The Target shoe have five crossover fabric wraps, the Kors’ shoe has three crossover fabric wraps.  The Kors shoe has a more elegant, branded zipper pull.  The Target Merono zipper pull is a bigger, more clunky zipper pull without noticeable branding.  Which shoe would you choose readers?  Do you think either shoe is really durable with its glue and roper/fabric design? The Kors shoe has excellent ratings for fit and comfort on the Zappos site.  One Zappos reviewer raves, “Most comfortable wedges I have ever bought and they go with everything! Fast delivery!”

In contrast, while the Target shoes have mostly favorable reviews, one Target user  (Vicky in Los Angeles) rated them as “unbelievably cheap” and noted that they fell apart after one wear.  Another Target user noted the similarity to the Kors shoe writing, “What a perfect replica of a pair of MK shoes at a 1/3 of the price. I just got these today and I am in love. L So in love, so love oooo oh. Looks just as pictured.” One gotcha on the shoes from another Target reviewer is the width.  “I bought both the black and the tan ones…unfortunately only the tan ones fit and would zip up all the way. I thought maybe I just got an “odd pair” of the black ones so I purchased another pair of the same size along with the .5 size up. To no avail they still wouldn’t zip up all the way. Not sure why the tan ones fit properly and not the black. So if you have a somewhat wide foot buyer beware as they may not fit, but definitely worth a try because they are super cute,” notes reviewer KBrost82 from San Diego.

Most telling of all is the Target reviewer called Houstonian who points out, “Bought these wedges in navy and tan and absolutely love them! They look exactly like the Michael Kors Damita wedges, but considerably cheaper. ”

I have to applaud Target for posting such honest reviews, but I wonder if  designer /competitor Michael Kors is happy to read them.  Target’s long-standing habit of imitating designer goods has bought them legal issues over copyright infringement from Diane Von Furstenberg and Coach to name just a few.