We found a £65 lookalike for Ralph Lauren's £320 office-ready summer espadrilles
Ralph Lauren's espadrille Mary Janes are the perfect pair of summer shoes for the office, but if you're looking for a budget friendly alternative this £65 pair are a winner
The summer can create quite the sartorial conundrum when it comes to footwear. Sandals probably feel a bit too casual, but the rising temperatures usually mean loafers or heels are off the table too. Whilst ballet flats are having a serious moment right now, if you're looking to switch it up a little bit, a pair of espadrille Mary Janes could be the perfect answer.
Ralph Lauren's Canvas Mary Jane Espadrilles are a great choice, giving a chic and sophisticated look whilst still being summery and comfortable. But if their £319 price tag is enough to put you off don't fret, because we've spotted a very similar pair at Crew Clothing for a much more affordable price.
The Mary Jane Espadrilles are priced at £65, saving you £254 and have the same breezy and sophisticated look as the designer pair. Coming in both red and navy blue the shoes take the best elements of both espadrilles and classic Mary Janes and combine them together.
They feature an authentic flat sole with woven jute trim, with a rounded toe and single strap fastening over the arches. The fastening is fully adjustable with a buckle closure so you can get the right fit, and the flat flexible sole means they're comfortable enough to wear all day – even on a long commute.
The upper is made from a soft breathable canvas-style material, whilst the outer soles are rubber which gives you plenty of grip and security. You can easily style them with everything from jeans and a T-shirt to midi dresses and wide leg trousers, making them a great versatile option to have in your wardrobe.
Proving to be a popular style for summer, plenty of other brands have also launched their own version. Anthropologie has launched its Maeve Mary Jane Espadrille Flats, which are £120 and have a chunkier flatform sole for some added height.
Meanwhile the Oasis Mary Jane Espadrilles from Free People are a great pick if you want more colour options, offering them in mauve, black, blue, yellow and red for £98. For a slightly different twist, Charles & Keith's £59 Faux Suede Slip-On Mary Jane Espadrilles are made from faux suede, rather than canvas, and have a slip-on mule-style design for added breeziness and comfort.
However if you want to get your hands on Crew Clothing's Mary Jane Espadrilles you can still pick them up in all sizes from a 4 to an 8, with only size 3s currently out of stock.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Could not be more obsessed' cry shoppers as Primark's viral beaded bags return for summer in ‘pretty' new prints
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH summer almost here, we're all looking to update our wardrobes. And no outfit is complete without the perfect handbag. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Shoppers are racing to Primark for the new beaded summer bags Credit: Tom Farmer 4 Shoppers have hailed the lemon print bag as 'stunning' Credit: TikTok/@primarkcardiff 4 It also comes in a colourful starfish design Credit: TikTok/@primarkcardiff 4 The bags are in stores now but not available online Credit: TikTok/@prmrkglasgow So it's no surprise that fashion fans are in a frenzy over Primark's new statement beaded bags. Not only are there two colourful patterns to choose from, but it's super stylish and will make the perfect holiday accessory. If that wasn't enough, it's also purse-friendly too at just £16, so is perfect for those on a budget. Fashion influencer Lauren Arthurs (@laurenarthurs_), from Ireland, eagerly took to social media to share her thoughts on the embellished bag. In a short TikTok clip, she gushed: "Guys I was on a mission to find these bags in Primark and they are absolutely stunning. "They're 18 euros (£16). You've got the orange and white with the shellfish and then the lemon one. It is so pretty. "I am absolutely taking both of them. They are so stunning." "'Could not be more obsessed", she added in her video caption which has since racked up almost 400,000 views. Shoppers in the UK will be relieved to hear the bags have arrived here too - with stores in Glasgow, Cardiff and Liverpool already sharing videos and pictures of them on the rails. Fashion fans 'need' Primark's new £14 linen trousers - there's two colours to choose from and they're great for spring Some savvy fashion fans noticed that the bag, which went viral in a leopard and cherry print last year, is a dupe for an £88 version in Anthropologie and £285 one in Staud. And they're now racing to their nearest Primark in a bid to get their hands on the "stunning" summer bag. "Omg stop it, I'm in love", one person cried. A second wrote: "Wow, I love these!! They're giving Anthropologie vibes!" "Dupes of staud AMAZINGG", claimed a third. A fourth gushed: "Omg those bags are stunning." "They're so cute", chimed in a fifth. Meanwhile, a sixth added: "Wow love these." It's not the only bags causing a frenzy in store either. A charming crochet bucket bag which has recently hit stores as part of Paula Echevarría's brand new collection has been hailed by shoppers as "literally perfect". It has been described by Primark bosses as "a crochet-style bucket bag with braided carry handles and scallop trims'. Thanks to this 'spacious' buy, which is available in white and black, you can "add a romantic touch to your summer looks.' The delicate scallop trim creates an elegant silhouette, while the braided handles offer comfortable carrying. Not only this, but according to those at the much-loved chain, the 'intricate crochet pattern allows playful peeks of what's inside, making it perfect for beach days or city strolls.' This brilliant bag is sure to look fabulous when effortlessly styled with a bikini and cover-up for days at the pool or beach, and will even be great with a maxi dress for warm nights abroad too.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Primark shoppers 'in love' with 'unreal' new £16 summer bag
Primark shoppers are 'obsessed' with the new summer accessories 'giving Anthropologie vibes' Primark shoppers are "obsessed" with two "amazing" new bags that look "stunning" for summer. The retailer has long been popular with high-street fashion fans for its affordable takes on the season's hottest trends, and shoppers love Primark's new beaded bags. As seen on social media, Primark has introduced two beaded bags priced at £16 each. One features a blue-and-white striped design with orange and white starfish accents, and the other has yellow lemons incorporated into the striped design, which is also blue and white, though it's a darker shade of blue. One of viral videos that wowed shoppers was shared by Irish blogger @laurenarthurs_. The bags have also been spotted in stores in England and Wales. In her video, Lauren said: "Guys, I was on a mission to find these bags in Primark, and they are absolutely stunning (...) I'm absolutely taking both of them." In her caption, she added: "Could not be more obsessed," and lots of viewers shared a similar reaction. Someone else praised: "Omg those bags are stunning." A commenter added: "Omg I love the starfish one. My primark is broken." A keen shopper replied: "OMG I NEED." Another response read: "They're unreal," and a viewer thought: "AMAZINGG." However, someone else replied: "Unfortunately a bit heavy," and a commenter wrote: "I think you can see they're cheap (and I'm not a snob)." It doesn't look like the bags are currently listed on Primark's website. However, it does list various bags shoppers love for their summer outfits. For instance, fashion fans love Primark's £16 Paula Echevarría Metal Shell Clutch and £16 Paula Echevarría Straw Seashell Clutch Bag. Both bags draw inspiration from seashells, much to delight of shoppers searching for summer-themed accessories. The product description for the Metal Shell Clutch says: "Add some shine to your look with this golden tone metal shell clutch from the Paula Echevarría collection. "Designed in a sculptural shell shape with a glossy finish, it's fitted with a secure clasp fastening to keep your essentials tucked away. The detachable cross body strap lets you switch between handheld and hands-free styling with ease. Perfect for evenings out, special occasions, or when you just want a bit of sparkle." Meanwhile, the product description for the Straw Seashell Clutch Bag says: "Say hello to summer with this charming Paula Echevarría straw clutch bag. Shaped like a seashell, this woven accessory brings a playful touch to your warm-weather wardrobe. The delicate pearl-like clasp closure adds a hint of elegance, while the detachable gold-toned chain strap gives you versatility to wear it your way. "Take it from beach to dinner with ease – pair with a flowing maxi dress and sandals for daytime adventures, or match with your favourite white linen ensemble for sunset dinners. This shell bag is designed to hold your essentials while keeping your holiday style perfectly on point."
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- The Guardian
Prep class: welcome to polo shirt summer
Last year, my wife bought me a Lacoste polo shirt for my birthday. Standard design, with the little green crocodile on the chest. On any pleasant day – I live in Lisbon where they're frequent, but the same could be said in the UK summer – I'll see at least one other man wearing one. It was then I realised I could be wearing these suckers until I die. 'Polo shirts are the cornerstone of a warm-weather wardrobe, a classic that stands next to the tee and the oxford in the Shirt Hall of Fame,' the Strategist style expert Chris Black wrote reassuringly when asked whether they were 'dork territory', adding that the Lacoste is 'the OG of polo shirts'. In the summer, I'm loyal to a plain white tee (the Cos triple pack is a trusted servant). A few years ago, though, I moved to Portugal, which forced me to expand my hot-weather wardrobe. For one, constant sunscreen use is terror on the white tee. There are also times when a T-shirt is too casual. You can wear a shirt, of course, but they can be heavy or a bit fussy in the heat. Which is where the polo comes in. As well as the blue-chip companies such as Lacoste and Ralph Lauren, most brands make a polo. Uniqlo has a reliable offering. You'll find them at reasonable prices in Arket, H&M and Muji. M&S has an extensive array. At the mid to higher end, the likes of A Day's March, CP Company, Universal Works and Sunspel have polo ranges. However, there is no escaping its bad associations. Polos can all get a bit country club or the jerk archetype from each season of The White Lotus: Jake Lacy, Theo James, Patrick Schwarzenegger – a cursed blend of entitled preppy and quiet luxury. In Lisbon, there is an aspirational type known as Beto: to locals they are recognisable by their names (Salvador, Afonso Maria, Tomás) and by their dress: boat shoes, slim-fitting slacks, Vichy plaid shirts, puffer gilets, polo shirts. It's essentially a Euro-variant on a style that lands between Sloane Ranger and US preppy. Similarly in Ireland, where I grew up in the 1990s, there was an adjacent mode of dressing associated with the rugby jock world of Dublin private schools – 'D4' per its dominant postcode. Things may have moved on, but in Sally Rooney's latest Dublin-set novel Intermezzo, a character – while he doesn't fit this exact type – is described unflatteringly as 'wearing a polo shirt with an embroidered brand logo on the front, and a pair of plastic flip-flops for some reason'. The brand Fred Perry, meanwhile – despite its storied connection to interesting aspects of British pop culture – has struggled with periodically getting co-opted by fascists. Which is a heavy load for any cotton T-shirt with a stitched logo to bear. For a period in 2020, the brand withdrew sales of its signature black and yellow polo in North America after it was embraced by the far-right Proud Boys movement. And if it doesn't make you look like a fascist, then maybe a cop. The indie film Reality, in which Sydney Sweeney plays a US intelligence worker who falls foul of the security-industrial complex, features quietly menacing FBI agents in beige slacks and tucked-in polo shirts. Perhaps I'm deluding myself: I don't present like a carefree Euro-man, I just look like a cop. Among the things to discourage the wearing of a polo shirt is the risk of an unflattering display of one's man-boobs – although this is a problem whatever the shirt type once you reach a certain age. As it happens, the piqué fabric often used in polos, particularly by Lacoste, is a touch more forgiving (one reason, among others, to avoid knitted and soft-cotton variants). As I tip further into my 40s, I like the in-betweenness of the polo: it is semi-casual, as opposed to smart casual. On some people, it looks cool; on others, it appears entirely normie. You don't have to try too hard. Sign up to Fashion Statement Style, with substance: what's really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved after newsletter promotion With the two-button polo, you can do up both and seem more stern, or open the buttons for a more relaxed look. (I steer clear of polos with V-necks or zippers, which are too Kendall Roy-ish.) And as the summer evening cools, the polo sits easily under a sweater and goes with any sort of coat, be it a light canvas or a windbreaker, the ever-present chore coat, or a sports jacket – as displayed by Robert De Niro at a recent Cannes photocall. There are also extensive inspirations to be found. Al Pacino delivers his big Any Given Sunday speech wearing an excellent rumpled jacket and rumpled polo. My hypothetical moodboard features the sight of Jeremy Corbyn as he rocks a croc, as does Paul Thomas Anderson on set. The French new wave band Marie et Les Garçons, specifically with their compilation 1977–1979, complete with Lacoste artwork. And don't forget Harrison Ford in a timeless polo and jacket – not Lacoste, but as aspirational a sight as it gets. Then there's the Netflix hit Adolescence (perhaps you have heard of it). Before the tension comes to a boil in episode four, Stephen Graham's Eddie Miller, barely keeping things together in the aftermath of his son's terrible crime, is given a Lacoste polo for his 50th birthday by his wife. A crisp, blue number, little green crocodile on the chest. This wasn't the drama's most vital moment but I felt a pang of recognition. Truly a shirt for all men. There is a rush to identify and declare trends and moments. Your hot girl summer; your brat summer; your tomato girl summer; your barefoot boy summer. But the polo shirt is impervious to the waxing and waning of fads. It's maligned and loved. Well, perhaps not loved but tolerated and accepted – sometimes with fondness. I say, let's just embrace the thing: it's always polo shirt summer. To read the complete version of this newsletter – complete with this week's trending topics in The Measure and your wardrobe dilemmas solved – subscribe to receive Fashion Statement in your inbox every Thursday.
