Shopping
Rothy’s seem to check a lot of boxes for some of us. So much so that there are plenty of threads where teachers pine over them. And why not? These shoes feature a seamless construction that thwarts discomfort, and they appeal to your moral obligation to the earth because they’re made from recycled plastic water bottles. While that may sound odd, the resulting knit material is quite soft, and it even offers a small amount of give. Rothy’s are comfortable enough to wear every day, and when they’re “well-loved” with a bit of mileage of them, you can toss them in the machine for a fresh start—nice.
All in all, these shoes are cute, comfortable, and they kind of go with everything. The one pain point for most folks, however, may be the sticker shock. Retailing at a “throat-clearing” $145, Rothy’s are, shall we say, outside of some budgets? Of course, when that happens, you can cue the hunt for affordable dupes. Don’t worry, though; our crew has scoured the interwebs to do the heavy lifting for you. So keep scrolling for a few great Rothy’s dupes for teachers on a budget.
Just so you know, we may get a small share of the sales made through affiliate links on this page.
1. Skechers Women’s Cleo Bewitch Ballet Flat
Skechers are pretty well-known for their assortment of comfy shoes, so there’s no surprise that you find a good Rothy’s dupe among them. This ballet flat is made from a comfy stretch knit, it has a memory foam insole, and like Rothy’s, it’s machine washable. Choose from seven colors.
2. Amazon Essentials Women’s Loafer Flat
The thing about Amazon is that they always seem to have a less expensive answer for everything (not to mention free shipping). That said, these loafers are the Amazon basics answer to the significantly more expensive Rothy’s. While these flats are made with a faux leather upper, they have a faux suede lining for comfort and breathability. What’s more, these flats feature memory foam padding, making it comfortable for all-day wear as well as lightweight and flexible.
3. Slocyclub Flat Shoes for Women
Slocyclub’s highly rated flats are essentially a dead ringer for Rothy’s – if shoes had dead ringers. They’re made with a breathable flat knit upper, and like the Rothys flats, these shoes are machine washable. Although they’re not stretchy, they do have a little give. Choose from an assortment of colors and sizes.
4. Aomais Women’s Breathable Mesh Flats Shoes
These comfy flats are made with a breathable mesh upper and a strong, durable PVC sole. These shoes also feature a comfy insole, they’re good for all-day wear, and multiple users have indicated that they make a great Rothy’s dupe. Choose from 10 colors.
5. Heawish Women’s Ballet Flats for Women
These flats check all the boxes for a Rothy’s dupe, including the pointed toe design, a breathable mesh upper, plus it’s foldable and machine washable. With plenty of great reviews, they’re often compared to Rothy’s, and, lucky for you, they’re available in a slew of colors.
6. Feversole Women’s Woven Fashion Breathable Knit Flat Shoes
Featuring a breathable mesh upper, these Rothy’s dupes are woven specifically to prevent overstretching and shape distortion when you walk. And while this shoe is lightweight, it still offers plenty of support with a flexible and durable rubber sole. Even better, these shoes come in at under $30, and they’re available in a wide assortment of styles and colors.
7. Vionic Women’s Caballo Ballet Flat
While these flats don’t necessarily nail the mesh upper like Rothy’s, they pull-off the style with a pointed-toe silhouette. If you like the look of Rothy’s but prefer a leather upper, this may be the way to go. What’s more, the foot beds were designed by a podiatrist, so they should offer plenty of support for all-day wear. Choose from an assortment of styles and colors.
8. Native Shoes Audrey
For a truly washable flat and pointed-toe silhouette, Native’s Audrey flat kind of nails it for a Rothy’s dupe. These shoes are odor-resistant, easy to maintain, and virtually indestructible, which is what probably makes them so popular. Weighing somewhere around 6 oz, these shoes are ultra-lightweight and feature a padded foot bed for extra comfort. These flats come in a range of colors, so there’s likely something here for everyone.
9. Ollio Women’s Ballet Comfort Light Faux Suede
While these flats mirror Rothy’s pointed-toe design, that’s kind of where the similarities end. Based on the design of a ballet shoe, the uppers are synthetic faux-suede, the soles are rubber and the heel is ultra-slim. These shoes cost less than $30, and hundreds of reviewers have given them five stars for comfort, style, and “super-cuteness.” Choose from 15 colors.
While Rothy’s make a pretty attractive shoe, the price point leaves a little to be desired. The good news, somewhere in the wires of the world wide web, there are always a few great dupes to be found. The even better news is that a good dupe will always “play nice” with your budget.
