Lucite Heels from Prada: Chic or Cheap?

March 31, 2010 • By Erika

I promised lucite for another post and here it is. Presenting lovely lucite heels and other cool clear shoes from the Prada Spring 2010 line up:

Clear mules

Strappy chandelier sandals

Pointed toe heels

Pumps

Very apt for spring and summer don’t you think? It’s open toe season and what else better to showcase your toes with other than lucite and clear shoes.

The cheapest of the Prada shoes above is $695. Now before you go off saying that that’s too much to pay for plastic, lucite is actually very different from the synthetic polymer. Here’s a short lesson about lucite from Circa Sixty Three, a jewelry and accessories company who just recently purchased dead stock of vintage lucite:

Q. Why is Lucite better than typical plastic?
Circa Sixty Three: The difference between Lucite and Plastic is like the difference between glass and crystal. Lucite does not crack or chip as easily as plastic and scratches can be easily buffed out. Lucite is carved and not molded therefore it has no seams. It is denser and a slightly heavier than plastic.

Q. How do I know my Lucite is real?
Circa Sixty Three: Lucite is a trademark owned by DuPont Chemical Company and therefore other plastics cannot legally be called Lucite. We provide a certificate of authenticity with every product we sell.

So clearly, lucite and plastic are two entirely different materials.

But even though Circa Sixty Three stresses that lucite is of much better quality than plastic, it’s actually still real easy to make lucite look cheap. So from here, it’s best that we take a cue from Prada when it comes to clear footwear. Choose shoes that have simple designs, thick straps, and chunky block heels, and steer clear of cheap plastic, glitter, and stilettos.

Check out these 3 choices for clear shoes all from designer Michael Kors: