Ah yes, the Prada monolith boots. You know, the ones that took over social media about four years ago? Every influencer, model, and their cousin seemed to be rocking them. I went back and forth on these for quite a while because 1,300€? For mostly nylon, rubber, and a bit of leather? Is this a joke? No, it’s Prada. And I gave them my hard earned money, despite the fact that it probably cost them 20€ to make. So, were the Prada monolith boots worth it? Let me give you all of the details!
Prada Monolith Boots: Initial Thoughts
When I finally decided to spoil myself for Christmas back in 2022, I knew that I needed to opt for the more wearable option. While the tall version truly pulled at my heartstrings, I knew I would not reach for them as much compared to their shorter, more reasonable sister. As for the color, black was the only option for me.
Was I over the moon when I first got these? Absolutely. Did I have a little bit of buyer’s remorse over the exhortant price tag? Also, yes. Don’t get me wrong, they were gorgeous out of the box, but the lack of quality materials is blatant. A good chunk of the boot is made from nylon, one of the cheapest fabrics that Prada loves to make a profit on. The chunky role is rubber and the finishings and parts of the structure are leather. But it’s nothing to run home about.
When I first tried them on, I absolutely broke a sweat. You cannot be in a rush when putting these on! Or when taking them off, for that matter. It will take a good five minutes, minimum. But they looked phenomenal, so worth it. These are very chunky boots and may not work for everyone, but they certainly work for my rocker-chic aesthetic. Comfort wise, they did take a bit of breaking in, but nothing out of the ordinary. But let’s be honest, when I looked at them, I saw my rent! Actually, my rent and a half at the time… Fun fact, I nicknamed these my ‘rent boots’ for the first six months or so.
Wearability and Comfort:
The Prada pouches on the sides of the boots was a big reason as to why I loved them. It turns out that they are actually removable. At first, I never removed them. However with time, my style has become more discreet and I find myself removing them more often than not. For me, it’s the chunky silhouette that makes the boots and not the little nylon pouches that fits Airpods at most.
Comfort wise, these are fine once broken in. But I will be honest. I will not reach for these on days where I know I will be walking all over town or exploring. My feet will hurt at that point and I will always opt for my Jimmy Choo x Timberland boots for those types of days as reviewed here. These are great for a lunch, groceries (you know I serve looks when picking my fruits and veggies), coffee dates, apéro, those types of events. Even during road trips I will usually kick them off in the car. I’ve worn them to concerts a few times as well, but I would not recommend if you are standing and not sitting. I also opt for these when it is raining. Not downpouring, but raining.
Something else to keep in mind is how annoying these are to travel with. If you stick them in your luggage, they will take up an insane amount of space. And as someone that puts my luxury in my carry-on, I can kiss goodbye to half of my luggage space. You can travel in them. I did it. Once. And my feet were not happy. They are a tight fit and with the swelling that tends to happen when on airplanes, I would not recommend. My toes need wiggle room!
As for wear and tear… look, rubber and nylon does have advantages! My babies look as new as the day I purchased them. I have no complaints. But also for 1,300€, it better hold up. I do wear these quite a bit during the fall and winter season. I would say once a week, minimum. I actually started to wear these last month during some chilly days we had! Honestly, I whip them out the second I see a leaf turn orange.
Styling:
Oh my gosh, the looks that have been served in the Prada monolith boots I can’t even. She’s cute with a long skirt, a shorter dress, shorts and tights, the classic jeans… the opportunities are endless! I’ve even worn these for a last-minute Lara Croft Halloween costume. I did notice that I wear these more on a day-to-day basis and less for planned outfit pics. They truly are a part of my everyday rotation.
I lean more rock/edgy in my style, but these are very much an it-girl boot and can work with a variety of styles. In my opinion, these fall into the (very) chunky category and are, therefore, timeless. These aren’t just a trendy boot, they can be pulled out time and time again without fear of looking “dated”. The only part that may look a little older with time would be the pockets, but as previously mentioned, they are removable. The Prada monolith boots do lean on the extra chunky side, but if that’s your jam, these will be a staple in your fall/winter wardrobe just like they are in mine, no doubt.
Are The Prada Monolith Boots Worth It?
Unfortunately, this is not a simple yes or no answer. If we are just looking at the cost, I’d say it’s a bit hard to justify spending 1,300€ on a pair of shoes that aren’t made of premium materials. Especially since there are many dupes available on the market at much more reasonable prices.
Personally, I have worn the Prada monolith boots enough that the cost to wear is probably quite low, which helps. I’m a huge Prada fan, but I don’t own much by them simply because I find them overpriced and the kings of cheap materials. But I am obsessed with their aesthetic. For me? The boots were 100% worth it and I would buy them over and over again. They still make me giddy when I put them on and I definitely have an extra pep in my step!
However, I would not necessarily recommend these to a friend. It depends on many factors, the most important being your finances, girl! If you need to put it on credit, pull from savings, or sacrifice groceries to buy these, don’t do it. Next, make sure you are absolutely obsessed and can imagine at least three totally different outfits from your current wardrobe with the boots. Finally, do you have a similar pair of chunky boots in your closet? If so, you don’t need them. If you pass these three questions with flying colors, it may be worth it for you, too.
Something I used to recommend to my clients as a stylist is to purchase the dupe version first. Give it time and see how often you wear them and the different outfits you can pull off. If after a couple of months they become a part of your rotation and you still love them, it may be worth investing in the real deal! Or, perhaps, you’ll find yourself perfectly content with the dupe. The latter happened to me with a dupe of Paris Texas boots, actually.
Final Thoughts:
These are a gorgeous pair of boots that, in my opinion, were worth the massive hype a few years back. Despite the materials, they are very well made, made to last, and have a timeless chunky silhouette with the optional, trendy pouches.
I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on these, usually when I’m wearing them without the pouches. I also still see these when out and about in both Geneva and in Monaco, further proving these weren’t just a trend. I mean, when is the last time you saw a mini Jacquemus purse in the wild? Or any Jacquemus purse, for that matter… No offense, they were cute! But very much a trend and not a timeless piece. I sold mine about a year after purchasing, actually. You can find that review here. But I digress! I love my Prada monolith boots and I cannot wait for them to come out to play this fall and winter.
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Stay Chaotic,
Tess
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