|
Both follow the footsteps of iconic trailblazers.
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Our Editor-in-Chief independently selects every product and experience to meet the high standards of the global editorial she founded. If you purchase through our links, So MoTiFFated may earn a commission, which supports our independent journalism.
Ballerinas always seem to portray elegance in my book. It's an artistic fascination that always held a grip on my imagination. In undergrad I was a participant in ARTS NC State, a program requirement for living in my residence hall was that I had to attend performing arts events. I've previously detailed how that experience built upon the arts infatuation I developed as a child as I loved going to the kid's theater with my mom.
For those who grew up as 90s babies, that flame further blazed with the release of the 2001 film, Save the Last Dance. It became a definitive favorite. As a child, I'd visit family during the summer and have a vivid memory of watching that movie on a loop while in Queens, NY. The narrative of Sara navigating a new environment, processing grief, and fighting for a spot at Juilliard was deeply inspiring. Beyond that, it included the memorable screen presence of actors like Fredro Starr, who I had a crush on as a child. If you watched Moesha, then you know that man was fine. Outside of me watching that movie for the cute actors, its display of the arts is what continued to keep me drawn. It had a universal reaction of folks dancing in front of the mirror, trying to mimic the grace of hip-hop infused ballet. Now, whether or not you've rewatched it as an adult and had different views on the depth of Sara's final dance is your business.
What felt like pure cinematic magic during childhood eventually revealed a deeper reality about the dance industry itself. Ballet has historically been a space of exclusion, particularly for Black women. True inspiration came from discovering the real-world history, learning about legacy figures like Carmen de Lavallade, and witnessing the historic rise of Misty Copeland.
Knowing how hard trailblazing Black women had to fight to claim their space in classical dance adds weight to the aesthetic. When they arrived, they led with undisputed grace and dominance. That legacy adds a distinct sense of pride when slipping into a shoe inspired by their craft. While trying on Steve Madden's Larina ballerina heels at Dillard's, an older Black woman offered a warm compliment. The immediate response was a feeling of alignment with that very legacy, sparking a lighthearted moment captured in my shopping vlog where the persona of Tiffany Copeland was born. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for that video soon to come.
This personal connection to the silhouette intersected perfectly as I prepared to be a bridesmaid in my college friend's wedding. The assignment was simple and I had wiggle room for my creativity. Surprisingly, with so much change going on in my life, I was slow to the shopping search for a dress. I'm friends with another bridesmaid and she was incredibly proactive about dress options. I picked one from her bunch that would be strong enough to host my bust without a brassiere. Our only restrictions were we had to choose a gold metallic satin bridesmaid dress from Azazie. Ultimately, I selected their Charlize dress after several false starts with other styles. Before making my selection for the final dress, I sure did have my shoes selected! We had free rein on the shoe selection too, so I knew I'd be a ballerina in heels.
When I see cute things, I get so excited about the product, I don't register where I saw it initially. All I know is I saw them enough that I was interested to see how they looked and felt in person. Once I saw the champagne sparkle colorway in Steve Madden's Larina, I knew that shoe would be mine. I have a wide foot, too, but sometimes beauty is pain. Whether or not it should be is beside the point. I live for sparkles!
As the self-proclaimed Dupe Queen, I feel you can always be luxurious across any budget. You just have to find your luxury. As someone who doesn't play about her finances, I love to save money. Having the ability to splurge is enough for me. Larina seems to be inspired by Christian Louboutin's Cassia! That one is beautiful too. An undeniable beauty for that shoe will always be the classic red bottoms being a signature of that designer. I remember loving J.Lo's 2009 song, Louboutins, and vibing around the house before I knew what they were. Truth be told, I'm a fan of nice things, but I'm not materialistic to only need something if it comes from a certain designer. Having shopped at 5-7-9 frequently during my undergraduate days at North Carolina State University (NCSU), I was wearing shoes that I didn't even know were classified as Valentino dupes.
Now that I'm hip to dupe culture, you know I had to give them both a try for you and for me. STEVE MADDEN LARINA
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
I gave Larina a try, first, and boy was it a time. There were several obstacles as I knew going into my shopping day, these could either run small or large based on reviews I watched online. I called ahead and had two pairs held for me, and with the in-store footies they give you to wear during try-on, it made it harder to know size accuracy because of the slip it brought. Ultimately, I made my way to another Dillard's and was successful there. The glitter element within these shoes is on another level. It made me feel like ultimate royalty and the rhinestone encrusted version is breathtaking! Right before I purchased, I noticed there was a rhinestone missing. OMG.
Ultimately, the dress that I purchased was floor length so I knew it wasn't going to be noticeable unless I kicked my foot up in photos. Also, a given for me. I went into problem solving mode to buy a similar looking rhinestone from Michael's, but realized there was a small zip lock bag taped to the top of the shoe box with replacement rhinestones for instances such as that one. I'm typically an 8.5 in women's, but sized down to an 8 for these. They did have another 8 in stock that wasn't missing a rhinestone, but I learned long ago that damaged products usually correlate to a 10% discount at a minimum. With the replacement rhinestones already on the box, it was a win-win.
These shoes definitely force your feet to reach new heights. A classic four-inch heel standardly places pressure on the ball of your foot, but for me, the biggest battle with this silhouette was the dorsum of the foot. That is the medical term for the top of your foot. Because of the steep incline, the shoe placed significant pressure right across that upper area. While my foot was not swollen afterward, the outline of the square toe box left a visible indent when I finally took them off for the night.
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Before you are completely sold on this stiletto, we have to talk about the ribbon. Oh, the ribbon absolutely deserves its own segment! When you watch my in-store vlog, you will see me breakdown how the straps sat on my calves. I have shapely legs, which meant I could only get a few wraps around my ankle before tying it off, leading to a bit of slippage. It feels almost unavoidable unless you pull the ribbon extra tight or have slender calves that allow for multiple wraps before tying the bow. While trying them on in-store, an associate assisted me with securing the tie in the back.
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
However, on the day of my friend’s wedding, I decided to tie them in the front instead. To keep the ribbon locked down, I added a tiny knot with every single wrap rather than relying solely on the final bow at the top. That strategy worked quite well. Looking back at the pictures, I briefly wondered why I went with a front bow, but then I remembered I simply wanted to experiment with a new look. Both the front and back styling options look stunning, and since my dress was floor-length, it complimented the entire outfit effortlessly.
Keeping it real, after about 2 hours in these shoes, it was time to break out my emergency spare pair of sneakers, and swapped into them later that night. They happened to match my look perfectly, which I took as a sweet touch of favor. After all, style is one of my finest gifts! Color Availability For specialty colors, this shoe style seems to be nearing the end of its product life cycle. However, I’m hoping the classic satin colors stay put or a while. This is great news for you, because the shoes on their way out are marked down from the original Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $130. 
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
As of now, Larina is available in the following colors:
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN CASSIA
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Again, I can't recall where I originally saw these heels as I think it was on Instagram by a popular influencer. Yet, I vividly remember seeing Chloe Bailey's take on this classic as she wore them with leg warmers during her “Strung” movie press tour. They looked so elegant and served as a reminder that personal style is just that, personal, and up to customization.
So, as I vlogged around the mall, I wanted to see how they personally looked on me. I was mesmerized by them the moment I tried them on at Nordstrom. Even with the trial footies on, by choice, I was still in awe of their silhouette. I chose the red version because I love living life in full color. What caught my attention most was how true to a real ballerina shoe they actually are, down to the thick, boxy pointe toe. Though the pitch looks intimidatingly high at first glance, once you do the European-to-American conversion, it sits at a standard 4-inch (100mm) stiletto — just like Steve Madden’s Larina.
What sets the Cassia apart, of course, is the iconic red bottom coupled with the slingback open heel. That extra breathing room made the shoe significantly more comfortable. Dare I say, more comfortable than the Larina? Yes. As someone who owns two other pairs of Louboutins (Hot Chick and So Apostropha), I can admit that red bottoms are not historically known for comfort. Plus, because the classic lacquered soles lack natural grip, I am usually hyper-aware of every step to make sure I do not slip in public.
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
However, the Cassia’s structured pointe toe felt like a total departure from the traditional red-bottom squeeze. My toes were not squished into that sharp, narrow stiletto triangle; the boxy shape actually gave my feet a needed break.
While my time with this red beauty was brief, the wraps on this pair won me over. I was able to loop the ribbons around my calves’ multiple times all on my own, without needing an associate’s assistance like I did with the Larina. Securing the small bow in the back felt effortless, leaving me with a delicate tie and a stunning multi-wrap effect that made me feel like a true prima ballerina. There is a reason women stay devoted to Christian Louboutin!
Color Availability
Unlike Steve Madden's Larina, these don't show any signs of their product life cycle ending. No markdowns in sight, typical for a designer brand like Louboutin, and they are priced significantly higher coming in at $1,195 for each colorway. No extra-ness here as these are all satin options, so no pearls or sparkles. Cassia is offered in seven colors: 
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
WHICH IS THE BEST OPTION?
The real answer depends on your budget and how much you're willing to spend. Personally, I purchased my two pair of Louboutin's as a graduate school graduation gift. After four and a half years, going to school at night while I worked full-time in government and corporate, I deserved! That amount for me is a splurge that I'm not willing to do on a consistent basis, so while I admire Cassia, I do so from afar. The open back adds a strong layer of elegance that is unmatched and for that reason, plus its captivating red bottom, it's a strong contender for your girl's night out!
Photo: Tiffany Johnson / So MoTiFFated
I knew while going on this shopping excursion that my dress was gold so I wanted gold shoes decked in rhinestones to make my bridesmaid dress pop. Through the sales price offered at Dillard's and the 10% for it being damaged, the shoe was less than $85! That's a major win in my book.
The best part is Steve Madden's Larina seems to be the fan favorite anyway. While at a family friend's house after my shopping and vlogging experience, I asked which one they liked best and it was Larina. Also, when at Ballantyne Spa, I was chit chatting with a fellow guest and she mentioned she liked Larina over Cassia for the same reason as my friend, because it wasn't as dramatic, boxy, and thick of a pointe toe. You can't go wrong with either option, unless your budget is telling you to choose one over the other. Nevertheless, after reading this article, you walked away with a lesson in Black History and the rundown of two stylish shoes. Look at you winning. I love that for you!
Which shoe style do you prefer, Steve Madden's Larina or Christian Louboutin's Cassia?
READ MORE FROM SO MOTIFFATED:
LOVE THIS ARTICLE? PIN IT FOR LATER!
WATCH MORE FROM SO MOTIFFATED:
 Tiffany Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of So MoTiFFated. With an MBA in Digital Marketing and a background in branding, she curates excellence across beauty, business, and style with the eye of an executive and the heart of a hype woman... Read Her Story!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Support
So MoTiFFated: Whether a one-time tip or a monthly gift, this digital editorial thrives on reader support. Pledge yours via the QR Code below! 
All things excellence. Beauty • Business • Style Nourish your confidence. Contact the Editor: |