For as long as I can remember, Stuart Weitzman were the reputable brand of boots to get. Though I’ve had my eyes on their over-the-knee styles for years, I always have second thoughts at their nearly $800 price point. This Black Friday, I decided to try their outlet brand first, and found a similar pair at almost 60% off the price of the actual ones. But did it live up to the standards? In this post, I breakdown the full Stuart Weitzman vs Outlet brand comparison, their quality differences, and more!
Disclosure: This post makes use of affiliate links, which may result in a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Left: Reserve Boots (size 1 step down) | Right: 5050 Bold (size half step down) | Coat (XXS) | Bag
Why do brands create ‘outlet’ or ‘factory’ brands?
Originally, outlet and factory brands were created as a way for brands to sell outdated merchandise at unbeatable prices. However, as brands realized that sales for these products outpaced full-priced merchandise, they created exclusive lines for it. To control for healthy margins, most of these ‘outlet’ products come at lower quality.
If you’ve been following my posts, you know how much I emphasize quality 🙂 Every once in a while, I do find great products in outlet or factory brands (read similar post: J. Crew vs. J. Crew Factory Comparison) However, the common wisdom is true: you usually get what you pay for. In this blog post, I will explain the key differences between Stuart Weitzman vs outlet label, and whether I think the off-price version is worth it!
Left to Right: Stuart Weitzman Outlet City Block Boot | Stuart Weitzman Reserve | 5050 Boot
Stuart Weitzman vs Stuart Weitzman Outlet: The Differences
On Black Friday, I purchased the Stuart Weitzman ‘City Block’ Boot (~$260), which is their outlet version of the Reserve ($795). Both boots have a block heel, knit-stretch backing, and leather/suede front. I wore my outlet version to the Stuart Weitzman store, and compared them both. The differences boil down to a few key features:
- Manufacturing Origin
- Material & Leather Quality
- Construction
- Design / Fit & Sizing
- Customer Service – not related to the product, but is something else to consider with your purchase.
Stuart Weiztman & Outlet Boots are Not Made in the Same Factories.
The store associate confirmed this fact with me. Most Stuart Weitzman boots are manufactured in Spain while the outlet version is usually made somewhere in Asia. My City Block Heel Boot was manufactured in Vietnam.
Note: I do not believe that having products made in Asia automatically equals that “bad quality”. However, labor costs in Asia are typically lower than in Europe. That, along with the fact that Spain products some of the highest-quality leather in the world, should be enough to raise questions around differences in quality.
The Material & Leather Quality are Different!
Both my City Block Heel Boot and the Stuart Weitzman Reserve are made with suede leather. However, the texture points to some key quality differences.
- Stuart Weitzman Outlet City Block Heel Boot: Suede feels smooth, with no ‘napped’ surface texture. (Napping is the term used to describe a material having a slightly raised surface)
- Stuart Weitzman Reserve: Soft, plush finish with a visible ‘napped’ surface. Note: High-quality suede should feel this way, and since my outlet pair lacks this feature, I do think it is lesser quality.
Both boots have a leather interior lining. However, I flipped both pairs inside out to show the difference in texture. With the Reserve, the leather lining has a supple and soft texture that feels comfortable against the skin. Meanwhile, the City Block Heel Boot has a thin, smooth layer that feels plasticky and less breathable to me.
Stuart Weitzman City Block Heel vs Reserve: Construction Differences
As SW and its outlet brand are manufactured in different places, I was not surprised to see the differences in construction. When I tried and compared both pairs, I found The Reserve to be the clear winner in terms of comfort, not only due to its materials, but also how they were stitched together.
- Reserve: Partial suede and high-quality leather lining on the inside, all the way down to the heel region. I found this feature to be tremendously helpful when taking on/off the shoe. The heel is shaped and lined in such a way that makes these boots easy to remove, while also creating a supportive brace that feels secure when walking.
- City Block Heel: Lined with a lower-quality leather (no suede inner) shown in the photo above. Somehow with the texture of this leather, I found the City Block Heel to be harder to remove.
While I forgot to take side-by-side photos, I also remember the Reserve having a slightly thicker sole than my City Block boots, along with deeper grooves for traction. The knit-stretch backing on both boots felt comparable to me.
Related Post: How to Stretch Out Leather Boots at Home
Design, Fit & Sizing: Stuart Weitzman vs Outlet Brand Review
My biggest learning with my first-ever Stuart Weitzman purchase is that it is worth trying on these shoes in-person! The fit and sizing varies a lot among styles, and the same couldn’t be more true across their outlet designs too.
Stuart Weitzman City Block Boots run narrow, with a more almond-toe shape. I purchased the ‘medium’ width pair, as it was the only ones in-stock. Side-by-side, you can see that the Reserve is slightly wider than the City Block Boots, which have a narrower almond toe shape. After some time, my toes feel squished with the City Block Boots. These boots run narrow, and a touch small. For roomier toe shape, try the City Block Square Toe Boot (linked below the knee-high and ankle length versions).
Stuart Weitzman Reserve runs a little big. In winter boots, I am a size 8 because I like to leave room for thicker socks. However, with the Reserve, I had to take a half size down with 7.5 being my best fit. As leather stretches with time, I think sizing down is the better choice.
The heels are different heights. One thing to consider between the Stuart Weitzman Reserve and the City Block Boot is that they are very similar, but the heel height is different. The Reserve is a little flatter (1.6″ heel height) whereas the City Block Boot is slightly higher (2.6″).
Lastly, the Reserve heel is not wrapped in suede, whereas the City Block Boot heel is. See differences below. The Verdict: Ultimately, I think the City Block Boot looks dressier and more elegant. But the Reserve is comfier, higher-quality and better for everyday walking.
Customer Service: Stuart Weitzman vs Outlet
Although this point isn’t directly related to the product, customer service can make or break your purchase experience. So I’d like to share about it below.
If you buy your Stuart Weitzman Outlet boots on sale (which majority of the time, they are), these are final sale! No returns or exchanges. I did consider exchanging my City Block boots for a bigger size, and the customer service agent was willing to allow a one-time exchange. She also suggested getting my shoes professionally stretched if they were too narrow.
As is the case with many off-price and outlet purchases, the return policy can be very strict. So keep in mind if this risk is one you’re willing to take, especially if you’ve never bought from the brand before!
Final Thoughts on Stuart Weitzman Boots vs Outlet Comparison
Given what I know of Stuart Weitzman’s outlet boots, I would recommend waiting to splurge on the real deal. SW runs 25% off sales throughout the year that are worth waiting for. Overall, I still love the design of my City Block Boots and they win in terms of looks and dressiness. However, the Reserve clearly wins for quality and comfort.
When I tried them on in the store, I immediately felt the difference and understand why they are priced as high as they are! That said, SW Outlet still carries a few other highly-regarded styles that I’ve heard great reviews through other bloggers. Looking back, I probably would have picked something with a lower heel and wider toe region, such as these:
