Target’s affordable alternative to $500 Frye boots sparks social media frenzy

$500 classic Frye boots are back thanks to TikTok — and a $50 alternative at Target.

The dupe is proving controversial, however, as fashion fans question the durability of buying the Target version, considering the Frye boots will last for years.

The Campus boots are one of the most popular options, with many TikTok content creators showing off their thrift store finds or their mom’s pairs from the ’90s.

Frye boots were extremely popular in the ’90s with stars like Jennifer Aniston and in JulyOlivia Rodrigo brought the boots back on Instagram, showing them off with a Gen Z twist.

However, on TikTok, creators are debating whether the classic boots are worth the money, with many influencers urging their followers not to buy the original version.

Commenters were quick to share their own thoughts on the influencers making fun of people who can’t afford the original footwear

The Target Women’s Oakley Harness Boots cost $44.99 (right), while the Frye Tall Leather Harness Biker Boots cost $498 (left)

One creator mentioned Maddy summed up the sartorial controversy in a TikTok video, rolling her eyes as she wrote on the post, “Frye boots are an investment piece, Target shouldn’t be selling $50 versions, if you can’t pay $400 for it real work, you should do that ‘I don’t get them’ – that’s the conversation a lot of people are having right now.

Maddie captioned the viral video, “I think they’re ugly but some of you making think pieces need to get out. Very few people have $400 to spend on boots, just let these people live.”

The Target Women’s Oakley Harness Boots cost $44.99, while the Frye Tall Leather Harness Biker Boots cost $498.

Commenters were quick to share their own thoughts on the influencers making fun of people who can’t afford the original footwear.

“They’re just mad they spent $400 on boots,” one commenter snapped.

“I feel like people who say that are just afraid that people won’t be able to tell if they’re real or fake when they wear them,” said another commenter.

“Why do they care so much about what other people spend their hard-earned money on?” was a popular sentiment.

Some said their Target shoes have lasted for years, while they feel like Frye quality has gone downhill over the years.

Frye often shares Instagram photos of influencers posing in their boots, including the popular moto style and the sloppy suede version that’s on trend for fall

Frye was a big hit with celebrities in the 2000s, often doing gift suites and giving away their cowboy boots and motorcycle boots, as shown above

Some said that even though Frye boots have a reputation for lasting decades, theirs now only last a year or two.

“Every person who is mad at the people who buy the $50 dupe has over 10,000 followers, like it’s so unattainable it’s hilarious,” one commenter stated.

Others pointed out that the Frye boots were a trend, writing, “The same people saying this will be selling theirs on Poshmark in a year and calling them cheugy,” and “They’re going to sell them before they finish paying.” them off.’

Many people were quick to point out that there are plenty of Frye dupes everywhere, including on Amazon, explaining, “Anyone calling them Frye boot dupes hasn’t seen the hundreds of versions of motorcycle boots that have been popular over the years.” ‘

Many people brought up how trendy was just as popular in 2015, explaining, “Moto boots and Frye boots HAVE been a thing, y’all are under a rock during Christian girl fall or???”

During the ‘Christian Girl Autumn’ trend, young women wore circle scarves, leggings or skinny jeans, high boots and Pumpkin Spice Lattes with a clutch inside.

Now it’s all about pairing the biker boots with miniskirts and denim, but it’s possible the shoes will start to feel dated within a few months, so it’s up to shoppers whether they spend $44 on a cheap version or spend hundreds on the originals they will last much longer.