Toteme's shoes are built on five plain shapes — a high-cut ballerina, a soft loafer, a sharp slingback, a slim knee boot and a clean ankle boot — and each one can be found in a vegan version for under $110. What you will not get is Toteme's calf leather or its exact models. What you can get is the proportions, which are most of the appeal.
For context: in fall 2026, Toteme's ballet flats were listed at roughly $480–$640 in the US, loafers around $570–$770, slingbacks around $660–$680 and boots from about $800 to over $1,100. Most "Toteme dupe" pages are whole-wardrobe roundups where shoes get one paragraph, and none of them looks at vegan options. This guide is shoes only, organized by shape, with sizing and care notes.
Who is Toteme?
Toteme was founded in 2014 by Elin Kling, a former fashion writer, and her partner Karl Lindman, and is based in Stockholm. The label is known for a pared-back uniform: tailored coats, straight denim, knitwear and accessories in black, cream and camel. Shoes became a bigger part of the business in the 2020s. They come in calf leather, suede, calf hair and croc-embossed leather; we did not find a vegan line.
Toteme vs vegan alternatives at a glance
| Toteme shape | Approx. 2026 US price | What defines it | Vegan alternative | Our price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-vamp ballerina | $480–$640 | Covers the instep, round toe, almost no sole | Suki Studded Ballet Flats | $64.99 |
| Ballerina with a small heel | $480–$640 | Glove fit, low lift | Cerise Patent Ballerina Pumps | $68.99 |
| Soft loafer | $570–$770 | Unstructured, minimal hardware | Perrine Pleated Loafers | $72.99 |
| Slingback | $660–$680 | Clean vamp, slim strap | Mirelle Slingback Heels | $72.99 |
| Slim knee-high boot | $800–$1,130 | Narrow shaft, minimal detail | Larkin Knee High Riding Boots | $86.99 |
| City ankle boot | $800+ | Clean shaft, sharp toe | Sabra Square Toe Ankle Boots | $92.99 |
1. The high-vamp ballerina
This is the Toteme flat most people mean. The topline sits high across the foot, so it covers more of the instep than a classic ballet flat and looks closer to a slipper. It pairs with straight trousers and long coats — the whole point is that it does not interrupt the line.
Suki Studded Ballet Flats
An unbroken topline that covers the instep, a round toe and a slim sole — the high-vamp shape, with scattered studs for a little edge.
Suki Studded Ballet Flats
Burnished black that lets brown show at the toe and collar, so it looks lived in rather than new.
If you want it plainer, the rest of our ballet flats include smooth styles without hardware.
2. The ballerina with a little lift
Toteme often puts its ballerinas on a barely-there heel. The effect is a flat that stands a bit taller under wide trousers. Look for a rounded toe, a topline that grips with elastic, and a heel slim enough that it disappears from the front.
Cerise Patent Ballerina Pumps
Crinkled brown vegan patent, a hidden elastic topline and a slim kitten heel — a ballet flat that grew up.
3. The soft loafer
Toteme's loafers lean soft and low: little structure, minimal hardware, sometimes elastic at the back. The vegan version to look for has a flexible sole and one detail at most. Ours swaps the usual flat apron for a gathered one, which gives the front some movement without adding hardware.
Perrine Pleated Loafers
Soft patent with a pleated apron and a slim penny strap — the plain black loafer with one considered detail.
Perrine Pleated Loafers
From the side the sole stays thin, which keeps it in the quiet-luxury lane rather than chunky.
4. The slingback
Toteme's slingbacks are understated: a clean vamp, a fine strap, a heel of moderate height. To get the same mood, keep the color black and the hardware small. A sculptural heel is the one place you can add character without losing the minimal feel.
Mirelle Black Slingback Heels
Square toe, high V vamp and a silver hourglass block heel — minimal from the front, interesting from the side.
Margot Mary Jane Slingback Pumps
A softer square-toe option with an elastic strap and cut-out heel, for days you want the slingback idea in a mary jane.
5. The slim knee-high boot
Toteme's tall boots are narrow through the shaft and close to the leg, worn under midi skirts and over straight jeans. A riding-boot line is the closest everyday equivalent.
Larkin Knee High Riding Boots
Smooth black shaft to just under the knee and buckle straps at top and ankle, on a lugged sole built for pavement.
6. The city ankle boot
A clean shaft, a defined toe and a moderate heel: the boot that goes under every pair of trousers. A square toe gives the same quiet sharpness as Toteme's pointed versions.
Sabra Square Toe Ankle Boots
Blunt square toe, slim tapered heel and no zip pull or buckle — the shape is the point.
Are Toteme shoes worth it?
Toteme does several things well. The shapes are calm and long-lasting rather than trend-led, the leathers are good, and the brand is consistent about its palette, so a pair slots into a wardrobe for years. If you want calf leather and a specific model, the price reflects real material and design.
If what you want is the silhouette, and you prefer animal-free materials, a vegan alternative at roughly a tenth of the price is a sensible way to try the look first. Shapes like the high-vamp ballerina are easy to wear, but the trend cycle around them moves faster than the price tag suggests.
Sizing notes
| Shape | Fit risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| High-vamp ballerina | Pressure across the instep | True to size; if between sizes and you have a high instep, go up |
| Ballerina pump | Heel slip | True to size; the elastic topline should feel snug |
| Loafer | Heel slip in a soft upper | True to size; size down if between |
| Slingback | Strap slipping off the heel | True to size; size up if between |
| Knee-high boot | Calf fit | Check calf circumference on the product page |
| Ankle boot | Room for socks | True to size; size up for thick socks |
Toteme sizes in EU. Ours do too, with most styles running EU 35–40 (Sabra 34–39). Match centimeters rather than converting from US sizes, since US conversions vary between brands.
Care
- Smooth vegan uppers: wipe with a damp cloth; dry at room temperature.
- Patent and crinkled finishes: a soft dry cloth brings back the shine; do not use polish meant for leather.
- Studs: wipe around them with a cotton swab so dirt does not settle at the base.
- Tall boots: store with boot shapers so the shaft does not fold at the ankle.
Toteme, The Row, Khaite and us
Toteme is often grouped with The Row and Khaite as the brands that defined "quiet" dressing. The Row's elastic ballet slipper runs around $820 and Khaite's flats sit above $1,000, so Toteme is actually the most accessible of the three. All three are worth respecting: they are good at restraint, which is harder than it looks.
We are not any of them, and none of our shoes copies a named model. We make the shapes this aesthetic relies on — high-vamp ballerinas, soft loafers, slingbacks and slim boots — in vegan materials from $64.99 to $92.99, with free shipping from $90. For more in this lane, see The Row ballet flats alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Toteme shoes dupe?
There are many shoes with Toteme's proportions — high-vamp ballerinas, soft loafers, slim boots. Look for the shape and the restraint rather than a copy of a named model.
Are Toteme shoes vegan?
We did not find a vegan line. Toteme lists calf leather, suede, calf hair and embossed leather.
How much are Toteme ballet flats?
Roughly $480–$640 at full price in the US in fall 2026, with calf-hair versions higher.
Where is Toteme from?
Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded in 2014 by Elin Kling and Karl Lindman.
Do Toteme shoes run small?
Toteme uses EU sizing. Check the brand's own fit notes for each style, and measure in centimeters before ordering any EU-sized shoe.
What brands are similar to Toteme?
The Row and Khaite are the usual comparisons at a higher price. For vegan shapes in the same spirit, our ballerinas, loafers and boots are under $110.
Read next
- The Row Ballet Flats Alternatives: 7 Vegan Lookalikes Under $70 (2026)
- aeyde Shoes Dupe? Vegan Alternatives to the Uma, Moa, Loafers and Boots (2026)
- How to Style Loafers for Women in 2026: 12 Outfits for Chunky, Platform, Tabi and Pleated Loafers
See the quiet everyday styles in ballet flats and tabi loafers.