Isabel Marant has said the Bekett began when she was eight or nine and slipped a piece of cork into her inner sole to look older and taller. "That's how the idea of a hidden lift came about," she told Vogue. When everyone in fashion was in super high heels, she said she was not ready to be tortured, so she went back to the cork idea and turned it into a sneaker.

What defines the Bekett is easy to list. British Vogue's Marant profile calls it a sellout and a sometimes divisive shoe that was a common sight on A-listers and editors in the 2010s. Vogue Singapore says it bridged basketball high-tops with a hidden wedge. The brand's own page lists a round toe, Velcro straps and a padded tongue, plus a built-in wedge of two inches. Each part can be found elsewhere.

So this Isabel Marant sneakers dupe edit is not about one shoe. It is pieces from other labels that share one detail with the original: the hidden wedge, the suede high-top, the hook-and-loop straps, the thick sole, and the slouchy suede boot Marant is also known for. Each is a look-alike in the same spirit.

First up is the hidden wedge itself. The DKNY Sereina is a white leather high-top with a tan sole, the closest to the original's proportions. The NeroGiardini hidden wedge in white and gold is lower and a little dressier, while the Steve Madden Mavis in black suede has three straps and a gum sole. The Tory Burch Hank is a cream retro runner, and the Puma Cali Wedge is the chunky, sporty one. In October I would wear any of them with straight jeans and a long wool coat, so the lift stays a surprise. Test it side-on: check that the wedge sits under the heel and arch instead of tilting you forward.

Marant's own care advice for her suede sneakers is a good place to begin: brush off surface dust, then use a colorless waterproof spray from six to eight inches away, avoiding any smooth leather. Do the same with these, and keep a suede brush by the door.

The suede high-top is the closest cousin of the original, because it is the material and the cut together. The Ash Bowie 2.0 in black suede has three hook-and-loop straps over a hidden wedge, which is the clearest shared detail in this group. The Ash Boradia has crossover straps, a different take on the same high-top. The Dolce Vita Irlah in gray perforated suede laces up instead, so it reads softer and more casual. The ALDO Belissa in tan adds plush shearling-look trim and two straps, which suits a cold morning. The Vintage Havana sneaker bootie goes ankle-high with a wedge bottom and is the one I would pick for a skirt with tights.

Pairing is simple. Black suede with a straight dark jean and a tucked knit, tan with cream trousers, gray with a gray marl sweatshirt dress. Boots-and-sneakers dressing is easiest when the suede color is a shade away from the trouser.

At the fitting mirror, check three things. The suede should be even, not patchy, with the nap lying one way. The padded collar should hug the ankle without gaping. The wedge should be hidden inside the sole line, not stepped out like a block.

What I would skip: the faux-suede bootie if you want the soft hand of real suede, and the flat-soled tall sneaker if the lift is the whole reason you are here.

The strap is the detail that does the talking. On the original, Velcro straps sit over a padded tongue, and from a few feet away that row of bars is what people recognize. So in this group I looked for that row, even on a flat sole.

The Veja Campo in white leather with a blush V laces up instead and is the cleanest, most minimal version. The Dolce Vita Merit in cream and tan, the Steve Madden Momentum in beige suede and gold, and the Sam Edelman Talia in gray suede with navy trim all use three straps as well. The Sorel Ona Drift laces up in cream with a gum sole. The Johnston and Murphy Gracie goes to two straps in metallic gold, a little more evening. The Dolce Vita Notice has leopard-look panels for anyone who wants a print. The Puma Speedcat Wedge is the one that keeps both ideas: taupe suede, straps and a hidden wedge.

Try this at home: fasten the straps and press down on each one with your thumb. The hook-and-loop pad should grip firmly across its full width, and the strap should sit flat rather than ridging. Walk down a hallway in them, since straps that creep open are a sign of a thin fastening pad.

Wear them with cropped, straight denim and a barn jacket. For a dress, choose the metallic pair and keep the rest of the outfit plain.

What I would skip: a strap sneaker with a very thin, stiff pad, because a closure that will not hold ruins the whole point.

Not everyone wants a wedge hidden inside a high-top, and the thick sole is the other way to get a little height. Marant's own line includes platform styles next to the Bekett, which tells me the thick sole sits close to the idea. These are sneakers where the sole does the work.

The Favorite Daughter Naomi is clean white leather on a thick platform, and the ara Mikky is its black twin with a white sole. The Dr. Scholl's Time Off has a sculpted white sole and is the one I would reach for on a long walking day. The Veronica Beard Truett has suede trim on a cream platform, which gives it the most Marant-like warmth in this group. The Sorel Ona Ave brings a chunky gum sole under white leather and cream suede. The adidas Gazelle Bold in black suede carries the three stripes on a platform, and the Dune London Eden in navy suede is the quiet one. The Kate Spade Sam Icon is a cream canvas mid-top with sparkle.

Check the sole before anything else. Press the side of the platform: a good one gives slightly and bounces back, and the edge should be cleanly cut, with no gaps between the layers of rubber. Then flex the shoe. It should bend at the ball of the foot, not in the middle.

For October, wear a white platform with a long gray skirt and ribbed socks, or the navy suede with wide black trousers.

What I would skip: a very tall platform with a flat inner sole, since you will feel the height without the support.

British Vogue notes that suede boho boots that look like they have been squished are another Marant signature, and it is easy to see why they are in this edit. The slouch is a shape you can find in many places once you know what to look for.

Vogue describes slouchy boots as soft and gently gathered, with a cosy, lived-in feel, especially in suede. That is a good checklist. The Steve Madden Aldora has a folded slouchy shaft in brown suede, the closest to that description here. The Durango and Bottero slouch western boots in brown both have a crinkled shaft and a stacked heel, and the Bottero has a pointed toe. The NeroGiardini slouchy boot in dark brown suede is ruched. The Dolce Vita Klyde and the Free People Cat Nap are short tan suede ankle boots with western detail, and the Nine West Weslie adds a side strap and buckle. The Johnston and Murphy Tristen in taupe is waterproof, handy for a wet October.

Wear the tall ones with a short skirt and tights, with the shaft left to fall in folds. The ankle boots like worn-in denim with a hem that sits right above the boot.

At the fitting mirror, put the boot on and walk. The shaft should fold at the ankle without pinching your calf, and the suede should feel soft, not stiff. Pull the zipper or the pull loops once to check they run smoothly.

What I would skip: a boot with a very stiff, shiny shaft, since slouch needs a soft hand to fold.

I would begin with the detail that made me look. If it is the lift, take a hidden wedge and check the side view. If it is the high-top and the straps, go for the suede with hook-and-loop closures. If you want the shape on a flat day, the platform sneakers do it.

Then I would add the slouchy suede boot for the weeks when sneakers are too cold, since Marant's boots and Marant's sneakers belong to the same wardrobe.

It started with a piece of cork in a child's inner sole. That is a nice thing to remember when the pair on your feet is a look-alike from another label: the idea was never complicated, only well timed.