Celebrities feel like they can dabble in anything these days and fashion is no exception. It seems that everyone in Hollywood these days wants to start their own clothing or perfume line (also known as a “capsule collection”). Whether or not their skills translate is another story.

Actress Natalie Portman models one of her vegan footwear creations for the now-defunct Té Casan shoe boutique.

Miley Cyrus just kicked off a new line with Max Azria at Wal-Mart. Jessica Simpson has a whole collection of clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories.  Sean “Diddy” Combs has gone big with his Sean John line. And J-Lo’s third line, Sweetface Clothing, is currently on the racks. Famous names really are all over the fashion market. 

Generally speaking, attempts at high-priced, high-end lines have historically fallen on their face — Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. being one notable exception to the rule. There is no shortage of celebs trying to maintain a do-good lifestyle, but what happens when they try their hands at do-good green fashion?

The results are not always an improvement.

A prime example is Natalie Portman’s attempt at a vegan shoe line. The actress’s leather-free shoes were sold exclusively at the recently closed Té Casan boutique in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. While the concept was nice, at the end of the day her plastic shoes still cost hundreds of dollars — pricing them out of reach for the average vegan consumer.

Not to mention the impracticality of plastic. Faux patent looks quite similar to real patent leather, but it’s far more uncomfortable. If you’ve ever worn a pair of plastic shoes you know that they’re painful (talk about killer blisters), make your feet sweat by not allowing them to breathe, and ultimately don’t hold up well compared to real leather.

Ms. Portman’s vegan shoes were priced up to nearly $300. A bit much, we think. Vegan consumers already have access to comparable plastic shoes at Target, where you can pay $26.99 for a pretty cute pair. We suspect there isn’t much of a market for high-end vegan footwear. Obviously, Ms. Portman’s line didn’t last long, and Stella McCartney’s vegan footwear line seems to have more admirers than loyal customers.

Overpriced and expensive, when you consider cost per wear and comfort, you would be better off dropping those hundreds of dollars on real leather shoes. Or if you’re a champion thrifter, find a cool pair of vintage shoes at your local secondhand store. It’s a fashionable way to recycle and save your feet from the havoc that plastic wreaks on your feet.