A Field Guide to White Street Style Sneakers – Including Golden Goose!

Love ’em or hate ’em, the white sneaker trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Personally, I love ’em! They are comfortable, stylish, unisex, go with practically everything, and give a street savvy look to any outfit. Today, I’m talking all about the sleek street style sneakers inspired by the classic Adidas Stan Smiths and Superstars.

I currently own 6 pairs of white sneakers and love them all. Below, I’m going to compare and contrast them and hopefully give you some valuable insight in case you’ve been eyeing any of these. And ESPECIALLY if you’ve been eyeing the pricier ones. For reference, my shoe size is firmly between a 6 1/2 and a 7 so I’ll let you know if I had to size up or down. My feet are average width. There’s a lot of ground to cover so let’s get started!

Adidas Superstar

For me, the original Adidas Superstar was love at first Run-D.M.C. video, though these icons have been around much longer; since 1969, in fact! These sneakers have been worn and loved by many for decades and it’s easy to see why. They’re affordable, comfortable, and come in about a billion different colorways/patterns to choose from. I went with a sleek black/gold honeycomb/snakeskin-esque look. These are equally appropriate for a quick trip to the market as they are for a fun night out.

• Comfort level/break-in period: No break-in period necessary, these were SUPER comfortable right out of the box
• Sizing: They run large. I went with a 6 1/2 and wouldn’t want them even a millimeter larger! If you’re in between sizes like I am, it’s probably safe to size down to your smaller size
• Price point: Very affordable and easy to find on sale and at discount stores such as Nordstrom Rack. Average pair will run you $85-90 and I’ve seen them as low as $40ish on sale
• Overall rating/comments: LOVE them!

Find it here:

Adidas Superstar (at Nordstrom)

Worth searching for sales at Nordstrom Rack!

Adidas Stan Smith

If you’re looking to buy an iconic white tennis shoe that will never go out of style, look no further than the Stan Smith. Named for a famous tennis player, this stylish shoe has been around since 1965. The minimalistic perforated version of the iconic Adidas three stripes gives the shoe an ultra chic and versatile look. Go for the classic green detail or choose one of the many other options; I went with a fun sparkly silver.

These minimalistic shoes lend themselves very well to having some fun and switching out the plain white laces for a more personalized look. Jimmy Fallon famously loves his Stan Smiths and you can sometimes spot him wearing them on The Tonight Show, complete with rainbow laces 🌈 It’s kind of the best! I have a few different laces for mine (cheap & easy to purchase on Amazon – see below) and currently am sporting silver glitter ones that match the shoes’ logo.

• Comfort level/break-in period: No break-in period necessary, these were SUPER comfortable right out of the box
• Sizing: Similar to the Superstar, they run large. And here’s my trick with these since I have smaller feet: I look for them on sale at places like Nordstrom Rack in the KIDS sizing! I can get away with a ‘big kids’ size 5 1/2 with these! This would probably work with the Superstars, too, I would imagine
• Price point: Very affordable and easy to find on sale and at discount stores such as Nordstrom Rack. Average pair will run you $85-90 and I’ve seen them as low as $40ish on sale
• Overall rating/comments: LOVE them!

Find it here:

Adidas Stan Smith (at Nordstrom)

Fun shoelaces in multiple colorway options – I like a longer lace so went with the 59″ length (at Amazon)

Other Adidas Fan Faves

Adidas Advantage (at Amazon)

Adidas Advantage (at Nordstrom Rack)

Adidas Sleek Leather Sneaker (at Amazon)

Veja Esplar

Veja is a super stylish French footwear and accessories brand that was founded in 2004. They strive to use sustainable and recycled materials whenever possible. I fell in love with their Esplar line and the lace-up ones with the black logo are currently on my wish list. But for my first pair of Vejas, I HAD to go with this ultra cool Three Lock (Velcro) pair with the logo done in a beautiful metallic rose gold.

There is one quirky thing with these shoes: although the width seems a tad wide to me; the Velcro tabs are a little on the short side when I’m wearing them. Unless I pull the tabs so tight, I’m almost cutting off my circulation, the Velcro doesn’t quite match up perfectly. They still look fine and it’s not a huge deal, just something my OCD mind noted.

• Comfort level/break-in period: Not much of a break-in period, these were pretty comfortable right out of the box. I did wear them with socks a few times at first, just to be safe. The tongue hits kind of low, which is different than what I’m used to, but it’s not awful or anything
• Sizing: Veja uses European sizing and it’s slightly different and does not have half sizes. Since I’m right in between the 36 (similar to a 6) and the 37 (similar to a 7), I had to look at other people’s reviews and they seemed to consistently say that they ran a tad small so I went with the 37 and they’re perfect
• Price point: Not as reasonable as Adidas but attainable for most. Average pair will run you $120-$130
• Overall rating/comments: Stylish and somewhat unique/under the radar; not everyone will be wearing them

Find it here:

Similar in 2022: Veja Recife (at Bloomingdale’s)

Similar in 2022: Veja Recife (at Anthropologie)

Veja – all options (at Anthropologie)

Veja’s entire line – everything here is pretty rad! (at Veja)

P448 John Low Top Sneaker

P448 is an über cool Italian footwear company with a sharp focus on quality and artistry. The soles are hand-stitched and each pair is created with meticulous attention to detail. They are similar in many ways to the infamous Golden Goose Deluxe Brand (more on them below) but at about half the cost – or even less when found on sale.

• Comfort level/break-in period: No break-in period, these were SUPER comfortable right out of the box. Note: the back of the shoe is SUPER soft with a ton of padding. These are one of the rare pairs of new shoes that did not rub on my Achilles tendon whatsoever
• Sizing: As with Veja, P448 uses European sizing. I decided since the 37 worked so well for the Vejas, that I’d try it again and they’re perfect
• Price point: Usually more expensive than the Vejas, these are probably going to be a treat that most will either have to save up for or use the credit card. I HIGHLY recommend always checking Nordstrom Rack first because they often have a few pairs of this brand available on sizable discount. An average full-price pair will run you about $300 but look for sales on their own website, on Nordstrom, Olivela (where you’ll also be doing some good), and (as mentioned before) Nordstrom Rack, where I’ve seen them as low as $120ish
• Overall rating/comments: These are just as cool and just as Italian as Golden Goose (and comfortable right out of the box!) for half the price

Find it here:

P448 John Low Top Sneakers (at Anthropologie)

P448 John Low Top Sneakers (at Nordstrom)

P448 John Low Top Sneakers (at Bloomingdale’s)

P448 Sneakers on discount (at Nordstrom Rack)

Golden Goose Super-Star

Ok, so let’s talk about Golden Goose 🙂 Spotted on seemingly every celebrity and fashion blogger, there’s no denying these are possibly the hottest shoe around right now. I remember noticing Clea and Joanna of the Home Edit wearing at least one different pair of them on every single episode of their Netflix show last year. I have to imagine between the two of them, they must own every single pair by now 😂

Not gonna lie, I got sucked in, too. I wondered what all the hype was about and my curiosity finally got the better of me. I took a deep breath, held my nose, and pretended to look the other way while charging 2 (!!) pairs to my Nordstrom card 😲🤑😳

So what makes Golden Goose shoes so special? AND EXPENSIVE? Well, for starters, each pair is hand-made in Italy. There’s no denying that these are super high quality and gorgeous. And all of those little scuffs and ‘imperfections?’ They are done by hand. I remember scoffing the first time I saw a pair of pre-distressed shoes, thinking “Who’s going to pay these ridiculous prices for shoes that already look worn??” And the answer is: me. I’m going to pay it. Because it looks badass. And on top of that, it’s actually quite brilliant. You can’t destroy a pre-destroyed shoe. How many times have I excitedly sported a brand-new pair of white shoes only to accidentally scuff them up on my very first wearing?

Another cool thing about GG is many (most? all?) of them are limited edition. They create a certain number of each style and once it’s sold out, it’s gone. So chances are very high that no one else you know is going to be wearing the exact same pair as you. They also come in a million (more or less) designs and colorways and each one is a creative work of art. Lastly, the insole has a slight elevation to it, not only cushioning your feet, but giving you a tiny, leg-flattering lift. And if you don’t care for that insole, it’s easily removable – options are good!

• Comfort level/break-in period: Not gonna sugar-coat it, these need to be broken in. The first time I wore these outside of the house to the grocery store, my pinky toe was bleeding by the time I got home. HIGHLY recommend wearing around the house with thicker socks for a while. OR if you’re braver than me, you can try the hair dryer method suggested by Debra Lee Kay over at Sunsets & Stilettos, but I was too chicken to try it on a pair of $500 shoes, lol
• Sizing: These also come in European sizing. But reviews were ALLLLL over the place! Half said they ran big and half said they ran small so I ordered both a 36 and a 37 and the short answer is: they actually BOTH fit! lol The 36 is a snugger fit and perfect for wearing without socks and the 37 has a little more wiggle room and pairs well with my favorite Sock it to Me’s (P.S. future post about them on the horizon!)
• Price point: Ridiculous. Again, no sugar-coating it, these are stupid expensive. Are they worth it? It just depends. For most, probably not. I’ve listed a ton of more affordable options here that are pretty cute. That said, I love mine and I feel a little extra cool and special when I wear them. I also love fashion so much, I literally went to school for it, so I guess it’s about what your passions are in life. Fashion is a passion of mine, so these are worth it for me. Other people spend money on vacations or fancy cars or whatever turns them on. Only you can decide if designer shoes are worth it for you. They’re $500+ and rarely go on sale but Jayme from The Blonde Side has put together an excellent, comprehensive list of where you can look for them on sale. If nothing else, it’s worth popping over to GG’s website for a few minutes and just taking in the works of art that are their shoes
• Overall rating/comments: They’re gorgeous and unique and I’ll probably buy a third pair at some point that are a little more wild. I went very conservative with these first two pairs because at that price point, I wanted to make sure they would look good with everything. So I played it safe with black and white. But I’d love something with glitter, or leopard, or zebra, or… who knows what else! The sky’s the limit with GG’s funky designs

Find it here:

Golden Goose Super-Star (at Bergdorf Goodman)

Golden Goose Super-Star (at Bloomingdale’s)

Golden Goose Super-Star (at Nordstrom)

Golden Goose Super-Star (at Golden Goose)

Oh and if you prefer a pristine white shoe for your hard-earned dollars, they make a line of those, too 😊

Other Options

GG Knock-offs

I have not personally tried them so I can’t speak to their comfort level or durability but I’ve seen this GG knock-off brand, Vintage Havana, all over the place. Nordstrom Rack also carries this brand and they are a tiny fraction of the cost of GG. So if you love the look of the GG Super-Stars but know that there’s no way on God’s green earth that you’re ever paying $500+ for a pair of sneakers, here’s your best option!

Gucci Ace

Another pair of designer white sneakers often spotted on the wealthier folks are Gucci’s Ace Sneakers. Even I can’t bring myself to shell out the $750+ that these babies cost but no judgement to anyone that feels these are their dream sneakers and wants to go for it! These bee ones are super cute and if money were no object, not gonna lie: I would totally spring for a pair. Oh and The Home Edit gals are also obsessed with these, lol

Sam Edelman Sneakers

Sam Edelman also carries a variety of white sneakers that are relatively affordable and consistently garner rave reviews for both comfort and value. As with GG and the P448’s, they come in a variety of styles and colors.

Other Sneaker Possibilities in a Similar Vein (at an Attainable Price Point for Most)

Nike Air Force 1 (at Nordstrom)

Puma Vikky (at Nordstrom Rack)

More Fun With Your Sneakers

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to style your white sneakers, look no further than the lovely Amy Jackson over at Fashion Jackson. Though her and I are built quite differently, we share a very similar fashion aesthetic and I always love to see the latest ways she’s styling her kicks!

Below is a little how-to video I created to show how I tighten up the laces on the shoes that come with the shorter knotted laces. I have fairly small feet so the laces always have way too much give unless I tighten them up a bit!

And just for fun, here’s some bonus outtake pics. Jagger was ‘helping,’ as always! 😹

Have you been loving this trend? Have you been wearing Adidas Superstars all the way back since you were first inspired by Run-D.M.C. in the 80’s? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! 🤍👟🤍

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