GOLDEN GOOSE SUPERSTAR SNEAKERS – ARE THEY AS COMFORTABLE AS OTHERS SAY?
Have you seen a pair of Golden Goose sneakers? They’re super cute and come with a trendy lived-in look.
And that cool and lived-in look comes at a price of anywhere between $500 – $600.
As usual, I’ll take the leap of faith for you first and tell you all about my experience in this Golden Goose sneakers review. Then you can decide for yourself if these specialty Italian sneakers are worth the price.
Table of Contents
Are Golden Goose Sneakers Comfortable?
Oh boy, this is the big question. Most people rave about Golden Goose sneakers being so comfortable. It’s part of the brand’s idea with the whole distressed, lived-in look of most of their shoes. They’re already broken in and ready for daily wear.
Unfortunately, this was a big disappointment to me when I bought my first pair of Golden Goose shoes from Nordstrom. I wanted to love them and I even kept them thinking I’d break them in, but they are so uncomfortable!
The toe on this pair is made of leather and is quite stiff. Maybe I have really big toes (big question mark) or maybe the leather was handled incorrectly and should not be so stiff? Walking around in these shoes is too painful and I would not suggest the shoes to anyone.
I also want to disclose that my true size is 36.5 and these are 36. Golden Goose only offers whole sizes, so I had to choose between 36 or 37. I sized down for 2 reasons: it was suggested that Golden Goose styles come a tad wider and would therefore fit okay for you to size down. And second reason, the lived-in look of a Golden Goose includes the tied laces into knots on either side (not the traditional neat bow you normally tie on sneakers). And in order for me to wear that look, the shoe has to fit snug. With a 37, my feet would slide right out.
And even though the 36 fits perfectly, walking around in these after a few minutes is unbearable.
Fast forward a couple of years and I decided to try again with this pair of Golden Goose sneakers from Neiman Marcus.
Golden Goose sneakers are handmade and thus no two pairs are exactly alike. I thought that maybe my first pair was a fluke and I should give them one more try.
And this time, I got a size 37. The toes are made of soft suede on this pair instead of the white leather. I wonder if the material on the toes has anything to do with the comfort. Or just purely the fact that this is a half size bigger than my true size.
This second pair of Golden Goose sneakers is way more comfortable than that first failure. But also note that if I wear them with the tied knots on the laces on either side, my feet will slide out of the shoes every step. So I cannot look “cool” with the new way of tying my laces. I have to be sure to tightly and neatly tie my laces into a bow.
Golden Goose Sneaker Sizing
In general, Golden Goose shoes seem to run true to size. The shoes are made in Italy so US shoppers will need to do a bit of a conversion.
For example, if you wear a US size 7 you’ll wear either a 37 or a 38 in European sizes.
Note that they only make whole sizes. If you usually wear a half size, I recommend sizing up to ensure a comfortable fit. From my personal experience, sizing down was not a comfortable fit.
How to Tie Golden Goose Sneakers Laces
Golden Goose sneakers have a signature look for the laces that don’t involve chasing bunnies around trees or diving into rabbit holes. In other words, you don’t tie them in a neat little bow as you normally would with other styles of sneakers.
Instead, lace up the shoes as normal and make sure they are comfortably snug. Then, tie a knot on each end to keep the laces tight. That’s it!
This gives you the effortless cool and chic look. You can also be “lazy” and just slide in and out of the shoes without having to spend time tying laces.
How to Style Golden Goose Sneakers
Onto the fun part! No Golden Goose sneakers review would be complete without the styling!
These sneakers are made to shine so it’s great when they can be the eye-catching element of your outfit. They come in a variety of colors so obviously which pair you own will have an effect on your clothing choices.
To let them shine, choose neutral clothing such as jeans with a white t-shirt and jacket. This outfit will work even with some of the more unique Golden Goose designs.
These shoes also pair well with skirts and dresses for a casual and comfortable look. They add instant coolness to your favorite flowy dresses and give you comfort for all the activities the day may bring.
Why Do Golden Goose Sneakers Look Dirty?
If you’ve ever browsed Golden Goose sneakers, you might have wondered why they all look as though they belong at a garage sale (as my husband would say, ha!). New sneakers are usually stiff and pristine but not these Golden Gooses! Instead, they are scuffed, bumped, and even look a little dirty.
Why?
Well, that’s part of the Golden Goose brand. Every pair of shoes is handmade in Venice, Italy and they are also hand-distressed. This means they are made to look old and even a little dirty — right out of the box.
The idea is that beauty lies in items that are well-used, meaning they are loved and lived-in. They have a story to tell.
It’s a similar concept to wearing distressed jeans. Why do people pay good money for a pair of jeans that come with holes? The distress creates a lived-in look, and that gives you an effortless coolness, a feeling of comfort (is there anything more comfortable than a pair of worn sneakers?).
But it’s not just for a cool and chic look, it also helps you reduce the time that you have to break into your new kicks.
Usually, most new shoes are stiff and might be uncomfortable for the first few times you wear them. It takes a bit for them to soften and conform to your feet. The hand-distressing process that Golden Goose subjects their shoes to is supposed to take care of that breaking-in period for you. This gives you a super comfortable right-out-of-the-box shoe.
Are Golden Goose Shoes Worth the Price?
The handmade and hand-distressed element is a big reason why Golden Goose shoes are so pricey. Plus no two pairs will ever be exactly alike, so there is a certain amount of exclusivity.
Another big part of why people seek after luxury brands including Golden Goose is for the quality of the goods they sell — and this case is no exception.
Golden Goose sneakers are made with high-quality leather that is supposed to last forever if you care for it properly.
The interior of the shoes is lined with an ingenious loopback cotton toweling material. This keeps the shoes warm on a chilly fall day yet cool on a hot summer afternoon so you can wear them anytime!
In other words, there are a lot of reasons to love these sneakers. That’s why every season more people flock to buy their new styles, even though every purchase leaves their wallets lighter.
Lots of people love Golden Goose and say they are the most comfy sneakers they ever own. And yet it’s only a 50% success rate for me.
Ultimately it’s up to you whether the reasons to love them make them worth it for you. I have to say that my personal experience leaves me with mixed feelings.
Are There Any Good Golden Goose Dupes?
What if you want Golden Goose style shoes without the Golden Goose price? If you aren’t sure you’ll love the shoes or be happy with the styling, it can be rough to drop a few hundred dollars right out of the gate.
I get it so I did the research for you to find some decent Golden Goose dupes.
Goodnight Macaroon has some that look very similar to the first pair of Golden Gooses shoes that I bought. The design comes in several colors and sports the iconic stars on the side of the shoe. They even have the signature GGDB (Golden Goose Deluxe Brand) label on the tongue.
They come pre-distressed like Golden Goose shoes and the description mentions that you can add your own distressed look with a ‘Magic Eraser.’ For less than $100 it might be worth it to add your own unique touch to the shoe’s look.
I also found some other great options of vintage sneakers from the Vintage Havana brand. These ones aren’t necessarily made to look like Golden Goose dupes but they have the same sort of vibe.
Many of the styles have the big star on the side and the laces are worn the same way as Golden Goose shoes. However, instead of the big GGDB on the tongue, VH Original marks the shoes, and VH EST 1954 is prominently displayed on the laces. The shoes look very similar to Golden Goose but it’s clear that they are not.
Depending on the style, these sneakers run from about $80 up to $130 so they’re another great way to try out the look without breaking the bank.
Shop these Golden Goose dupes picks:
Where Can I Find Golden Goose Sneakers on Sale?
I know some of you are going to ask so here’s the answer, can you find Golden Goose sneakers on sale? After all, knock-offs aren’t for everyone but neither are $500 shoes!
Italist: has a wide variety of Golden Goose shoes and not just sneakers. You’ll still pay a pretty penny but you can find some styles offered as low as $440.
Gilt: carries a large selection of Golden Goose shoes. Recently they ran a huge sale where you could save up to $100 off, which is pretty exciting. It doesn’t happen all the time but it is worth it to keep an eye on.
RueLaLa: had 85 styles of Golden Goose shoes when I checked. Most savings ran about 14-15% off. Doesn’t seem like much but when you start at $500 or $600, 15% turns into pretty significant savings!
MyTheresa: has a decent selection including some exclusive shearling-lined styles. Prices vary but you can find some dipping down into the $350 range, which is pretty awesome.
Farfetch: offers quite a few unique styles with some prices dropping down to around $450..
Some Golden Goose sneakers on sale from these sites:
What Socks Do You Wear?
Ready to rock a pair of Golden Goose sneakers? After spending this much money on a pair of sneakers, you don’t want to ruin the look with the wrong socks.
The cut of these sneakers is quite low on the sides and I recommend getting some super low no-show socks to wear with them.
Here’s a 3-pack from Ralph Lauren that I would recommend so you can see how low the socks need to be.
Do Golden Goose Sneakers Belong in Your Closet?
Only you can decide if Golden Goose sneakers are right for you.
If you ask for my opinion, where do I land?
My overall rating is a 7/10.
And I would still recommend the Golden Goose style sneakers. For the vintage look, a bit of a retro vibe, with instant chicness and lived-in comfortable look. I love the style, but the sizing and comfort as told above, is a bit off for me.
With 36.5 being my true size, I now settle on wearing my 36 (smaller size) without socks, and the 37 (bigger size) with thicker no-show socks.
If you buy a pair, I would recommend buying from a store that offers free exchanges. This is especially important if you don’t know your foot size in European sizing. Or even if you know, but are in between sizes and need to test how each size feels. If you end up choosing the wrong size (or they are painful like my first pair) you can swap them out for another pair that will hopefully be more to your liking.
Some current Golden Goose styles I’m loving:
Reader Interactions