Golden Goose is to sneakers what The Bachelor is to reality television. You either love or loathe, but regardless of feelings, the topic is always on someone’s lips. On my Friday Q&A’s I get the most questions related to fashion, about Golden Goose sneakers. And on last week’s “unpopular opinion” post everyone said they hated Chick-Fil-A and Golden Goose. Maybe you wonder why on earth anyone would think to spend this amount on glitter sneakers that look “worn” or maybe you need help deciding if they really ARE worth it. I’ve had Golden Goose sneakers for 4-ish years, so I thought it was high time I reviewed them! I’ll go in order of most frequent questions, so if you want to skim the post, you can.

Are Golden Goose worth it?

I know I don’t have to preface this {this is Chronicles of Frivolity, not Chronicles of Necessity} but it will be relative. Epidurals aren’t worth it to some women and to some they are the only way they’d give birth. If you usually budget around $100-$120 on a pair of stylish sneakers, and you wear sneakers at least 3 to 4 times a week, they are worth it in my opinion. Okay, big price jump, Katey. Hear me out. It’s your cost per wear combined with longevity. If you are a work-from-home gal or a mom at home and you find yourself only slipping on sneakers and the occasional flat for being out and about, these will last you such a long time. I’ve bought $120 sneakers here or there since then, but I find myself repeatedly slipping on my Golden Goose. I probably wear my GG 300 days a year, so instead of buying random $70 flats repeatedly, I wear these. In the past 3 years {I know last year is probably a poor example} I’ve bought less shoes total, than I normally would. So for me, a mama that lives in sneakers, these are completely worth it. I’d rather wear a pricier sneaker 300 days a year, than a $60 flat that I wear 5 times a year. Plus, you can grab them on sale.

But how long do you think they will be “in”?

I think you’ll have to determine what “in” means for you based on your own personal style. If you’re very classic, you may not wear these in 5 years. If you are a bit more trendy, I bet you will. I view it like the Valentino Rockstud- this is actually my most read blog post ever. Brands aren’t making Rockstud dupes these days, but if you have a pair of Rockstud heels, I bet you still wear them to weddings- I know I do! I saw a few moms wear them to Maxi’s dance recital this weekend. They are a fantastic heel that I can stand/walk for hours in. I view GG the same for sneakers. Golden Goose has added sneakers to their line since 2007. They got quite popular in 2018, and every brand tried to make similar. I would say the “look for less” versions aren’t as on-trend now in 2021, just because every brand has already had their shot at it, like the Rockstud. GG sneakers are handmade and no two pairs are exactly the same- like art. You’ve got a unique factor that a lot of other shoe brands can’t beat. All of that to say, they’ve been around for years, so I don’t think this is a style you’ll regret next year. But if you are someone that loves a timeless style, you may not love in a few years. You’d probably prefer Vejas.

Does the distressing bother you?

It does not, in fact, I prefer it! I know people that don’t like the sneaker joke you spend hundreds on dirty shoes- it reminds me of a sweet dad joke that would say, “You paid what for jeans with holes in them?!” when you’d walk out of Abercrombie & Fitch back in the day. Each scuff is handmade, so the moment you slip the sneaker on it’s like putting on your favorite pair of jeans that fit just right. Because they are distressed a bit, they also don’t require you to break them in. I’ve actually never had a blister from a pair of GG sneakers, and while I can’t speak for everyone, the general consensus on forums is that the distressing helps them already be broken in.

I’m pretty Type A and wash my kids’ sneakers 24/7 because scuffs on them bother me. But with these being made to be distressed, well, it’s like trying to mend distressed denim. There is no need!

Why do people like them aside from the logo?

Some people love the glitter and crazy designs, but for me, my favorite things about GG aren’t as well known. First off, did you know they elongate your leg? I’m 5’3″ so give me all the elongating! They have a hidden wedge {about an inch and a quarter} inside the shoe that you don’t see. This offers support and is actually why people say GG are so comfortable. I have worn them in New York walking for miles and never once feel discomfort. These aren’t cushion-y shoes, but they are extremely supportive with the wedge. The other benefit is that they elongate your leg without looking like a chunky wedge sneaker. This is a reason you see so many people wear these with dresses, not only are they fun to mesh with your personal style, they can be flattering as a flat with a midi dress, etc.

What are your favorite styles?

That’s the allure of GG, they release limited quantities of styles constantly. Once they are gone, they are gone. Most of the pairs I have are no longer in stock, but I’ll link some I like at the bottom of the post.

How do you style them?

Aside from the comfort and elongate leg situation, my favorite thing about Golden Goose is that they can dress up or down easily. I don’t find that to always be the case with each style of sneaker, and I think it has to do with the toe not being too chunky, and the details. I wear them with anything from workout clothes to dresses. Here are a few outfits from over the years to give you ideas.

How do they run?

I am a size 7, and in the Slide High-Top Zip, I am a 37 and in the Superstars, I am a 38. I know most would say they run TTS, but I think whole sizing can be a little tricky. I don’t find them to stretch a ton- especially if you get a kind with glitter on the toe or tongue. If you are in-between sizes, if you get the high tops go down a size, if you get the Superstars, I’d say go up a size.

Where can you find them on sale?

You do NOT have to pay full price on GG! I get mine on sale most of the time. Personally, I have found great deals with them on Gilt {sign up for an account}, SSense, Farfetch, and sometimes, Shopbop. I also have purchased from eBay.

For general browsing, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter, Revolve, and mytheresa.com all have great selection.

What socks do you wear?

This is another hot topic with Goden Goose. Everyone claims to have found the perfect pair and everyone also claims that none work well- so order at your own Amazon risk. 😉 I either wear these {size down!!} or these bombas.

Can you compare them to Vejas?

I find my Vejas to run small {I take a 37} and have more cushion, but I have only owned them about a month so I can’t speak to what they look like in 4 years. I think if you are more classic, these are fantastic. Some people said the tongue was stiff and irritated them, but it didn’t bother me and I never had to break mine in.

Can you link some favorites currently in stock?

I hope this helps with any GG questions you may have! Do you have a pair?