| Golden Goose Popularity | For Women | For Men |
Influencers are singing the praises of Golden Goose sneakers in countless TikTok videos because of the brand’s lived-in, distressed and scuffed look. Some admire the worn-in aesthetic of the sneaker, while others mock it. The sneakers, however, come with a hefty price tag that doesn’t thrill most shoppers.
Despite its design and cost, we love the uniqueness of the casual-looking sneaker especially since some of our favorite celebs (Selena Gomez, Jacob Elordi and Taylor Swift) swear by them.
Why Are Golden Goose Sneakers So Popular?
For anyone not familiar with Golden Goose, it’s an Italian shoe brand founded in 2000 by Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo. Its design is inspired by the skating culture in Los Angeles and the founders’ Italian heritage.
With that in mind, the duo created a handcrafted designer shoe that would offer comfort and style while also remaining timeless. This led to Golden Goose sneakers, highlighting “perfect imperfection.” Not only would the sneaker’s distressed and worn-out designs set the brand apart from everyone else, but it would serve as a unique branding tool.
Golden Goose sneakers have a devoted fanbase, even though they’re super pricey – A pair can cost anywhere from $300 to upwards of $1,800. Sure, you’ll find people willing to splurge, but most don’t want to take the plunge. Golden Goose has a small line of vegan leather options, but most are constructed with genuine leather, which can be offputting, too.
While there’s really no substitute for an authentic pair of Golden Goose sneakers, we also have to pay our mortgage. Vintage Havana is the leading brand for scoring some of the best Golden Goose dupes. And there are plenty of other lookalikes out there (one even made our Top Products of 2022 list) that are budget-friendlier options and made from faux leather.
So for anyone looking to jump on the “dirty” sneaker trend, these are awesome Golden Goose alternatives that look super stylish and save you money.
Best Golden Goose Dupes for Women
1. ShuShop Super-Star Gold Glitter Sneaker Dupe
This girly dupe adds a little shine to every step you take. With a similar style to the Golden Goose Super Star ($600), the ShuShop Qandra Glitter Star Sneaker is a great alternative. It features a star embroidered on the faux leather with golden glitter throughout the body of the sneaker.
2. ShuShop Super-Star Silver Glitter Sneaker
Another fabulous ShuShop dupe for the Golden Goose Super-Star sneakers ($625), the Paris sneaker is one of the brand’s bestsellers. The shoe’s sporty style and vintage feel are updated with applique stars and copious amounts of glitter to flow effortlessly with any outfit.
3. ShuShop Rebecca High-Top Sky Star Sneaker Dupe
The chic, ’80s-inspired Rebecca sneakers from ShuShop have the same silhouette as a pair of GG’s Sky-Star retro basketball-inspired kicks. Although these don’t have the brand’s star, that’s an easy thing to add, so you can customize this high-top any way you want, including roughing it up a bit.
4. ShuShop Snake Passion Francy Sneaker Dupe
The ShuShop Passion High-Top Distressed Sneaker isn’t just a pair of flashy kicks. They’re also comfy too, thanks to the cushioned insole. This pair features faux leather and suede with a shiny silver sequin star patch and the side and a 3.5-inch exposed zipper on the instep, making it a breeze to take on and off.
5. Steve Madden Maybl Running-Sole Sneaker Dupe
The women’s Mabyl sneaker by Steve Madden has a running shoe vibe with a glittery design that elevates this otherwise ordinary shoe. It has a rounded toe with faux suede access and a glossy design on the heel counters.
6. Vintage Havana Annsley Super-Star Sneaker Dupe
Another GG Super-Star ($625) dupe, the Vintage Havana Annsley slip-on style sneaker has sparkly silver glitter everywhere with pink stars and a traction outsole. It has a slightly distressed sole but you can add even more distressing pretty easily.
7. Vintage Havana Lester Mid-Star Glitter Sneaker Dupe
We love Vintage Havana’s almost identical look to a pair of Golden Goose Mid-Star Glitter Sneakers ($655). The Lester sneaker has an inside zipper for a slip-on style with distressing thrown about its perforated profile. Note: This is a final sale and sizes are limited.
8. Vintage Havana Dream Rhinestone Sky Star Sneaker Dupe
The Vintage Havana Dream high-top sneaker is inspired by a retro-era athletic shoe. It has a fancy-schmancy vibe with blingy rhinestones and crystals strewn about, but still casual enough to pair perfectly with a comfy T-shirt and a pair of denim cut-offs.
9. ShuShop Paulina Sky-Star Sneaker Dupe
These retro sneakers have a modern feel but maintain their cool street vibes. Inspired by vintage basketball kicks, the ShuShop PAULINA updates the retro mid-top sneakers, with a combo of faux snakeskin leather and fuchsia synthetic leather.
10. Steve Madden Rubie Glitter Hi Star Sneaker Dupe
These Rubie Silver Glitter low-top sneakers from Steve Madden have a similar style to the GG Hi Star sneaker ($655) with some differences. The dupe doesn’t have glitter all over but does sport it on the sides and around the back. Plus, it has a bold star appliqué and distressing for a worn-in look. Note: Expected to ship by March 7.
11. Vintage Havana Dormy Glitter Mid Rise Sneaker Dupe
The edgy Vintage Havana Dormy Sneakers are substantially less for a similar appearance to Golden Goose. This pair features a genuine leather upper with glitter and suede detailing, a zipper on the instep side with star-studded accents sitting on top of a platform bottom.
12. Vintage Havana Splash Sky Star Sneaker Dupe
Spilling over with bling, Vintage Havana’s Splash high-top sneaker features glittery details throughout, which also leaves plenty of opportunity for you to get creative with your kicks and update them with more distressing.
Best Golden Goose Men’s Sneaker Dupes
1. Sepol Estrella Camouflage Stardan Sneaker Dupe
Usually, sneaker enthusiasts can tell right away when a pair of shoes are duped just by looking at them. However, these shoes from Sepol will have them questioning everything they knew about sneakers. The footwear has a camo-colored, dirty canvas similar to Golden Goose and even features a logo on the side. Unfortunately, it isn’t a star, but it does resemble one at first glance.
2. Steve Madden Jordee Sky-Star Sneaker Dupe
Steve Madden is a brand known for its dupes of several luxury footwear items. So it’s no surprise here that they created a shoe that imitated the GG Sky-Star high-top that starts out at $600 and goes up to $2,130. The white Jordee leather sneakers have a minimal classic design, making them a great everyday shoe.
While they don’t have the distressed aesthetic, you can get a worn-out look just by roughing them up in your backyard. After you have the style you want, you’ll be good to go with your very own unique take on the trendy sneaker.
3. Bed Stu Lordmind High-Top Sneaker Dupe
The Lordmind high-top, which is handmade in Leon, Mexico, is a mixed material high-top sneaker with an upper combo of canvas and leather. It features a lace-up style with a padded collar and a moc toe with distressing for a vintage look.
The post Golden Goose Sneaker Dupes That Almost Pass for the Real Thing appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
