Thinking about splurging on ball star sneakers? Here is my honest Golden Goose review!
Whether you love them or hate them, you’ve likely heard of Golden Goose sneakers at some point over the past decade. They became VERY popular which also made them VERY polarizing.
That’s not surprising considering they come slightly distressed and they’re very expensive. They’re definitely not for everyone. I mean, I didn’t even jump into the debate for a while because they were out of my price range!
Then a few years ago, my sister-in-law snagged a pair secondhand and fell in love with them. She raved to me about the comfort, the quality, the versatility… and every time she wore them around me, I’d start to want them more.
But every time I got close to purchasing them, practicality would win and I’d talk myself out of it. And then this summer happened. I had a few sneakers I loved but they didn’t quite cover every occasion – and less expensive sneakers I tried weren’t quite the right look or weren’t comfortable enough.
And then I realized… maybe it’s time to treat myself to a pair of Golden Goose Ball Star sneakers and see for myself what the hype is all about. Even if I didn’t think they were worth it, I could at least write a Golden Goose review, right? Research!
Sale alert!
SSENSE is having a HUGE sale and it includes Golden Goose sneakers!! I am eying this pair for 32% OFF! What?! I’ve never seen a sale that good on these!
My Honest Golden Goose Review
To be totally transparent, they came in the mail and I felt instant buyer’s remorse 😂 I never spend this much money on one item and I just spent it on sneakers?! WHAT DID I DO?!
But then I put them on and gave myself a pep talk about how I work hard and I deserve to treat myself sometimes – and I’ll wear a cool pair of sneakers far more than a designer handbag or super fancy piece of jewelry anyway.
Luckily, the need to justify the purchase went away when I wore them on our Portugal trip (Lisbon recs here!) and had absolutely no issues at all. No blisters. No sore feet. Nothing. And we walked a LOT. And not only were they super comfortable, but they went with every outfit. Huge wins!
Why are Golden Goose shoes so popular?
Golden Goose is a luxury sneaker brand that was founded in Venice, Italy in 2000. You might see the scuffs and think that they are poorly made, but the truth is quite the opposite. Each shoe is hand crafted from high quality Italian leather to get their very recognizable “broken in” look.
This attention to detail and small batch approach is one of the reasons why they have a higher price point than other sneakers – and those intentional “lived in” details on the shoes ensure that no two pairs are exactly the same. (Although their Pure Star sneakers have a cleaner look!)
And if you’re wondering are Golden Goose still in style in 2023? I would say yes. If you don’t believe me, mega celebrities like Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Hilary Duff all still wear them too.
They’re sold at a lot of major retailers, but I recommend Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, or Shopbop since they have easy returns!
Golden Goose Ball Star vs Superstar
If you’ve considered Golden Goose sneakers, you’ve probably looked at the Superstar style – but I ended up getting the Golden Goose Ball Star style instead for a few reasons.
First, if I was going to spend this much money, I wanted to make sure that they were comfortable – and multiple people (including Golden Goose retail workers!) said that they find the Ball Stars to be the most comfortable.
Second, I’m pretty sure all of their styles have this – but both the Superstar and Ball Star styles have a built in wedge. This not only offers great support, but I think it makes them really flattering for your legs too! Also at 5’2″, I’ll take any height I can get 😉
And lastly, the Ball Star sneakers a little more unique and retro than the Superstar, without losing it’s versatility.
This super versatile blush color also won me over… although if I had seen this pair, I probably would have gotten them instead. They’re just a little bit more neutral.
Are Golden Goose sneakers comfortable?
Speaking of comfort, let’s talk a little bit more about that. As I mentioned, I wore my Ball Star sneakersall around Portugal mere days after I got them in the mail and I had no issues at all. It made me feel so much better about the splurge and it’s honestly why I was so excited to write this Golden Goose review.
Cute and trendy and comfortable enough to wear while walking around all day for multiple days in a row? Yes please!
Versatility and Longevity
In addition to the comfort factor, I decided to buy a pair of Golden Goose sneakers because of how versatile they are. These aren’t precious shoes that will sit in my closet unless I’m invited to a super fancy event.
That’s honestly the perk of the pre-worn look! You don’t have to stress about getting them dirty or ruining their pristine white condition! They are meant to be WORN – and worn with everything from jeans to shorts to dresses to skirts. You name it.
And because they are a luxury shoe, they are made to last for years. We’ll talk about cost-per-wear in a second…
How do Golden Goose sneakers fit?
Generally Golden Goose sneakers fit true to size, but they only come in European whole sizes. I am usually a 6.5 and I got a size 37. Of course, I always recommend looking at the brand’s size chart and ordering from somewhere with a good return policy like Nordstrom, Revolve or Saks Fifth Avenue.
Do golden goose sneakers ever go on sale?
https://howl.me/ckLR5xIvTmX
I love a good sale and I rarely make big purchases without a discount, but truthfully, Golden Goose sneakers rarely go on sale. But that doesn’t mean never!
SSENSE is having a HUGE Cyber Week sale and it includes Golden Goose sneakers!! I am eying this pair for 32% OFF! What?! I’ve never seen a sale that good on these!
So… Are Golden Goose Sneakers worth it?
After reading this full Golden Goose review, I think it’s clear that I love mine. But are they worth it? Well, that depends.
These sneakers are EXPENSIVE. There’s no denying that. And while part of that is because they are extremely well made Italian leather luxury shoes, another main reason for the cost is the designer name and recognizable style. That’s just the truth.
So I’ll break this down into two categories. If spending $600 on one pair of shoes is going to really stress you out financially, then no, they’re not worth it. You could get a Golden Goose dupe to feel cute and call it a day.
On the other hand, if these are pricier than you would normally spend BUT you do have the means… then they really might be worth it for you. I hope I covered the reasons why already in this Golden Goose review, but there’s another thing to consider.
Think about how many sub-par sneakers you’ve purchased over the past few years. What if you spent that money on one pair of shoes that are super comfortable, go with everything, and you reach for nearly every day instead?
And speaking of wearing every day, let’s talk about cost per wear! Let’s say you buy this Golden Goose Ball Star pair for $565 and you wear them 150 days the first year you get them.
That feels like a conservative guess to me considering how much I’ve already worn mine – and that brings the cost per wear down to $3.76 for the first year alone! And I know I’ll be wearing these for a lot more than one year. This is girl math, people!
All in all, it’s a big purchase and you should definitely take your time figuring out if it makes sense for you. But ultimately, I’m really thrilled that I decided to treat myself and I highly recommend them!
