It’s finally here, our White Sneaker Round-up…
Tammy and I have been discussing our Spring and Summer “wish lists” A LOT. We both love to shop (obviously), but we also like to be intentional with our purchases. What do our closets actually need? What do we want? What are the upcoming trends…which ones do we want to follow vs leave behind?
One item that was on both of our wish lists – a clean, simple white sneaker.
These are really the most classic closet staple there is, but they somehow manage to feel really fresh this Spring. Maybe a revolt against the Golden Goose trend? (Not that GG are going anywhere; I’m personally just feeling a little over the highly embellished sneaker. If you love it, go for it!)
Our criteria for a white sneaker was fairly specific – clean, simple, low profile, and leather. Think French girl chic. A pair that could be thrown on with literally anything – jeans, shorts, pants, and dresses. So without further adieu, the results of our white sneaker round-up!
Rachel’s White Sneaker Round-Up
1 – The Best Budget-Friendly Pair
Adidas Sleeks (on sale for $64!)
Ok you guys, these are good! The leather isn’t nearly as high quality as the Axel Arigato sneakers (discussed below) but it’s definitely “good enough” – especially for this price. They are currently on sale! The style is spot on – and I love the subtle gold details. Sizing was TTS for me. Hands down my top pick for a budget friendly pair – so good!
A side-by-side comparison of the Adidas Sleeks (right) with my Axel Arigatos (left). You can see that the style is very similar…the Sleeks are more of a bright white and have more stitching detail. But the vibe is very much the same.
2 – My Ride Or Die Pair
Ok, these are a price jump from the Adidas for sure…but the leather and quality are amazing. I’ve worn them a ton and they are super comfortable and clean easily with a damp cloth. They do run a smidge small….I almost sized up but ended up with my regular size (I wear these mostly sockless). If you’re between sizes like me, and plan on wearing them with socks, I’d go with the larger size. These sneaks are elevated enough to wear with literally anything.
3- Nope!
I know this brand is a fan favorite, and I actually have Veja sneakers in a different style. These, however, missed the mark for me. I’m not a fan of the yellow tinged bottom – see it here compared to my Axel Arigato sneaks (above left). To me, it makes them feel a little dingy.
And here is a top view comparison of my Axel Arigatos (left) vs the Vejas (right)…Again, just not loving the Vejas here.
In summary, my top investment choice is hands down the Axel Arigato Clean 90s sneakers. If you wear sneakers a lot (like me), they are totally worth it in my opinion. If you’re looking for a budget friendly pair, skip the Vejas and definitely go for the Adidas Sleeks – I love them!
Tammy’s White Sneaker Round-up
1 – The Expensive But Gorgeous Pair I Almost Kept
Paul Green Carly (I sized down 1/2 to 7)
I consider these an adult / upscale version of converse. I absolutely love them in every way. They have a crinkle leather that is casual but at the same time elegant. They are the lightest shoes I’ve ever tried in my life, and so comfortable and easy to wear.
I love that the ankle leather is completely flat with zero padding. That gives the ankle a very slimming effect, which is always a nice thing, ha!
Paul Green Carly (I sized down 1/2 to 7)
I also absolutely love the color design of the red and blue, both on the base of the shoe and on the tag along the laces.
Paul Green is known for comfort shoes and these are no exception. Paul Green also tends to fit a bit large, so I went down 1/2 a size to 7 and they were perfect.
So then, why didn’t I keep them? Well, I almost did! Until I found the pair I kept (#3 below), and it was actually a tough decision! I’ll talk about why I kept the other pair, below!
2. Not for Me!
Frye Ivy (TTS)
The Frye Ivy sneaker gets a lot of love online, so when I saw it go on sale for 30% off, I ordered immediately. Unfortunately, I really disliked them on me in every possible way.
The toe box of this shoe is much narrower than all the other styles I tried. I think I have a pretty average foot width, and this was just too tight. I think this would fit someone with a narrower toe box.
Paul Green Carly (sized down 1/2) | Frye Ivy (TTS)
The Paul Green (left) sneaker is totally flat around the ankle which I loved. The padding around the ankle on the Frye (right) is way too thick for my taste.
I also wasn’t a fan of the leather / color of the Frye, which was definitely more pebbly and a bit more off-white. The Frye Ivy felt more like a bowling shoe on me.
3 – The Pair I Kept and Love
Reiss Finley (full sizes only, I sized down to 7)
Just when I thought I had found the pair (the Paul Greens above!) my friend, Victoria, recommended I try the Reiss Finley, which were on Friends & Family sale at Bloomingdales. Well, I tried them, and she was right. They are a perfect sneaker and they go with everything!
Reiss Finley (full sizes only, I sized down to 7)
The padding around the ankle is between the Frye (too much padding) and the Paul Green (no padding). The leather is smooth, unlike the other two pairs, and it has a very sleek and clean design.
Paul Green Carly (wearing 7) | Reiss Finley (wearing 7)
This is the comparison between the Paul Green (on the left) and the Reiss (on the right). There were a few reasons I decided to keep the Reiss. For one, they are more versatile in all white, and that was a big one, as I can literally wear them with anything. The Paul Greens, while being gorgeous, might not be as versatile with the blue and red.
Two, the Reiss Finley were cheaper AND on sale, so it ended up being a big price difference. As someone who doesn’t often wear sneakers, it just made financial sense for me to go with the pair that would go with anything including dresses.
Now with that said, my friend, Monica, has the Paul Green pair and they are stunning. Every time I see her wearing them, I get a little jealous, ha! I think the dogs approve of my choice, though!
Reiss Finley (full sizes only, I sized down to 7)
Also, did you know there’s like a gazillion ways to lace your shoes? I had zero idea. With my newfound wisdom, I think Rachel’s Axel’s came with “Straight Bar Lacing”, which I tried on my Reiss, but the laces ended up being a bit too long for me.
My Reiss sneakers actually came with two totally different lace methods. The one I liked was confusing enough that I had to look up online how to make the other match. I discovered it is called “Shoe Shop Lacing”. Anyway, here is the site I found most helpful with all the different methods and you can pick your favorite!
That completes our white sneaker round-up – we hope that this is helpful in finding your perfect pair. They really are the ultimate closet staple and add an effortlessly chic vibe to just about everything. To see how they look in action, check out our recent denim shorts article!
Cheers!
Rachel & Tammy
