5 Best Golden Goose Alternatives That Cost Hundreds Less

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Score these trendy Golden Goose alternatives while you can! 

golden goose shoes on store display

Prepare yourself for these jaw-dropping Golden Goose lookalikes. 🤯

Before we dive in, I have to admit something. Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of Golden Goose. I’m assuming many of you haven’t either given what I recently discovered.

I was blown away to find out this trending brand offers iconic “star sneakers” which retail anywhere from $500 to over $1,000! 😱 The funniest part of all, each pair is purposefully scuffed and made to look dirty and each piece is handmade in Italy so they’re truly “one-of-a-kind”, hence the high price. 😏

What on Earth?! 🤣

hand holding a golden goose sneaker in store

You can find the extremely high-end Golden Goose brand at stores like Nordstrom and they offer high-end pieces from clothing to sneakers and even accessories although, they’ve become most well known for their iconic “star sneakers” – in fact, they’re so popular, they’re going on tour. Not kidding. 

While sporting any Golden Goose piece will set you apart from any crowd, the price tags are sure to leave your wallet sweating it big time. So we thought it would be fun to find our very own, much more affordable alternatives!


Check out these incredible Golden Goose alternatives we found!


1. Who needs genuine calf hair on their sneakers when you can save nearly $500 on this leopard Golden Goose lookalike?

leopard star sneakers


That’s a savings of $510.02!

This Golden Goose sneaker may have a leopard-spotted genuine calf-hair star on it, but DSW offers an almost identical and wildly cool pair of Steve Madden sneakers for over $500 less! Plus, our less expensive option has tons of great reviews so we’re thinking it’s a solid option for anyone looking to save on this trend.


2. You also can’t beat the basics with this white Golden Goose star sneakers lookalike for way less too.

golden goose sneaker compared to steven madden sneaker


That’s a savings of $447 or more!

As if Amazon didn’t already have all the things, but now you can even get Golden Goose alternatives on the massive shopping site as well! Better yet, the Steve Madden sneaker lookalike even appears to be more distressed so you’ll be able to sport your favorite worn-in look right out of the box!


3. You can try a pair of black Golden Goose lookalikes for free with Amazon Prime Wardrobe!

two black golden goose sneakers dupe with white background


That’s a savings of $460.01 or more!

That’s right, if you just want to give this look a try before committing to even the price of a lookalike, you can try this pair of sneakers for free before you commit to buying with Amazon Prime Wardrobe! Made by Steve Madden, you’re still going to pay a pretty penny, but if you genuinely love this look we know they’ll be well made and likely last a long time!

They have other colors too! 🤩

stock photos of gold pink and white golden goose dupe sneakers


That’s a savings of $535.01!

Funny enough, there’s plenty of Steve Madden Rubie sneaker designs to choose from to get your star sneaker fix!

At first glance, these gold and pink accented Golden Goose alternatives look identical. However, with the growing popularity of those looking for Golden Goose lookalikes, this style is going fast, so if you find your size act on it now before they’re gone!


4. If you’re really looking to save big, Portland Boot Company has lookalikes under $20!

comparison of golden goose and portland boot company snakeskin sneaker dupe


That’s a savings of $587.01!

For starters, you just can’t beat sneakers under $20. But the Portland Boot Company brand took it a step further by not only making Golden Goose alternatives that are, in my opinion, even cuter than the brand name ones, but also are on sale for just $17.99! That’s the biggest gap in price we’ve found so far!

5. Target is joining the mix with their own lookalike! 

Golden Goose Target Pink Dupe-2


That’s a savings of $506.01!

Now, these Target lookalikes are just cute, and we love the camo heel tab even more than the pink ones!


6. It’s not just shoes, Walmart even has the perfect hoodie for men, sure to be a staple piece in any wardrobe. 😆

comparison of black star hoodies on man


That’s a savings of $254.58!

Now, I don’t know many people (or any) who are dropping nearly $300 on a sweatshirt but considering this basic black hoodie with stars is hard to come by, we thought we’d come up with a DIY version to save you over $250! 👏🏻 🤣

man holding pack of foam star stickers holding black hoodie on hanger

Luckily, Walmart has identical black pullover hoodies for just under 13 bucks to achieve the high-end style! Paired with some sticky foam stars, you’ve practically nailed this hot Golden Goose look. 🙌🏻 😉

The only difference? Golden Goose’s hoodie is 100% cotton and our alternative is 60% Cotton/40% Polyester. However, that just means less shrinkage when you wash it. Even better, our Walmart option is more versatile since the stars can be taken off for the days you’re going for a more minimalist look. 😏

They even have great women’s sweatshirt lookalikes too!

comparison of gray sweatshirt with gold star on front

WOWZA! 🤩 Walmart even has the women’s section covered too! For just about 10 bucks you can sport a similar pullover sweatshirt to make the perfect Golden Goose lookalike for women. Plus, it’ll go with just about anything!

woman giving peace sign taking selfie in mirror with phone

Using the same, gold star stickers that Stetson found, Cam was able to use one gold star to replicate the expensive pullover sweatshirt by Golden Goose.

Best of all, if you’re after both the men’s and women’s Golden Goose sweatshirt alternatives, then you’ll only need one pack of stickers – making your alternative cost even less! 👏🏻

Obviously, we’ve half kidding on these last sweatshirt sticker DIYs, but we’re still feeling like it’s a win, win all around! 😂


We’ve found the best Lululemon alternatives online – and no, we’re not joking about these. 🤩


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


Join The Discussion

Comments 15

  1. alevdean

    In reference to the sneakers, this is how companies gaslight consumers, Wake Up! The idea is to look like you’re not rich, that wearing dirty sneakers is supposed to indicate & send the message that the person is frugal,humble, etc…meanwhile the customer obviously has enough disposable income to drop $500 on shoes that look like some people would donate or buy at a thrift shop( I love thrifting btw). I don’t like it one bit, it’s kind of making a subtle statement, it doesn’t sit right, it’s insulting, quite frankly. I have sneakers like that I use to work in the yard but when I was a struggling single parent of 4 I DID have sneakers like that, that where worn & dirty, even if I washed them, but I couldn’t afford new ones. If a person has to spend $500-$1000 just to be perceived as “average” or “humble” they have bigger issues than they realize, IMO.

    • alevdean

      The company slogan should be “How to look poor without all of the indignities that go along with it”

    • Amy

      I totally disagree. They are a status symbol and have been. No one is insulting the poor wearing them, it’s just that a celeb wore them and they decided they wanted them too. it’s culture. I am sure you saw something on here you were influenced to buy that you really didn’t need even if it was cheap.

  2. Ihearthip

    I’m not against people buying what they like and what they can afford, but, I just CAN’T w/ these sneakers! They look disgusting. My guess is they knew white sneakers would be a magnet for instant scruffs and dirt, so they went ahead and made them look like that, so people would spend the money. I love me some sneakers (and white tennis shoes), but I know better in my day to day life I’m walking on dirty sidewalks, parking lots, not to mention when my foot hits the shopping carts wheels. So, fresh white is not my friend. But I wouldn’t go for this pre-grimed look either.

  3. SavingsMama

    If someone has the money to spend on shoes made to look dirty…please consider donating to someone in your community! I can guarantee you, there is a struggling parent, college student (or both), teen that are embarrassed about their dingy looking shoes and can’t get new because of other necessary expenses. Lol 😆 at the sweatshirts…but on a side note, the gray one was on sale or very similar in our Walmart for $3😯

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for the suggestion and for sharing your find! Good to know!

    • alevdean

      Thank you, the world needs more people who think like you 💕

  4. Princess'Mom

    I agree, this is ridiculous. Why would anyone even want to duplicate that?!? When my sneakers look like that they either get relegated to “yard work” shoes or get thrown away. Anyone who wastes money on these clearly has more cash than they know what to do with.

  5. Ana

    These are pushed hard by influencers and mom bloggers and it should tell us something.
    I’ve unfollowed all of those that push their $500 dirty shoes in our face.
    If I did ever buy GG I would never use their links.

    • alevdean

      Yeah they would feel differently if that’s the only pair they or their kids had to wear. There’s something offensive about this, I think it’s kind of somehow making fun of poor people, idk ,I can’t put my finger on it….I’m thinking of doing a FB poll I would love to hear from people I know about their thoughts on this, maybe it’s just me 🤷🏽‍♀️

  6. Scnewport

    I’m sorry but I love the look of the Golden Goose sneakers:(. I hate the price and I’m probably not going to be Uber happy with the comfort level compared to my walking sneakers or Birks. I have seen them used all over the board from $400-$220 and still can’t pull the trigger. I think these look great with leggings and such. Theses are Italian hand finished and the wear marks makes it more expensive to manufacture.

    • alevdean

      My son is a sneaker head and has a pair (he’s 21 with a ft job) & before I knew about these I asked him to change out his “dirty” sneakers before a family get together! 🤣 He said Mom do you know much these were? I said I don’t care they look dirty & used, go change! 😂

  7. tracey

    A silly trend. Ok, I’m not a trendsetter. Never fell for skinny jeans, expensive jeans with holes in them or have that uneven, chewed up look at the ankles, nor will I fall for pre-made, dirty white sneakers! I can see the kids liking these though. 🤪

  8. Rhonda

    I actually thought it was a smart an untapped market when they came out. Seems silly to put on new sneaks with your torn jeans. Sneaks like this seem like a better look for the distressed clothing. I am a vegan so they are a no go for me for other reasons!

  9. Laura

    Dirty shoes are such a pet peeve! It costs nothing but soap and water to clean them so the fact that people intentionally want to wear dingy dirty shoes is just disgusting.

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