Several months ago I decided that I wanted to get in on the white casual shoe trend but had no idea what brands to try. I turned to my friends on Instagram to steer me in the right direction and I received great suggestions that helped me tremendously with my search. I created a list of the most highly/commonly recommended white casual shoes and then headed to Zappos to check pricing, availability and reviews.
I ended up ordering five different pairs of white shoes to try and definitely had a clear winner and many close runner ups. I received a lot of requests to share the results of my shoe search so I’ve compiled photos and details in this post! For each shoe, I have a photo of them on and out of the box. I’m also sharing details on sizing and price. For reference, I typically wear a 7.5 in dress shoes and an 8 or 8.5 in athletic/running shoes.
Note: this post is not sponsored or affiliated with Zappos but it does contain affiliate links.
VANS OLD SKOOL CORE CLASSICS
SIZE ORDERED: men’s 6/women’s 7.5
PRICE: $59.95
FIND THEM HERE
The Vans Old Skool Core Classic was surprisingly my favorite shoe of the five when it came to comfort, style and functionality. I think what ultimately made these the winner for me was that they feel streamlined and are not bulky. I also have a bit of a wider forefoot and a narrower heel and these fit my heel very well with no slipping. I think they run true to your casual shoe size.
I have worn these shoes a lot over the last six weeks – in airports, walking around Park City, for coffee dates, to run errands, etc. I think they look cute with casual clothes like shorts and skirts also great with my lululemon Align leggings and a cropped shirt.
The only thing I don’t love about them is that they are canvas and not leather so they’re harder to keep clean. That said, I guess the tradeoff is worth it because I found some of the leather styles to be too bulky for my taste. I haven’t tried washing these shoes yet but I’m sure they’ll hold up fine to a few washings. Also, at this price point, it’s not painful to replace them every 5-6 months!
ADIDAS ORIGINALS STAN SMITH
SIZE ORDERED: 7.5
PRICE: $89.95
FIND THEM HERE
The adidas Originals Stan Smith was my second runner up and I’m 90% sure that I am going to end up keeping them. I love the gold detail on the heel. These shoes are definitely more “structured” than the Vans as they are designed to actually be a tennis shoe. The design is all leather. They run big for athletic shoes and I definitely needed the 7.5 and not an 8.
SUPERGA 2750 COTU CLASSIC SNEAKER
SIZE ORDERED: 38 (women’s 7.5)
PRICE: $64.95
FIND THEM HERE
I was unfamiliar with the Superga prior to my white shoe search but it’s an Italian shoe brand founded in 1911. They are known for their classic 2750 shoe which they now offer in tons of different styles, colors, patterns, etc for women, men and kids.
I liked these basic white 2750s. They are a super classic and simple style. It’s worth noting that they have a very low profile around the ankle and foot so it would be hard to wear socks with these shoes. (Call me crazy but I don’t love wearing shoes without socks and I find the no-show/half socks to be very uncomfortable.) At the end of the day, these shoes were a little too small so they are being returned.
TRETORN MAKO 2
SIZE ORDERED: 8
PRICE: $99.95
FIND THEM HERE
I was surprised when I received quite a few recommendations for Tretorns. I had completely forgotten about this Swedish shoe brand of my youth! I wanted to love the Mako 2, especially with the gold glitter detail. They are cushioned and comfortable but unfortunately, they slid too much on my narrow heel.
VEJA V-10
SIZE ORDERED: 38 (the brand says this is a women’s 7)
PRICE: $150
FIND THEM HERE
Veja was definitely one of the top recommended white shoe brands. It’s a French shoe company that makes environmentally friendly sneakers, made with raw materials sourced from organic farming and ecological agriculture. The thing is that they are so popular that they sell out quickly so it can be hard to find your size. The size I ordered ended up being a tad too small even through reviews commented that they run large.
The V-10 style that I ordered was all leather and felt more like a traditional/structured sneaker than the Superga or Vans styles. This shoe wasn’t a winner for me this go-round but I will definitely be ordering Veja’s in the future!
BONUS: ADIDAS PUREMOTION
SIZE ORDERED: 8
PRICE: $64.99
FIND THEM HERE
I was really trying to stay away from traditional sneakers and go for something with more of a casual style that would work more with dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans, etc. I didn’t order these adidas Puremotion shoes as part of my original white shoe order but I couldn’t resist purchasing them a few weeks later when my blogger friend Julie linked to them on Instagram. I honest to god did also need a new pair of white athletic shoes and I loved the rainbow detail on these.
I will say that they are not as comfortable as the adidas Ultraboost shoes that I previously owned but they are over $100 cheaper soooo there’s that. 😉 I love these adidas Puremotion shoes for hanging out but while I have taught a couple of strength workouts in them, I wouldn’t wear them to run.
TO WRAP IT ALL UP…
This was a fun exercise in shoe shopping and Zappos makes it so easy to try on a variety of shoes from the comfort of your own home with their fast shipping and super easy returns! I am so happy that I ended up with a couple of pairs of shoes that I like and to now have some fun new white shoes in my wardrobe!
QUESTIONS
Have you joined the plain white shoe trend? If so, which shoes do you have?
Where do you find fashion inspiration? It’s something I really struggle with at this stage of life.
