Which White Sneaker Is Actually Worth $800? I Compared 8 Pairs

Look, my friend Noa asked me last week what white sneakers she should buy and I ended up sending her like eleven voice notes. Eleven. At 2am. This is apparently who I am now.

She wanted something clean, goes with everything, doesn't look like she's trying too hard. Classic problem. And I realized I have... opinions. Too many of them.

The thing is, white minimalist sneakers have become this whole uniform for the quiet luxury crowd. Which, fine. But the price range is absolutely wild. You can spend $175 or you can spend $790 and honestly? They look almost identical to most people.

So what gives.

The Cheaper End ($175 to $265)

Veja Campo at $175 is where everyone starts now. Brazilian made, ChromeFree leather, Amazonian rubber. The sustainability stuff is legit (I checked, I'm that person). Organic cotton laces, recycled materials, the whole thing. Time Magazine called it Best White Sneaker of 2024 which made me feel weirdly defensive about my other sneakers?

Here's my actual take though. They run narrow. Like noticeably. If you have wider feet maybe size up or just skip entirely.

Then there's Koio Capri at $265.

Okay so there's this rumor. People say Koio uses the same Tuscan factory that makes Common Projects. I've never been able to confirm this and honestly it might be marketing genius on their part. But the quality IS there. LWG-certified leather, Margom soles (same as CP), 42 craftspeople supposedly involved in each pair.

What I can actually verify: they feel premium. The leather is thick in a good way. They crease nicely over time instead of cracking. My friend's husband has had his for two years and they still look great. He also never conditions them which drives me insane but that's a separate issue.

Downside? No resale market really. DTC brand, limited secondary demand on The RealReal. You're keeping these.

The Popular Middle ($305 to $440)

Axel Arigato Clean 90 runs $305 to $340. Portuguese made. That little gold logo at the side. Swedish brand started in 2014, there's this Japanese streetwear influence thing happening that I find hard to describe but you can see it.

Fuller silhouette than Common Projects. If you feel like CPs look too flat or delicate on your feet, Arigato might work better.

Now. Common Projects Original Achilles.

$415 to $440 retail but PLEASE do not pay that.

I'm serious. These go on sale constantly. END. has them for 30% off like every other month. SSENSE does random markdowns. I've seen them on resale sites for $127. The $440 price is basically a fiction at this point.

That said. There's a reason they're the reference point for this whole category. Launched 2004. Premium nappa leather. That gold serial number stamp that fashion people recognize instantly. My sister calls it a "secret handshake for people who read too many blogs" which, rude, but also accurate.

The leather does scuff easily though. Just so you know.

Getting Into Real Money ($495 to $595)

Golden Goose Superstar. $495 to $595.

Okay I need to say something. I know people who LOVE these and people who think they're genuinely offensive. Pre-distressed sneakers at designer prices. It's polarizing.

My opinion? I don't personally want to pay $500 for shoes that look like I already wore them through a music festival. But I get the appeal. There's a whole intentional imperfection philosophy. Started in Venice in 2000. The founders (Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo) were doing the whole deconstruction thing before it was everywhere.

What's interesting: they hold resale value better than almost everything else here. $440 to $500 on StockX. That's like 80% of retail. Maybe because the distressing hides actual wear? Or people just really want them.

Not for minimalists. Obviously.

The Top ($690 to $790)

This is where I start questioning my life choices.

Celine Triomphe at $690 to $780. Calfskin with grey suede toe panel. LVMH money behind it. Very French, very understated.

The problem: resale is $200 to $400 on RealReal. That's losing half your money immediately. You're paying for the brand, for Hedi's whole thing, for the fantasy. Which is valid! But know that going in.

Maison Margiela Replica at $790. This one I actually find interesting from like a fashion history perspective. Inspired by 1970s Austrian sports shoes. The split toe house but for sneakers basically. Nappa leather, lambskin lining, that signature stitch.

Martin Margiela started the brand in '88. John Galliano runs it now. It's for the people who know, you know?

Resale: also $200 to $400. Same depreciation issue.

The Row Sam. Also $790.

The Olsen twins made stealth wealth into an actual business model and I have to respect it. Soft nappa lambskin from Italy. Looks like nothing and that's entirely the point.

Resale is $230 to $500 depending on condition and desperation.

What Would I Actually Buy

I keep coming back to the Koio.

$265 for Italian made sneakers with proper materials and construction. No middleman markup. You're not paying for the name, the heritage, the "story." Just the shoe.

If you want the insider cred, wait for Common Projects to go on sale. $250 to $280 is doable and then you have the cult classic. Same logic applies to designer loafers by the way.

If you hate the idea of your sneakers looking too pristine, okay, Golden Goose. They hold value. It's a vibe. Just commit to it.

And if you're buying Margiela or Celine at full price? I mean. You do you. But know you're paying for something other than the actual sneaker. Which is fine if that's what you want! Just not where I'd put my money personally. If investment value matters to you, maybe look at bags that hold their value instead.

That's it. That's the eleven voice notes condensed into something slightly more coherent.

Noa ended up buying Vejas by the way. Said she liked that they were sustainable and also that she could afford two pairs for the price of one Common Projects. Which honestly? Smart.