Plain white shoes pick up stains so easily. So if you’re going the distressed route because it’s practical and easy to maintain (or not maintain), I think basic whites or perforated is a sensible way to go. 

Converse One Star Suede Sneakers

The Converse One Star Suede Sneakers are another affordable alternative for those of you who like the star motif.

What this brand has above the other star-adorned selects is that Converse has its very own star, associated with it long before Golden Goose came along. It’s not just a cheap homage in that sense.

They’re not pre-distressed, but they sport that classic low-profile that, again, Converse was known for way before Golden Goose was known for it. Besides, the ultra-napped suede can hide scuffs pretty easily.

They’re immediately comfortable athletic shoes. Of course, China-made Converses aren’t as high-quality as our Marche-made options. For less than $100 though, you still get a cool vintage style, complete with a star and more history than Golden Goose.

Steve Madden Reza

Here’s a cheat code: men can wear women’s sneakers. Keep that in mind for this and the next entries. 

The white version of the Steve Madden Reza is perfectly unisex and sports a pretty standard low-profile white sneaker style.

What’s interesting about it, compared to other pre-distressed shoes, is that the sectioned toe and back, and the outsole are distressed, but the sides aren’t. It looks deliberate, as if distressing is used to accent the shoe. Also, the star design is perforated instead of patched on.

For Steve Madden, women’s sizes are one full size up. If you’re a 6 usually, you’d be a 7 in these shoes. You might even be a 8.5 or an 8, and here’s why.

I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a women’s shoe, but the toe box seems proportionally small (though there’s no reason to do this to a shoe simply because it’s for women). By sizing up a little, you can make up for this lack. Just make sure to check the seller’s return policy.