I practically live in sneakers, and they’re almost essential living in a place like New York City where there’s dirt and weird liquids and, yes, even rats on the sidewalks. (Sorry, NYC! Still love you tho!) The thought of walking around and having your feet exposed to all that makes me feel all sorts of yuck. And naturally, with all this information, it’s very hard to keep any shoes—let alone white ones—looking clean, shiny, and new. That is, until I got these Keds back in 2019. Not just any Keds, mind you, but LEATHER Keds.
Yes, the brand’s iconic Champion sneaker does come in canvas, but the leather material really holds up. More than TWO years later, they’re still bright white and not some shade of muddied gray like the rest of my old sneakers. (Though, understandably, they do have some creases in them from wear.)
Since the material is smooth, getting any marks off is way easy. Canvas is a woven fabric so there’s more opportunity for tiny particles to get trapped in the threads, but with these babies, all you have to do is take a damp cloth and wipe off any marks…and that’s it. Really. For more stubborn stains and scuffs, a Magic Eraser will do the trick. Seriously, the upkeep is very minimal.
Also important to note is that the leather is soft, flexible, and won’t give you blisters—it’s not stiff at all. As I mentioned before, they will crease with more wear (c’mon, they won’t stay in perfect condition forever!), but they’re extremely durable.
This style is the brand’s most iconic for many reasons: They have cushion, breathable lining, and a flexible sole—i.e., they’re ideal if you’re going to be on your feet all day, but they are also super cute and go with everything because of their minimal silhouette.
If you’re not crazy about the white hue, they’re also available in navy and black leather. They come in narrow, regular, wide, AND double-wide sizes.
They have more than 5,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.6-star rating out of 5 if that means anything to you. Here, some notable comments from real customers:
If you’re looking for an everyday shoe that holds up, is easy to clean, and looks super cute, then just do yourself a favor and buy these already, k?
Keds Women’s Champion Original Leather Lace-Up Sneaker
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