The Perfect Leisure Sneaker - Rambling Style Files

Rambling essentials from fashion to recipes to gear and everything in between. Style Files is the creation of Jill Cohen Morris, an avid rambler, mother of two from Toronto, Canada with a remarkable zest for life, a fabulous sense of humor and remarkable style (of course).

Hey, Sole Sisters! It's time for my Rambling Style Files, where I discuss all things rambling from fashion to recipes to gear and everything in between.

If you know me you know I have an obsession, some might even say it is an addiction. Over the years it has evolved and mutated. It has always been shoes.

I remember as a young child being in awe of my mother who was the queen of stilettos. No one rocked a heel like her. I wondered if she was even capable of standing flat-footed. I'm convinced this is where my love of shoes comes from. 

Fast forward to university where I found my shoe Sole Mate … my roommate and now fellow Sole Sister Founder Tara Romoff. Our love for shoes knew no bounds. Her feet were a good size or two bigger than mine but that didn't matter. If I loved her shoes I would just stuff them with socks and off I went. If my memory serves me correctly we would spend grocery money on shoes.

Throughout the years I have loved many types of shoes from heels, to cowboy boots (oh did I love my cowboy boots - purple, yellow, turquoise, black patent …) to loafers, to high boots, to ankle boots … the list is endless.

I also had very painful bunions for most of my life (I have had two successful surgeries to remove them). Hence comfort is a priority and I won’t wear anything that will cause a setback.

When the world was turned upside down by the pandemic I stared to ramble a lot and with that came a new era in my shoe craze … my sneaker obsession. Loungewear hits new highs and so does what I call the leisure sneaker and for me (being 5.2” and no longer wearing heels) the platform sneaker. Comfort and height … a dream come true!!

Don’t get me wrong my Hokas are still my go-to for serious rambles. 

If you have watched Schitts Creek you know Moira’s relationship with her wigs. I have the same relationship with my sneakers, short of naming them. That is my long-winded explanation of why I have so many leisure sneakers … so please no judging.

Now let’s talk sneakers.  I do have a few (ok maybe more than a few) pairs and I love them all. My price range varies. My rule of thumb on spending money is are they worth it? What is worth it to me might be different to you.

Here is my criteria: comfort is number one, they have to be ramble-worthy! Please remember, when I say ramble-worthy leisure sneakers I’m not talking about a power walk, a trail walk or a hike. I’m talking about a walk or stroll of any length on a clean, clear path. I tend to spend less money on trendy styles and more money on classics. I'm also a sucker for a good platform. 

My all-time favourite, hands down are my Celine. They cost a small fortune but for me totally worth it. I rambled for three days in New York clocking upwards of 30,000 steps a day and I never felt any discomfort. They feel like walking on a cloud.

I did worry about getting them dirty but they are so easy to wipe off. I have had to bleach the laces a few times which makes such a difference in keeping the sneakers looking like new. The store will give you new laces for free if they have any. A bonus is, especially for travelling, they easily transition from day to night. They are my most classic pair and I hope to have them forever. 

If you're looking for something similar at a lower cost I highly recommend these Pumas. I own them and love them. For me, they are not quite as comfortable as my Celine but everyone’s feet are different. I purchased these first to make sure I loved the look before I invested in the more expensive option. I won’t wear my Celine in the rain so I always have a fall back. If you are dressing up for night they don’t look quite as good as the Celine however, if you wear a flare or wide leg pant you won’t even notice. 

Now let’s talk Golden Goose. I would say they started the leisure sneaker trend.  Golden Goose is an Italian sneaker company that has branched out over the years to now include boots, bags and clothing. I first discovered their sneakers twenty years ago. I fell in love immediately. They were edgy and sparkly.

Over the years I have amassed somewhat of a collection. I don’t find them as comfortable as I once did and their prices have skyrocketed. Nonetheless, their designs are spectacular and they have a great resale value. They also have a cool feature … a hidden platform insole. 

There are quite a few less expensive versions on the market today for both design and comfort which I am loving. Vintage Havana, P448, D.A.T.E. are but some examples. Adidas also makes a great platform in lots of fun colors. For a retro look try the New Balance 327. Comfort is next level and colors are fun. 

What to pair your leisure sneaker with … anything goes. For me during the day, I am most comfortable wearing an ankle length legging, a flare legging or a crop denim. At night I transition to a leather or suede legging or a flare denim or pant. I don’t think a straight leg is as flattering on me. They even look good with a dress pant. The trick is to find the style that works for you. 

My rule of thumb …  I’m willing to spend money on a classic comfortable platform sneaker. When it comes to trendy though, I won't break the bank. 

Happy Rambling!