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Don't let the price tag fool you. Not all high-end sneakers are built alike. Shoe Replica Store
High-end sneakers may be as ubiquitous as selvedge denim these days, but more variety means it's even harder for the cream to rise to the top. Designers like Gucci and Givenchy have long embraced the sportier side of footwear, while other labels have only recently joined the party—but that doesn't mean they aren't bringing cool, fresh streetwear into the world of luxury.
Then again, brands like Tod's and Berluti have been making the case for luxury sneakers for more than a decade, and have earned a special sort of street cred. Before you pull the trigger on yet another pair, here's a primer on some of the hottest investment-level kicks.
Common Projects is patient zero for the current minimal-luxury-sneakers craze. The Achilles has become a holy grail for recovering Jordan fiends as much as it has for aspiring fashion nerds. Its cross-cultural appeal predated the muddled "mix everything together" world of modern menswear, and it looks good with just about everything. Amongst a sea of competitors, it's a shoe has achieved that covetable "timeless" status.
Husband and wife Francesca and Alessandro Gallo founded this sneaker brand on a common passion for sneakers and art. Its flagship products are Italian-made sneakers with the breaking-in done for you. Why not splurge on designer kicks that already feel like your favorite pair? At least if you scuff them further, they won't look any worse for wear.
Maison Margiela's designer footwear legacy has remained relatively untouched. Its most prominent product is an upscale reinterpretation of a standard-issue German army trainer sneaker, done up in white leather with suede accents and a gum sole.
Koio makes a completely minimalist sneaker, and it does it well. The shoes are made in Italy, and the company was founded by Germans who are based in New York City. You're really getting the best perspectives (and access) possible.
Berluti's most known quality is its leathers. Many of them are colored—reds, greens, and blues, in addition to blacks and browns—and they have a hand-painted, artisanal appearance that makes them impossible to replicate. The sneakers rival designer dress shoes in terms of both sophistication and wearability. If you have the money to burn, these are virtually impossible to compete with.
The Gucci sneaker look is hard to mistake for anything else. It has the kind of standard Italian high-fashion take, with bold pops of color or design, coupled with recurring motifs that are as widely recognized as the brand name. Although the embellished low-tops are a classic, the brand has also made waves with its chunky sneakers.
These sneakers are sleek, subtle, and frequently sell out, so if you want to start laying your own foundations, don’t sleep when you find ’em in your size.
Tom Ford, the brand, is absolutely steeped in luxury. Makes sense; Tom Ford, the man, is also absolutely steeped in luxury. And it could go without saying, but just in case: His sneakers are, too. Soft-as-hell suede is finished with a now-signature Ford design detail: a zig-zag-edged side stripe that’s something of a calling card for other in-the-know sneaker fans.
Prada’s sneakers are split between an impulse towards total minimalism (think: low-profile tonal white plimsolls) and the highly technical, from construction right down to the look of the things. But either one you go for looks truly purposeful, which makes them an interesting shoe to incorporate regardless of what floats your boat aesthetically.
If anyone can make an all-white leather sneaker look like the coolest, sleekest thing on the market, surely its Hedi Slimane.
The king of soft suiting and cozy cashmere brings that same appreciation for the finer things in life to sneakers, too. They’re made in Italy (naturally), light as air, and have a suede exterior to keep your feet as happy as the rest of you is (at least when you’re wearing Cucinelli).
These are called Out of Office, but you can absolutely wear them in the office—and anywhere else, for that matter. Off-White is a go-to purveyor for all things luxury streetwear, and these blue and white kicks are no exception to the rule.
Amiri isn't afraid to add some shine to your shoes, so you shouldn't be, either. These combine bouclé and leather for a versatile, endlessly cool effect.
Rick Owens does edgy luxury in a "let's turn some heads" way. While you may not be up to walk around in his six-inch platform boots, these high-top leather sneakers might be an interesting addition to your closet.
With these low-top sneakers, Fendi has done what many brands try and fail to do: make a sneaker that isn't overshadowed by a logo. Instead, the double F monogram works with the dynamic design of this shoe, right down to the tonal suede panels and leather upper.
Custom-knit shoes designed to put a pep in your step (or, in your whole look, thanks to their bubbly, whimsical design).
Louis Vuitton dips its mesh-clad toe into a super-modern skate shoe, complete with a bold monogram on the side. These are cushiony and comfortable enough for you to actually skate in, but if you're no Tony Hawk, they're great for pairing with a dope fit, too.
Understated elegance goes a long way—especially with subtly sleek, all-black high tops like these.
Burberry approaches sneakers with the same classiness and elegance as the rest of their stuff. With just a hint of checked branding, these are the perfect shoes to dress up for finer occasions.
Dior Oblique jacquard and gray and white calfskin leather make these some of the chicest sneakers money can buy. You can wear 'em with jeans, or even with a suit—they're up to any task.
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