Shoes, they say, make the man. This old adage is often dismissed when it comes to keeping your toes polished, but men of all persuasions are wearing sneakers more and more these days. Respectability is no longer reserved for oxfords and derbies; even the most distinguished guys trade formal shoes for the ease of rubber soles. Options abound – from collectible Air Jordans to minimalist joint projects to luxurious designs from Hermès and Loro Piana – which begs the question: what are sneakers? you? With that in mind, we asked six stylish guys about the pair they go for on a regular basis.
Michael Apa, DDS, Dentist, Apa Aesthetics
Provided
Brunello Cucinelli calfskin sneakers
“For me, when it comes to sneakers, the most important thing is that they look stylish, because I wear them with nicer clothes, trying not to look like I’m wearing sneakers. J love the calfskin trainers from Brunello the leather is super soft you can tell it looks rich they have those natural brown rubber soles and they are low cut all the way to the ankle so you can pair them with a costume.I also have huge feet – size 13 – and these make my feet look a bit smaller, while others can make me look like a clown.
James Gardner, Restorer and founder, Grupo Gitano
Provided
Nike Free Run
“Sneakers are definitely part of my daily uniform, and the Nike Flyknit running shoe is the most comfortable running shoe that I restock, restock and restock. It’s not in your face, it’s not a trend statement, but it’s still chic. I like things that feel comfortable and are elegant but not necessarily statement-making. The Flyknits in black, they kind of disappear. If I go to a meeting, I put on a Margiela or Saint Laurent boot, but 80% of the time I wear sneakers. Is it bad?”
Sid Mashburn, Retailer and designer
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Tretorn Nylite Plus
“I love the basic Tretorn low-top trainers. I’ve had them for over 45 years – I got my first pair in college thanks to Björn Borg. All that tennis era, I love this look: the white shorts, the white shirts, the white sneakers. I like them when they’re a little battered, a little scruffy. I’m going to make them a little scruffy and then throw them in the washing machine, so they still have some shine, but the seams are a bit broken or they might have a little tear somewhere.I don’t like them dirty;I like to give them my own patina.
Alex French, Co-author, Sneakers
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NikeCraft Tom Sachs Mars Yard 1.0
“To get the shoes, [Tom Sachs] required that you do this astronaut prep obstacle course on [New York’s] Roosevelt Island. I finished the course and won the shoes but in the process I hurt my knee really badly. Now I wear them with pride. I have this philosophy of the sneaker collection, which is: I’m not interested in the trendy shoe right now. The endless hype cycle resets every week – the idea should be to wear shoes that people have forgotten about or never even known about.
Patrick Johnson, Designer, P. Johnson
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Mephisto Match
“The first time I saw them, I was in New York, walking in the park, and I saw this old man wearing them, and I was like, ‘These are either lawn bowling or these are the best shoes I have ever seen.’ I love that they’re not fashion shoes – they have a purity to them and they come from a place of function. They’re beautifully made in the Pyrenees in France, and they age extraordinarily well. I’m probably wearing them two or three times a week, and when I travel I always take a pair.
Roze Traore, Chief
Provided
Balenciaga Speed
“I’ve been wearing them non-stop for about two and a half months. I love the mesh. They’re not too bulky, it’s like your two feet are just doing their thing. They’re versatile but more importantly, they’re classy. Especially in all black, they just blend in – you might mistake it for a dress shoe if you take a quick look. Last week I wore these with a suit, and I will be wearing them too with jeans when I’m sprinting across town to run errands. They’re super comfortable; worth trying them on to understand.