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Paul Smith
The best time to wear sneakers is … all the time. Thanks to the trends of 2019 and, honestly, a good decade or so before that, celebrities and street style stars have been sporting kicks everywhere from the aisles of Whole Foods to the runways of Paris Fashion Week—in other words, there is nothing you can’t do once you’ve found the right pair.
Whether you’re going back to school, heading to work or just in it to win it, these are the sneakers that will help put your best foot (or feet) forward.
Air Jordan 1 High OG Defiant
Nike
The rawness of these Air Jordans was inspired by the equally raw qualities of music, and they’re definitely a style you’ll want to listen to. They fall between extremes: Inky black shares a canvas with clean white leather; jaggedly stitched swooshes on the outer oppose a yellow swoosh on the inner of one shoe. As a result, they’re easy to style and easy to wear to any number of occasions: Build up the black for evening, or keep things light for all-day wear.
Vans Off-White & Navy Outside In Era Sneakers
Vans
You may read “off-white” with skepticism, but consider this: nurse-white shoes are nearing the ends of their days. All the pairs you bought two years ago are now dirty (it’s okay), and designers are finally catching up to make that cool. Thus, cream colors are fall’s next big thing, pairing with all the cozy sweaters and camel coats you’ve got hanging in your closet while still maintaining crispness.
Han Kjobenhavn Yellow Puma Edition Alteration PN-1 Sneakers
Han Kjobenhavn
These sneakers look like they were molded from foam, with a chunky, bubbly sole that would be at home in any contemporary art gallery. Mustard yellow and ketchup red are kept refreshingly apart with the white rubber, making these statement shoes that aren’t overkill, and the wide range of media help, breathing life into the sneaker with everything from quilt-like to veinous textures.
Fila Grant Hill 96 Mid
Fila
Fila is everywhere this year, mostly in the form of chunky platforms. These Grant Hill sneakers (also made in black) are that but better, in a sleek style that seems like they just walked off the court. With a high top to meet all your ankle needs, and a thick sole to support your arch, the patent piping around them emphasizes the beauty of the shoe itself, reducing it to its simplest shape in order to let it stand out.
TOMS Carlo Low-Top Sneaker
TOMS
Though these Toms are perfect for your next tropical getaway, that doesn’t mean they’re restricted to summer. Low and versatile, they’re great to pair with cuffed khakis, blue jeans and scarves and sweaters galore when the weather turns. And if you do decide to bring them on your next vacation, they’re super-lightweight.
Puma x Nasa RS 9.8 Space Agency Sneaker
Puma
In case you missed it, July marked the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, but with these stellar sneaks you can celebrate for however long you want. The NASA logo may be the hippest one around, and logo-mania ensures that there are plenty out there (in this galaxy, at least). Designed in the red, white and blue of the U-S-of-A, they feature metallic patches and a mesh tongue to keep things sporty. Feeling more starry-night? A similar one is also available in black.
Nike Air Max 720
Nike
With the largest “Max Air” unit yet, these sneakers will have you looking like you’re walking on a bubble and feeling like you’re walking on a cloud. (Or sunshine. Maybe both.) While bright neon green and jet black make for an ultra-athletic aesthetic, keeping them close to their purpose, they’re made in pretty much every color combination imaginable, so now’s not the time to be shy. Each one sports a chill gradient effect and fluid stitching for a shoe that seems like it stepped off a spaceship.
Adidas Originals Tresc Run
adidas
Paint the town in these not-so-black Adidas, thanks to their vibrant take on the three stripes (and many a vibrant take there may be, as they’re also designed in six other color combinations). The jagged detailing on the sole gives them edge and takes them over the edge: What once were just a pair of classic trainers are now kicks so cool you’ll never want to take them off. Whichever combination you choose, let the colors resurface in tiny details throughout your outfit—creamsicle-colored cufflinks or a jacket lined in red—for smooth cohesion.
Veja SDU Sneakers
Veja
Usually, Veja is known for it minimalism: white leather, a colored logo. But the brand put all that behind them in these SDUs, fashioned out of a basket-weave fabric in fall’s favorite colors: camel and cranberry red. The shoe’s athletic shape will give you a boost worthy of any running sneaker, making this next season’s go-to, especially in cold weather. Pair with a latte.
Greats Royale Sneaker
GREATS
Love your loafers but don’t want to always dress like you’re headed to the office? Or maybe you love your sneakers but want something a little dressier? These Royales from Greats are for you. The Brooklyn-based company knows how to make footwear right for every occasion, thanks to their use of smooth Italian leather and rich colors. They’re shoes worthy of showing off and showing up in, available in every neutral color you could want—and also lemon yellow.
PS by Paul Smith Off-White Kirk Green Dino Sneakers
PS by Paul Smith
Dig up these dinos—the only ones that stay above ground, rather than in it. Business in the front, party in the back: The cream-colored canvas material has a T-Rex printed around the heel, helping them put the “fun” back in “functional.” Though other small touches of green would be appreciated, the pop of color shouldn’t limit your outfit-building abilities, so don’t be afraid to get experimental with these. Like the Chucks below, they would feel especially great underneath cuffed pants for a look everyone will go wild for.
Converse Archive Prints Remixed Chuck 70 Hi Flame Print Sneakers
Converse
These Converse Chuck Taylors are so hot everyone is stocking them, though they don’t tend to stay on shelves for long. Their flame print makes it obvious why: The design turns basic Chucks into the best statement shoe, able to carry all your outfits to next-level cool. Though the fire detailing looks, well, hot fresh out of the box, they’re also going to age well, able to achieve old-school grunge with just a little bit of fade—but maybe that’s because the design was taken straight from the company archives. They also come as a low-top when you want to show off those ankles.
Coach C126 Low Top Sneakers
Coach
The ultimate luxury, these Coach sneakers combine uptown leather with a downtown mesh, making them appropriate for work, dinner, dates and everything in between. The arced stitching on the outsole adds an understated elegance, while the tiniest touches—like accents of coffee leather and the “C” emblazoned on the heel—keep things elegant.
Y-3 Adidas x Pharrell High-Tech Sneakers
Y-3
Sometimes, the simple things in life are the best things. These Adidas sneakers (in collaboration with Pharrell Williams) are a testament to that, keeping things easy, breezy but still trendy. They’re so white they’re almost invisible online, but in person they’re just right, thanks to the alternating cream accents. Made of a breathable, mesh fabric, they’re crafted to work with your foot, not against it, molded to make room for lasting comfort. They’re everyday shoes for every activity you can think of.
Puma Palace Guard OG Sneakers
Puma
Much like the Chucks above, this Puma pair comes courtesy of its archives. Specifically, the basketball archives—this shoe was a literal winner on the courts in the ’80s and ’90s (as is evoked by the printed basketball on the tongue). Today, it’s a slam dunk fashion winner with its patriotic patchwork and dynamic sole, making it a perfect introduction to your closet.
Jared Lang Sergio Laceless Strapped Sneaker
Jared Lang
Also available with two straps, this Velcro-fastened slip-on shows that you don’t have to lace up to tune in to today’s trends. The reptilian ribbing along throughout give it an edge that’s destined for all your after-dark activities (think long drinks, long drives or just a long, long night).
Cole Haan ZeroGrand City Trainer Sneaker
Cole Haan
In a red-and-black combo worthy of a fine poker hand, these sneakers are a sure bet and, coming from the masters at Cole Haan, an even surer investment. Double the pull-tabs equals double the fun, and with a cushy foam—oh, the fun you can have. Engineered to be stabilizing, flexible and comfortable, these are walking shoes that aren’t embarrassing to be caught walking in, thanks to their bright colors and melange of materials.
Reebok Classics Off-White Club C Revenge Sneakers
Reebok
These off-white Reeboks seem like they’ve been around the block more than a few times, and that’s exactly the vibe you want to send out. Their use of off-white and gray leather, sandwiched by a gray sole, gives them old-school street cred that’s only emphasized by the old-school nature of the brand itself. You can get this shape in a bunch of different looks (from green embossing to plain white), but gray is the best for stylishness that’s set to last all year long. With eyelets tracing past the length of the tongue, this shoe is also open to personal alterations—like incorporating these metallic laces from Coach.
Nike Blazer Mid 77 Vintage WE Suede Sneaker
Nike
These sneakers have all the attitude of decades past, with their smooth suede fabric and plethora of colors. Even their cool tones feel warm, making them ideal for fall, while their material differentiates them from the rest of the pack and is what will have you slipping into them time and time again. They’re also available in a black/gray suede or white/yellow leather for days when you’re feeling more muted.
Blackstone Low Top Sneaker
Blackstone
Like every good drink, sometimes you just need a twist on a classic. That’s exactly what these Blackstone low-tops are: Their shape is effortless and functional. And the design? A refined elevation to white-sneaker style, thanks to the combination of gray suede and blank leather. The black script tracing the rubber sole is casual, almost slipping by as a logo unnoticed, but gives it an artistic flair worthy of any style maven.
Diesel Knit Logo Sock Sneakers
Diesel
Sock it up in these Diesels: With a vertical neon logo and the classic knit fabric, they’re the perfect excuse to jump into the sock-shoe trend. Their curved bottom follows the arc of your foot mid-step and emphasizes the ease of these shoes: Their futuristic vibe will match with any loose joggers you’ve got laying around, so wear them any day when you want to feel comfortable and look great. An added bonus? You’ll never have to worry about finding a matching pair of socks again.
John Varvatos Skull Exposed Seam Leather Runners
John Varvatos
Amp up your style in these sneakers from John Varvatos, a company that’s nailed the rock-star aesthetic and made it a cinch for anyone to look like they just came back from crowdsurfing. The seamed rubber sole feels like it’s already jammed around a concert or two, while the hand-embroidered skull detail and staggered layers of leather across the body of the shoe give them unparalleled edge—in other words, these definitely go to 11.