Toss those beat up canvas Vans. Burn the Chuck Taylors that look like they’re straight from your 8th grade gym locker. Your favorite sneakers have just gotten a serious upgrade. Brands have found the most straight forward way to take a $55 pair of cotton shoes and make them cost upwards of one hundred: upgrade the materials.
Styles you’ve come to appreciate and adorn on your feet, even when it’s not appropriate (Toms at a wedding? Only in California), now look like they’re ready for prime time. Iterations featured here come from a variety of labels. The Paul Smith Men’s Navy ‘Doppio’ Trainers are a super sleek pair of kicks, with a steep price tag, but they look like they’re worth it. Meanwhile the Toms Quilted Full Grain Leather Valdez is a pair of shoes we never thought we’d see come out of the hippie, albeit do-good-for-the-world brand.
What’s super easy about all these sneakers is this: upgrade your accessories, and you upgrade your whole look. Pair any of these with the worn-in, unwashed raw denim already in your closet and a good white tee, and you’re ready for any public-facing occasion.
Leather Sneakers Show Understated Cool
Leather sneakers, made with premium materials and featuring unique detailing, are more suitable for the office than the playground.
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Frye Gates Chukka
The Frye Gates Chukka, $248, available in cognac (shown), charcoal or cement, re-envisions the traditional style, and with hand-finished touches. That worn-in look is absolutely deliberate.
Photo Credit: The Frye Company
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Toms Black Quilted Full Grain Leather Valdez
Upgrade those sneakers while doing some charity. In good Toms form, buy the Black Quilted Full Grain Leather Valdez, $98, and they'll give a pair to a kid in need.
Photo Credit: Toms
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Converse by John Varvatos Coated Slip
With the John Varvatos touch we've come to love, the Converse by John Varvatos Coated Slip, $140, spare no constraints on attention to detail. And who has time for laces anyway (even though they do come with).
Photo Credit: Converse
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Paul Smith Men's Navy 'Doppio' Trainers
The Paul Smith Men's Navy 'Doppio' Trainers (made of suede and calf leather), $595, are so slick you could easily rock them at a wedding. (Maybe even a funeral.)
Photo Credit: Paul Smith
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TCG Footwear, The Stanton
The Stanton, $180, by TCG Footwear, is about as understated and sleek a sneaker gets. Monochrome, with grey laces, and a black on black shoe to sole combo, these shoes are perfect for the dive bar.. or business meeting.
Photo Credit: TCG Footwear
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Keds Vintage Roster Hi
With a unique texture treatment on the body of this shoe, the Keds Vintage Roster Hi, $90, grabs attention in the details.
Photo Credit: Keds
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Ace Perforated Leather Slip-On Sneaker
The Ace Perforated Leather Slip-On Sneaker, $250, makes for a perfect understated style statement.
Photo Credit: Vince.
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LN-CC Achilles Ion Gabriel
We guarantee you'll be the only one in any room wearing the unique LN-CC Achilles Ion Gabriel, $290, leather sneaker. Stand out from the crowd.
Photo Credit: LN-CC
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Creative Recreation Prio Blue
With square perforated leather (circular perforation is so last week), and cork detailing on the back, the Creative Recreation Prio Blue, $100, are a leap from the ordinary.
Photo Credit: Creative Recreation
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Vans Premium Leather Skate-Hi Reissue
The Vans Premium Leather Skate-Hi Reissue, $80, are like your favorite shoes from high school, only all grown up and perfectly suited for credit-card-wielding life.
Photo Credit: Vans
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Huf Gillette
Is it a dress shoe, or is it a skate shoe? Shockingly enough, the latter. But it could pass for the first. The Huf Gillette in brown, $100, is skateboarder Austyn Gillette's pro model. He can show you how this office ready shoe works on the street.
Photo Credit: Huf
