The white leather sneaker is one of the great, timeless menswear pieces.
Regardless of the time of year, the weather, or even the social occasion, white sneakers are Always a strong shoe choice; especially during summer.
But apart from colour and material, what makes the white sneaker as much of a staple during British summertime, as disposable BBQs, t-shirt tans and sadly, litter-filled green spaces?
Ensemble Versatility
Whether you’re dressing down a linen suit, keeping things casual with an Oxford shirt and chinos, or simply nipping to the shops in your favourite athleisure twin-set, white sneakers work.
Cleanability
Made up word but not a fabricated concept. Summer = high stain potential. Your white trainers will adopt mud from picnics in the park, attract Pimms spillages from your makeshift Wimbledon tournament or welcome a dribble of Tommy-K escaping from a burger. But fear not, as long as you react quickly enough, the leather should be wipe-friendly, leaving them pretty much good as new.
Minimalism
As well as going with basically everything, they also bring subtle elegance to a look instead of going OTT and demanding attention.
So what are your options?
Whilst the sustainable movement is extremely prevalent within the fashion world, with many a brand genuinely attempting to clean up their act, Veja are simply continuing to go about their daily business. They're the OGs, having been sustainably and ethically conscious since they were founded in 2004.
They’re a fantastic manufacturer and have been going from strength to strength within the sneaker market. Further growth lies ahead for this brand.
I’d advise you go for the V-10 model and pair them with more casual outfits.
E.g. They’d go beautifully with a tailored lightweight trouser and plain t-shirt combination.
When I think of summer elegance, it’s hard not to allow my mind to drift to the Italian coastline, specifically the bay of Naples and the town of Capri.
Koio’s aptly named Capri sneakers would be a great purchase this season.
Due to the shoe’s low profile and minimalist design, these can be worn with anything and everything. Don’t you just love it when that happens?
We’ve slid rather dramatically up the pricing scale, but I wouldn’t say we’ve gone over the edge.
These are a staple shoe within my friendship group, and I must say, it’s a very well-dressed group at that. What’s more, they know the drill; investing in quality shoes is imperative to a good wardrobe.
If you’re willing to spend the money, Common Projects are a fantastic option, which again, can be worn with pretty much anything. Personally, I wouldn’t pair them with tailoring as I don’t think the shape quite compliments the look but by all means, you do you.
An icon when it comes to white sneakers, worn by American tennis player, Stan Smith.
Four decades on and these shoes have stayed true to their design, with demands as high as ever.
They successfully embody everything that’s great about white leather sneakers; universal style and minimalist design.
They’re also extremely affordable and instantly identifiable due to the three perforated stripes on their side.
A luxurious and creative take on a sports-inspired shoe - it's kind of what you expect from Reiss but boy do they do it well.
The shape and tone make these sneaks extremely adaptable but an optimal pairing for these would be black jeans and a white grandad collar shirt. The Ryan Gosling of the list; sleek and elegant, without looking like you're trying too hard.
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