If you’re tired of waiting for the next shoe-shaped hotness to drop every couple of months, it’s worth noting that you don’t need to be an obsessive hypebeast to snag yourself a sharp pair of luxury sneakers. As wardrobes become more casual, even some of the staunch traditionalists of the sartorial world have been dipping their toe in sports-slanted footwear. These aren’t collabs or limited editions meant to be flipped, but investment pieces, seriously well-made versions of a wardrobe staple that’ll last you much longer than a season. Here then are five luxury sneakers worth investing in:
Brunello Cucinelli Techno Cotton Knit Sneakers, £455
A riff on the Italian fashion label’s own knitwear collections, these sneakers offer a cool halfway house between the kind of technical mesh we’re used to seeing in sportswear and something much more luxurious. Not only are they breathable – especially as they’re unlined – but the knit gives them a unique geometric texture. In this nautical-adjacent combination of white and blue, they’re a pair of lightweight luxury sneakers suited to a yacht deck somewhere along the Cote d’Azur.
Available at Brunello Cucinelli.
Crown Northampton Upton Wholecut TL, £280
All the well-heeled excellence of a handmade, traditional Northampton shoe but with the pared-back versatility of a sneaker – the Upton has it all. Streamlined to the point of minimalism with a single, whole cut piece of suede paired with a clean, flexible white sole, the light grey is wearable with pretty much anything. Which is a good thing, given that the Upton is built to last – a solid benefit of classical shoemaking – so you’ll be cycling through sneakers a lot slower than your actual wardrobe.
Available at Crown Northampton.
George Cleverley Jack Sneaker, £350
One of the stalwarts of bespoke footwear, George Cleverley are about as traditional as these things get. Their brogues are like nothing else. But don’t let their old school bespoke nature make you miss the Jack, the brand’s only sneaker. In navy nubuck, they’re as much an investment piece as any Cleverley shoes, with the same custom-made feel and impeccable construction, just in a much more casual style. Thanks to their obvious quality they’ll hold up with a suit, but honestly, you can wear them anywhere. Not bad for their very first sneaker in a rather storied history.
Available at George Cleverley.
Common Projects Tournament Leather Sneakers, £375
Making something as generic as a plain white sneaker is a difficult ask. It says a lot then that Common Projects have made it their signature. Functional design meets sleek silhouettes and an attention to detail that elevates the sneaker staple, the Tennis 77s are based on the kind of retro court styles that are on fire right now; low and minimalist. The only flourish is the gold foiled serial number on the heel, wearable proof that less is more, even when it comes to serious luxury sneakers.
Available at Mr Porter.
Pina Parma Beige Luxury Sneakers, £166.75
The Italians know how to do warm weather sartorial staples to a tee, from lightweight, unstructured tailoring to the perfect casual sneakers to go with them, courtesy in this case of Pini Parma. This streamlined beige number is the perfect aperitivo companion, comfortable enough to stroll the renaissance era streets of Parma and sharp enough to see the sunset in at a smart rooftop bar. As with all the brand’s pieces, they’re 100% made in Italy from suede, calfskin leather and a rubber sole courtesy of specialist producer MARGOM.
Available at Pina Parma.
