Sneakers only get better with time, as more and more interesting collabs make them edgier, fashionable, and too-hot-to-miss-out-on. To help you pick the best from the lot, we curate a list of must-haves
Year after year, sneakers have been slowly taking over footwear. What was once a shoe only worn by athletes and sports enthusiasts has turned into a full-blown fashion statement. While boots and brogues are wardrobe must-haves for all seasons, there’s just something about sneakers that makes them stand out. Sneakers are less about footwear, and more about personality. Want to know someone’s personality? Just look at their sneakers.
- GUCCI
Gucci has introduced its latest Gucci Basket sneaker collection. It is a distinctive high-top designed by the luxury house’s Creative Director, Alessandro Michele. Recalling the high-top trainers that the basketball players wear on court, and that have become part of a deeprooted pop-cultural off-court look, this lace-up sneaker by Gucci for its Ouverture collection takes its name from the sport. Gucci Basket is a genderless sneaker, and features a special identification tag. The style comes in three different colour and fabric combinations. The shoes have a distressed look, and bright colour details in mixed materials are integrated into the distinctive design, including blue soles, violet mesh tops, padded and ribbed orange backs that wrap around the ankles, and green laces. This sneaker collection makes a perfect addition to your everyday looks, from those occasional loose tunics to everyday wide denims.
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- ADIDAS YEEZY
Ever since Kanye West dropped Yeezys, the sneaker world has been upgraded in the best way. The YEEZY BOOST 700 ENFLAME AMBER features an upper composed of full-grain leather and suede overlays that offer a premium finish, soft hand feel, along with a supportive and durable wear. A mesh upper provides lightweight breathability and comfort where it is needed, while reflective material on the heel adds unique design cues and visual interest. A boost drop-in midsole offers the ultimate underfoot cushioning experience. Think of athleisure wear in the shades of beige, toned greys, muted pinks, and blues while matching this pair.
- CONCEPTS X ASICS
The ASICS GEL-LYTE III OG sneaker collaboration with Concepts spawns design inspiration from the Japanese tuna, and its trajectory from a once-avoided fish to a pricey commodity in the global fish market, boasting a record sale of $1.8M for a large bluefin tuna. Looking for an aesthetically pleasing shade? This footwear is for you. Formed with pigskin nubuck overlays on the upper, these panels are rendered with a series of coral hues, inspired by the fish that is a favourite among sushi lovers. The purpose of this shoe on this list is the statement coral shade, which breaks the pink sneaker norm.
- ONITSUKA TIGER
Onitsuka Tiger’s DELEGATION EXTM style comes in a translucent mesh upper, which is extremely breathable, and perfect for dry seasons. Likewise, the lining is made as thin as possible, to take advantage of the mesh’s breathability. The style is a modern take on the shoes worn by the Japanese national team at the international sport event held in 1964. Adding functionality, the Onitsuka Tiger stripes have shoelace loops seamlessly integrated into the design. This is an everyday shoe. Literally. You can wear it while running errands, or for any occasion, something that you pair with plaid shirts, basic hoodies, and denim.
- ZEGNA
Zegna’s Triple Stitch sneaker reaches new heights of luxury this season with a bold new spectrum of sophisticated colours and materials, including breathable canvas. The sneaker takes a step up in comfort with its flexible and lightweight construction. The multifaceted shoe showcases the brand’s signature elasticated straps, so it can conveniently slip on and off with ease. You can choose from a selection of elevated materials including soft suede, grained calf leather, deerskin, and canvas that will bring out a hint of minimalism. This sneaker is on our list for those who aren’t sneakerheads, but, at times, love to wear the covered shoe.
- BALENCIAGA
Is any sneaker list even complete without the dad shoes in 2021? Demna Gvasalia has been on to something ever since he released the chunky ugly sneaker that ended up trickling down to fast fashion brands as well. Balenciaga’s Track 2 are the ultimate dad sneakers that exist in the luxury world. It’s an update of the first generation Track, with pre-worn layers that create an open-air structure, exposing the mesh base. A dual-density lightweight EVA sole gives the shoe that distinct high-performance look. It is even more complex than its predecessor, featuring an upper composed of 176 separate pieces. A mesh base is covered in countless layers made of a mix of synthetic and leather overlays. Pair them up with your loungewear or your vacation shorts with a nicely printed shirt.
- LOUIS VUITTON
Inspired by vintage basketball sneakers, the LV Trainer sneaker was one of the statements of Louis Vuitton’s Spring-Summer 2019 men’s show. This bicolour version of the LV Trainer sneaker comes in monogram-embossed grained calf leather with smooth calf-leather trim. Its elaborately constructed upper, which takes seven hours to stitch, is finished with the Vuitton signature and LV Initials. This is the sneaker that you should go for if you are a sneaker fanatic, and are looking to add luxury bits to your collection. If you are looking for a true blue colour, grab these without thinking twice, and up your casual outfits with them as they are a statement in itself.
