If the idea of wearing one of the best fancy sneakers for men turns you off, we get it. Much of the market is still crying out for a design reset, and has become flooded with overhyped (and over-bulky) designs, covered in logos and jangling with tchotchkes.
But that’s exactly what sets the best luxury sneaker brands apart. While their peers chase viral moments and befuddling collaborations, these labels still focus on what made premium sneakers worth buying in the first place: thoughtful, elegant designs in elevated materials, that carry a sophistication above the level of everyday athletic styles, and will also last far, far longer.
There’s an added bonus to these sneakers’ simplicity: it makes them much easier to deploy. At the office, they’ll bring an energetic element to business-casual looks. But off duty, they’ll still buddy up well with denim, cargo pants, shorts, and pretty much anything else you’d wear on a weekend. (Some of them can even pair with truly smart looks—though if you’re thinking of pairing a suit with sneakers, do check out our advice on the subject.) Of course, elevated materials also means elevated pricing, but if you’re ready to invest, we’d recommend you do it with one of the eight designers below, all of whom have proven their worth and style chops, year after year.
The Best Fancy Sneakers for Men, According to GQ
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Prada
While a lot of blue-chip designer labels are relatively new to the sneaker game, Prada has been consistently churning out winning sneaker styles since the late 1990s. Its offering tends to be split into two halves; on one side are the clean, crisp, and minimally-styled shapes like the two shown below.
On the other are the more progressive, trend-leading variations, for guys looking to flex a little harder. Right now, the winners on that front are their Montecarlo and Collapse styles, which have both contributed to the overall slimming down of sneaker silhouettes that has taken root across menswear. Honestly, many Prada sneaker styles have created hordes of imitators at almost every price point. But if you can afford the original, look no further.
Maison Margiela
Margiela’s Replica sneakers pretty much set the standard for a great designer sneaker. They’re distinctive but not flashy, simple but not boring. It’s also fairly likely that they’re already a part of your rotation. (If not, we’d recommend the classic leather style in a black or white—you’ll be surprised how much of your wardrobe they go with.)
But it’s worth giving some consideration to the brand’s wider assortment, too: Its more recent Sprinter model is a similarly canny update of a classic style, based on retro running shoes and remade in nylon, leather, and suede. Like the Replica, they look like the perfect pair of vintage sneaks you just happened to find after trawling Japanese resale sites for three hours. Only without all that hassle.
Rick Owens
Rick Owens’ clothing might skew towards the avant-garde, but his sneaker offering sits firmly in the world of pared-back, grown-up simplicity. Essentially, the collection (as well as his estimable roster of collaborations with other footwear brands) is made up of adaptations of classic American sports sneakers, reimagined in premium materials. They’re distinguishable mainly by their monochrome palette, and exaggerated sole units.
Sure, you could wear them with Owens’ signature drop-crotch basketball shorts, and look pretty great doing so. But they’d look just as good with a pair of cargo pants, or even an oversized tailored trouser.
Dries Van Noten
One reason to be cheerful right now? Despite the departure of Dries van Noten from his namesake label, the collections still slap (phew!). The brand has long been a go-to for grown up menswear with a playful edge, and that ethos has continued into its current footwear offering. If there’s a sneaker that single-footedly defines the zeitgeist right now, it’s Dries’ slimline, low-soled suede laceups. A bit 70s, a bit 90s, extremely now.
