The Best Men’s Sneakers to Slip Into This Fall

The sneaker trend is here to stay. The section reserved for said footwear seems to almost fully encompass the department at Neiman’s NorthPark. Most luxury labels provide anywhere upwards of dozens of options in the athletic category per season. Over the past decade, it’s become completely acceptable to pair a casual suit with some sneakers for workday attire. Some fashionable types (myself included) even occasionally push the boundaries of black tie by wearing a pair with a tuxedo.

On a whim, I tried to quickly go through a few sites just to see what was the most expensive pair I could find — landed upon some olive Dior oblique tapestry high-top ones for $2,050 and a pair of Louboutins that were perforated with spikes. Fortunately, you can still find some incredibly cool-looking ones for under $100.

If you are wanting to add a pair to your wardrobe arsenal this fall, these are my top five men’s sneakers in no particular order:

Thom Browne: If you have been a regular reader of my men’s style features, you’ve likely noticed rarely do I pen one without an item from Major Thom. And — did you catch this year’s Met Gala? Seemed as if a bevy of in-the-know from the celebrity set went with one of his signature evening-appropriate creations. I appreciate this pair since they resemble a suit-appropriate brogue, but in this case, done in a sporty fabric and sole.

Saucony Jazz series: They have an incredibly cool retro vibe and come in myriad color combinations. So many versions in fact I must confess I own four pairs. And, since they are the cheapest (I’ve seen them online on different sites for as little as $45, but most are around $80) on this list, I don’t feel guilty about having that many.

Prada: Miuccia’s hallowed Italian luxury line has been putting out upwards of 100 sneakers every year. I am digging their wheel re-nylon high-top sneakers in white (also available in black). They straddle channeling old 70s basketball sneakers, but with the detachable pouch feel alternatively futuristic. Coming in as the most expensive pair on this list at $1,200. But perhaps splurge since they will get quite a few envious glances.

Adidas Rod Lavers: Adidas are my go-to’s for day-to-day. I can bang them up and given their price point (generally under $100) just buy a new pair every year. Although I must say — I like wearing my scuffed up pairs since they seem like they have a history of stories. For years, Adidas was pretty much sticking with their Stan Smiths. However, I was pleased to see that they are re-introducing their Rod Lavers (named for the famed tennis player). Which is great, since I have two pairs (a white and green and a white and blue) that are pretty much destroyed since I bought them over 10 years ago. But, I refused to part with them in case they were never re-released.

Alexander McQueen: Probably the most fashion-forward from this list. McQueen devotees generally wear a wardrobe that pushes the envelope. These aren’t too avant-garde but are definitely a statement shoe to get you noticed when walking in a room. I’d pair them with some slim-fitting gray wool suiting pants and a black v-neck sweater (if you have a nice patch of chest hair, then you could even go without an undershirt — somehow that look is currently looking very chic).