Our Favourite Monochrome Sneakers

Though we hate to admit it, the events (or rather lack thereof) of the past year have put a dampener on the fervent enthusiasm that usually surrounds fashion on a whole. Part of the appeal in indulging in consumer fashion is, of course, the opportunity it provides to make an impression on others around you, an opportunity that’s pretty difficult to exploit when you’re stuck indoors for the best part of the day! Loungewear has quickly become the wardrobe department of choice with many of us sadly renouncing our favourite denim jeans and occasionwear in favour of the slack sweats and house sliders that better suit our new hermit-like lifestyles.

While enough time has passed for this to arguably be considered the new normal, we can’t help but feel some kind of separation anxiety as a result of being away from our favourite wardrobe showpieces for so long; especially our cherished sneakers! If you’re anything like us, you’ll surely find some renewed pleasure in a brand new, box-fresh pair of sneakers and hopefully rekindle your love affair with luxury fashion once again.

With a new year comes the potential for a new start, so we’ve collated this selection of stripped back, monochrome sneaker highlights to help cleanse that palette and give your off-duty outfit that crucial, classic edge.

The palm tree graphic applique found at the rear of our final entry is the symbol of Palm Angels “Palm x Palm” project, a light-hearted ‘collaboration’ between Palm Angels and, well, themselves! It’s a simple concept, but an effective one too. It’s an instant brand identifier that evokes visual images of sun-soaked vistas in downtown LA. We see it as a callback to warmer, more jovial days and a reminder that such times are (hopefully) just around the corner. Palm Angels’ featured trainer combines textiles, leathers and suedes to great effect in a silhouette that is an undisputed season highlight.

 

Oh, you hadn’t heard? Yes, Amiri is a big-time player in the luxury sneaker game now, making it so much more than just the go-to label for exquisite denim jeans. No sneaker in Mike’s portfolio has had more impact than the Skel Top, which now enters its sophomore year after proving a massive hit in its debut season. Modelled after the classic basketball sneaker silhouettes of the 80s, the Skel Top is clearly inspired by the signature colour blocking and engineering of the iconic sneaker, swapping out the sporty logos and insignias for intricately-cut skeleton appliques and other unique quirks of its own. Our featured colourway simply oozes class with its minimalist, black and white colour tones and is a breeze to dress either up or down.

 

Valentino’s Rockstud Untitled, a now permanent sub-collection within their seasonal showcases, is a catalogue of timeless styles, defined by their sleek aesthetics, muted colour tones and, of course, the omnipresence of their iconic Rockstud gem. Pierpaolo Piccioli has been known to riff on the Rockstud Untitled templates from time to time, offering unique variations such as this featured sneaker, sporting the seasonal ‘Flowersity’ print, designed in collaboration with Dutch fashion photographers Inez and Vinoodh. It’s a match made in heaven with the understated profile of the graphic harmonising perfectly with the sleek, unassuming aesthetic of the Rockstud Unititled campaign.

Lanvin Bumper Black Mesh Trainers

 

 

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  PALM ANGELS

  Palm Tree Trainers

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  AMIRI

  Skel Top Trainers

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  VALENTINO GARAVANI

  Rockstud Flowersity Trainers

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  SAINT LAURENT

  Andy Babycat Trainers

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  LANVIN

  Bumper Mesh Trainers