HOW TO BUILD A CORE WARDROBE FOR MEN: SNEAKERS

This is part three of a series on what to put in your closet. I get a lot of questions about "capsule" or "core" wardrobes. While everyone needs different things, there are some staples you should have in your closet. Today, we're going to discuss sneakers.

CANVAS SNEAKER

A canvas sneaker is great to have in the rotation as one of your more casual options. Canvas sneakers work well with chinos, jeans, and all sorts of shorts. You'll get the most use out of these in the summer and spring.

The most iconic canvas sneaker is a pair of Converse. I like the Converse 70s, which have a bit of a beefier canvas and are more supportive. It's worth the 30-dollar price jump.

Deck sneakers, which is what these classic Vans are modeled after, work well for the same types of outfits. J Crew / Sperry has a pair here as well.

A white/cream color works well.

LOW-TOP LEATHER SNEAKER

The perfect all-rounder. A good leather sneaker will likely be one of your most worn pairs of shoes. They can be worn with shorts and a tee, or all the way up to a casual sportcoat and jeans.

So many brands make leather sneakers, so choose carefully.

Koio is my go-to - I've bought several pairs of these. I like the construction and the leather quality here. To Boot NY after that, tending to be slightly more comfortable than the Koio. On the lower price point size, Beckett Simonon.

The luxury version that most people know is from Common Projects, and the leather quality is great.

A good white and black pair will be able to pair with basically anything. Once you have that down, get a pair in suede and play around with some other colors.

RETRO RUNNER / TRAINER

A retro runner is exactly what it sounds like, a retro-inspired sneaker. It works in the same places that canvas sneaker does - usually on the more casual end.

New Balance has been leading the charge here with the 327's. They have a ton of color options and great prices.

Nike has a lot of great options here too, namely this Trainer.

Koio and Morjas make slightly more elevated ones with a lot of color options.

For stand-out luxury? Tom Ford's funky pair here.

This is one where you could have some more fun with the color options.

ATHLETIC SNEAKER

For athletics. That's the purpose - so try not to wear stuff like this with all your other outfits. Keep it in the gym. But while you're there, you should be looking good.

I find that Nike has really hit the mark for massive selections, pricepoint, and quality. Right now, I wear these ones from Nike most. But you could pretty much pick anything from them, and you'd do fine.

For running, I like Hoka and Brooks over Nike, but the shoes just don't look as good.

For color, feel free to get crazy. All of my workout gear is dark gray/black because I want it to pair easily and not show dirt or sweat, so having a bit of a color pop at the bottom of the outfit can make things stand out in a minimal way.

With the world getting more casual, sneakers are worn more often than ever, so make sure you've set yourself up for success by having the right stuff in your closet.

One last note: Sneakers, as a category, are casual. I find it best to keep them that way and pair them with other casual items. A lot of guys ask me about wearing sneakers with a suit. Pulling off an outfit like that goes wrong more often than not. If the rest of your outfit feels formal, the shoes should follow suit. Matching levels of formality is the best way to figure out how to pair things.

If you’re looking for personalized help, chat with me here

- Patrick