The end of the reign of the sneaker might be sooner than you think. After enjoying a thorough renaissance under the creative direction of Virgil Abloh, who brought a certain freshness to the historic French label, Louis Vuitton is set to debut a new shoe style.
The footwear in question was teased earlier this week on Instagram with a photo by Mathias Patillon, the head of design for men’s footwear at LV. While the designer has dabbled in streetwear and more formal tailoring, the new shoe is a departure from both. Based on the image, the new shoe is a durable Sperry-like loafer available in black, brown, and yellow. It’s definitely one of the preppier styles to come from the label but also an indication that it’s not afraid to push the needle. Is this new style just treading water or could boat shoes be the new wave? Only time will tell. As of now, no release date has been announced.
The days of the ubiquitous ugly sneaker trend could be numbered. You can thank the French/Morrocan brand Casablanca, which just released a sneaker in collaboration (its first collaboration ever) with New Balance that’s putting color and a slimmer shape back at the forefront.
“It’s an honor to partner with New Balance on this exciting new style as Casablanca’s first design collaboration,” Casablanca founder Charaf Tajer said in a statement. “I know the brand works with few fashion houses so to be chosen to do this with a new silhouette is so special and unique for me. The design perfectly matches the aesthetic of Casablanca, it’s the ultimate leisure shoe.”
The white leather sneaker recalls sneakers from the ’70s with its conventional lo-top design and contrasting panel details lining the exterior. The New Balance motif is redone in Casablanca’s signature colorways — orange and green. The result effectively combines the designer’s penchant for sophisticated yet modern panache with one of the heritage athletic brand’s most enduring sneaker styles.
Two months into a new decade and the chunky sneaker shows no sign of stopping. As the footwear trend continues its indisputable global reign, Dolce & Gabbana released a new range of its own take of the sneaker style.
The Italian brand released two new sneaker models. The first, the Day Master, is all about utility and volume. Anchored by a grey color palette for a retro ’90s appeal, the chunky sneaker is lightweight and accented with subtle leather detailing — a solid minimal essential for any sneaker collection. On the other hand, the NS1 sneaker is a little more daring. With pops of color — available in either red, black, grey, or pink — and geometric features, the shoe is a sportier take on the chunky silhouette.
The Dolce & Gabbana Day Master and NS1 sneakers are available in select stores and online now.
Even as minimalism ebbs and flows in and out of the trend cycle, the leather white sneaker stands strong as a timeless footwear option. Always the perfectionist, Hermès has released an updated take on the classic shoe for Spring/Summer 2020 with its Avantage sneaker. Crafted in premium calfskin leather and lined with a goatskin insole, the ultra-fresh style is stylized with a striped and angular H on the exterior — a subtle way to label-drop that avoids the flashiness of logomania. The spine of the shoe is accented with a contrasting back panel, available in either black, burnt orange, or white. Even though white sneakers are a timeless and reliable option, keeping them clean is another story. So if you’re shoes have gone from white to off-white, it might be time for a crisp new pair.
The Hermès Avantage Sneaker is available now in stores and online now.
Japanese-based outerwear label Nanamica has collaborated with Reebok on a limited-edition capsule collection for the holidays. Combining the elegant utility of Nanamica with the athletic heritage of Reebok, the range of pieces adds a new dimension of sophistication to athleisure. Highlights from the collection include a pair of black corduroy sweatpants, an accompanying blue-and-navy track jacket emblazoned with an oversize logo, and two new sneaker styles. Inspired by Reebok’s Club C silhouette from the ’80s, the retro footwear has been given an oversized strap and updated in premium leather. The new Club C sneakers are available in white and navy.
The Nanamica x Reebok collection will be available on November 30.
Flaunting its specialty craft at trunk making, Louis Vuitton is updating its signature travel piece for a new generation. The French brand has announced the release of the new Sneaker Trunk, making its global debut during Art Basel in Miami on December 3. The massive grey monogram trunk is able to hold at least 6 pairs of low top sneakers and 8 high top pairs, with smaller drawers and additional compartments also included for further storage (for socks and stuff). The newest addition of the designer’s extensive travel collection, the sneaker trunk (which is fully customizable) will be sure to inspire dedicated sneakerheads to proudly showcase their sneaker collections in the one of a kind contemporary display.
The Louis Vuitton Sneaker Trunk will be available on December 3.
The latest release from the ongoing collaboration between Converse and Tyler the Creator’s brand Golf le Fleur* might be its biggest yet. This time around, hip-hop’s most prominent aesthete, known for his soft pastels and cartoon graphics, added volume to a new Converse style: the Gianno. Pulling influences from sportswear, most notably hiking and basketball, the Gianno shoe is engineered with mesh, suede, and leather for a luxe exterior. While the outer appearance of the sneaker pulls from Converse’s basketball series from the ’90s, the chunky aesthetic remains as popular as ever. Inside, the shoe is embedded with a midfoot shank, a technical detail that helps provide balance while ascending — a feature most commonly seen in hiking gear.
The Converse x Golf le Fleur Gianno sneaker is available online now.
In an industry that’s polluted with collabs — the likes of many which are covered right here on Essential Homme — anything is possible. Supreme can get with Baccarat. Nike can get with Carhartt WIP. Virgil Abloh can add quotation marks to an entire line of IKEA furniture. The list goes on. It takes a bit more effort these days to do anything truly shocking in terms of collabs, which is why it’s interesting that a minor internet frenzy was caused yesterday after Adidas and Prada teased and announced their partnership on both their respective Instagrams.
After each brand posted the same image — a Prada shopping bag filled with two Adidas shoeboxes — the hype was only fueled by fan speculation. But despite the cloak of mystery (however mysterious something can be once it’s posted to a combined audience of 46 million), people were quickly able to determine that the forthcoming release was likely a pair of shoes — the shoeboxes in the aforementioned image seem to confirm this. Additionally, WWD confirmed that Prada and Adidas will release two styles in December with plans for a second drop in early 2020. So if you’re not able to secure a pair of coveted Pradidas shoes (see what I did there?) for Christmas, you might be able to use some holiday money to buy them in the new year.
For their latest collaboration, Supreme and Nike have updated the latter’s classic style, the Air Max 95, in an elevated new material. Available in three colors (blue, black, and red), the signature sneaker has been redone in luxe and glossy Italian leather. The shoe even comes with a boot-shaped silver hang tang to emphasize the Italian-ness of it all. Nike previously released a similar leather style in the early ’00s, but the new style enhances the shoe with Supreme’s own stamp — the skate brand’s logo is cropped and etched on the side and shown in full on the tongue of the shoe. And at $500, the simple and overt branding combined with the fine material construction makes this collaboration the most expensive one since the brand’s first teamed up in 2002.
The Supreme x Nike Air Max 95 will be released in select stores and online on November 7.
For the first time, Opening Ceremony has partnered with French sneaker label Hoka One. The debut collection merges the footwear brand’s superior functionality with Opening Ceremony’s distinct lens for striking design, resulting in a two-color range of the brand’s Bondi 5 sneaker.
Available in black or white, the OC x Hoka Bondi 5 is made with premium leather, offering an elevated take on the utilitarian athletic piece. The exterior of the footwear is subtly accented with panels outlined with minimal stitching, and the interior is cushioned with Hoka’s technology and heel support that ensures smooth mobility whether active or relaxed.
The Opening Ceremony x Hoka One Bondi 5 range will be available in select OC stores and online tomorrow, November 1.
To celebrate a decade of the popular Himalayan shoe, Camper has commissioned the idiosyncratic German designer Bernhard Willhelm to add his own spin to the footwear. Known for his eccentric and irreverent pieces, Willhelm was inspired by football socks for the collab and combined technical and functional knit fabrics with his unique vision — shoe proportions were exaggerated to new knee-high heights and a dynamic monochrome geometric print is veiled by mohair exterior. Furthermore, alongside these updated Himalayan sneakers, CamperLab stores will carry a limited range of Willhelm’s pieces. We caught up with the designer to talk about what makes a perfect shoe.
EH: What are the challenges of working with a sneaker as opposed to other apparel?
Nowadays it’s totally equivalent to do all in a sneaker. Hot chicks and dudes don’t want to ruin their feet anymore for the sake of vanity.
EH: The shoe was inspired by footwear socks, but there’s a definite whimsy to its design. Can you elaborate a little about what the process of making the shoe was like?
It has been a collaboration for 10 years. We created a BW x Camper classic the Himalayan trainer with the wave sole which all the new designs are based on. Camper has a new trainer factory in Vietnam. In order to make the shoes lighter, we used a new sole construction (less material on the inside) and lighter more stable composite. New uppers include velcro sandals with woven bands based on Obi bands and also knitted socks upperparts with new materials and knit technologies. (furry ‘goat ‘ fish skin structure, grading dyes, dip dye) All pretty new stuff. Also important, it’s unisex, recognizable, and pretty forward in design. There’s a relaxed attitude and a spiritual attitude also an interesting shape and a playfulness in graphics and colors/color interaction.
EH: What makes a perfect shoe?
Cowboy and cowgirls riding on a horse. Here the Mohican comes in violently.
The iconic silhouette of Prada’s Cloudbust sneaker just got thunderstruck. The new line of Cloudbust Thunder shoes is loaded with volume, thanks to a singular 3D effect achieved by incorporating rubber into the technical fabric of the footwear. Inspired by sportswear, Prada has found a way to give their sneaker unmatched flexibility, softness, and grip. The practicality of the shoe is met by a robust and eye-grabbing design, which combines a classic palette of black, white, scarlet, and blue. A perfect mix of spectacle and streetwear practicality, the Cloudbust Thunder line is sure to make noise wherever it goes.
