We Put the Versatility of Koio's New Italian-Made Sneakers to the Test
We take sneakers seriously here at the Esquire offices. Like many offices, we don't have to wear suits (bless) and that means we don't need to constantly torture our feet by stuffing them into dress shoes or heels or anything of the sort. Plus, we're always running to meetings, whether they're in the building or across the city. So, we wear sneakers. Good sneakers.
You see, just because we don't have a dress code doesn't mean we don't care about how we dress. In fact, it gives us that much more freedom to wear things we actually like that'll also hold up, should we happen to appear in any meetings with Suits. Koios are already a staple here—and the new Tempo silhouette is about to become one.
This sneaker has its roots in soccer, which you can see in the detailing. There's the laser-trimmed ridges, the perforated icon, and the hit of suede on the toe. And, of course, the gum sole. They come in black and white, making them easy to wear no matter what your personal style is. To highlight that versatility, we had five editors try them out. Turns out, they're just as universally loved as we imagined.
Ben Boskovich, Managing Editor
"Ever since I started buying my own clothes, my wardrobe has tended to lean toward blue and brown. Because of that, a lot of my sneakers are white. Black sneakers, however, I've not begun to collect. Recently, though, I've embraced more black in my wardrobe. Whether it's flat-front chinos or a wool overshirt, black items have slowly started to populate within my closet—and if I'm gonna go monochrome with it, I'll need a solid pair of black sneakers. These shoes work perfectly for this, because not only are they sleek and minimal, the suede detail on the toe and gum sole add a little more personality to what can otherwise be a pretty low-key fit."
C.J. Robinson, Design Assistant
"I really appreciate these sneakers for the clean, sleek silhouette. It's a trainer I can easily wear to the office or when I'm out and about in the city on the weekend, whether I choose to dress it up with a suit or pair it with chinos. It also has a quite comfortable fit, which fits nicely with my need to be stylish and comfortable at all times."
Kate Storey, Senior Staff Writer
"Like many others, I have been living in this leopard print skirt this summer. It’s so easy to wear with a T-shirt and casual shoes. While I usually pair it with black Birkenstocks, these sneakers elevate the look. I love that they’re more cream than white, and the silhouette is cleaner and more sophisticated than the average sneaker. They’re perfect to balance out a busy bottom and basic top."
Justin Kirkland, Staff Writer
"My style is pretty simple, but I’m also at my most comfortable when I know that all parts of my outfit have some kind of intent behind them. A basic white sneaker can elevate an outfit, but the pop of red on these gives me something to play with. I paired it with this rose-print shirt I bought few months back because it ties the reds together. For me, little design elements like you find here makes people look twice and think, 'Oh, that’s a step up.' It allows you to be stylish without being flashy, and that’s important to me."
Christine Flammia, Associate Style Editor
"Sneakers are everything to me. They look good, they feel comfortable, and they don't destroy my feet while running around the city. I love clothes that use sports as a muse, so these soccer-inspired sneakers really speak to my soul. I also like hinting at a theme in an outfit without ever going overboard. (Fine. I go overboard a lot.) Wearing the soccer sneakers I'll never play soccer in with a baseball jacket I'll never play baseball in encapsulates my style personality in a nutshell: on brand and also, full of it."
You Might Also Like
