20 Luxury Sneakers That Are Worth the Money

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High-end sneakers may be as ubiquitous as selvedge denim these days, but more variety means it's even harder for the cream to rise to the top. Designers like Balenciaga and Givenchy have long embraced the sportier side of footwear, while other labels have only recently joined the party—but that doesn't mean they aren't bringing cool, fresh streetwear into the world of luxury.

Then again, brands like Tod's and Berluti have been making the case for luxury sneakers for more than a decade, and have earned a special sort of street cred. What that means for you is a smattering of luxury sneakers that range from sleek classics to edgy streetwear. Get something understated and wearable for everyday, or opt for something trendier just because you like 'em. The luxe part is often the most obvious not in the shape of the shoe but in the materials and construction, so you can easily upgrade whatever shoe you're already into with an exquisitely made one.

Before you pull the trigger on yet another pair, here 20 of the best luxury sneakers you can get right now.

Decades Sneaker

Common Projects is patient zero for the current minimal-luxury-sneakers craze. The Achilles has become a holy grail for recovering Jordan fiends as much as it has for aspiring fashion nerds. Its cross-cultural appeal predated the muddled "mix everything together" world of modern menswear, and it looks good with just about everything. Amongst a sea of competitors, it's a shoe has achieved that covetable "timeless" status.

eReplica Sneakers

Maison Margiela's designer footwear legacy has remained relatively untouched. Its most prominent product is an upscale reinterpretation of a standard-issue German army trainer sneaker, done up in white leather with suede accents and a gum sole.

Capri Sneakers

Koio makes a completely minimalist sneaker, and it does it well. The shoes are made in Italy, and the company was founded by Germans who are based in New York City. You're really getting the best perspectives (and access) possible.

Low-Top Sneakers

If ever there was someone to design a runner that's luxurious as all hell, it's Tom Ford. Tom Ford, the brand, is absolutely steeped in luxury. Makes sense; Tom Ford, the man, is also absolutely steeped in luxury. And it could go without saying, but just in case: His sneakers are, too. These are slightly chunky, done up on rubber soles with a mesh and suede upper, finished with a now-signature Ford design detail: a zig-zag-edged side stripe that’s something of a calling card for other in-the-know sneaker fans.

Mid-Top Sneakers

Mid- and high-top sneakers always feel a bit sportier than low-tops but that doesn't inherently make them any less luxe. Saint Laurent has a particular penchant for taking a sporty design up a notch, like it did with these mid-tops. The construction and materials (all calfskin leather) are a level up from any other mid-top you've worn before.

Curb Quilted Leather Jumbo-Lace Sneakers

With these low-top sneakers, Lanvin has done what many brands try and fail to do: make a sneaker that is undoubtedly designer without doing too much. Rather than a logo or distracting pattern, Lanvin opts for slightly distorted sizing to make its all-white sneaker stand out. The low-top design is contrasted with a puffy leather upper and the brand's signature oversized laces. They're easily wearable, and the kind of sneakers you have to know to know.

Airmaster Lace-Up Sneakers

You'd be remiss to overlook Dolce & Gabbana's chunky dad sneaker in your search of luxury kicks. Not only are the tailoring and fabrics (a nylon, suede, and leather mix) up to a tee, but Dolce & Gabbana encapsulates all the modern, urban aesthetics on a luxury scale. This chunky heel makes for a soft landing while you're walking, making them the perfect sneaker for spending a lot of time on your feet but in a fancy way.

Leather Low-Top Sneakers

The king of soft suiting and cozy cashmere brings that same appreciation for the finer things in life to sneakers, too. They’re made in Italy (naturally), light as air, and have a suede and leather exterior to keep your feet as happy as you are when you’re wearing Cucinelli.

Men's Gucci Ace sneaker with Web

Off-White Sneakers

Rick Owens does edgy luxury in a "let's turn some heads" way. While you may not be up to walk around in his six-inch platform boots, these high-top leather sneakers might be an interesting addition to your closet. The shape is a blend of a sneaker and a boot, and that oversized rubberized toe is signature Rick. This pearly off-white color is one of the easiest to wear.

Runners

Thanks to outrageous silhouettes, price tags, and hype, the Balenciaga sneaker is in a world of its own. The runner is a Balenciaga staple, and this one leans into the total irreverence with a small smattering of colors: pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue. This does the whole comfortable dad shoe sneaker on a level yet unmatched.

Oversized Sneakers

Thick, bold soles are the name of the game for Alexander McQueen-style sneakers. Even though that construction is popular right now, a true McQueen silhouette is unmistakable. The mostly white sneaker is easy to wear and the hit of olive green at the back makes them just different enough than all your other white sneakers.

Lite Runner Sneakers

Moncler's Lite Runner brings a sense of craft and provenance to a classic runner shape. By and large, the sneakers feel like more hands-on, high-end reinterpretations of things you've seen before. In other words: Familiar, but not quite.

Downtown Leather Sneakers

Prada’s sneakers are split between an impulse towards total minimalism (think: low-profile tonal white plimsolls) and the highly technical, from construction right down to the look of the things. But either one you go for looks truly purposeful, which makes them an interesting shoe to incorporate regardless of what floats your boat aesthetically.

Dad-Star Suede & Leather Sneakers

Husband and wife Francesca and Alessandro Gallo founded this sneaker brand on a common passion for sneakers and art. Its flagship products are Italian-made sneakers with the breaking-in done for you. Why not splurge on designer kicks that already feel like your favorite pair? At least if you scuff them further, they won't look any worse for wear.

CT-04 Leather Sneakers

If anyone can make an all-white leather sneaker look like the coolest, sleekest thing on the market, surely its Hedi Slimane. If you have the money to burn, these are virtually impossible to compete with. They're a wearable construction and color but done in some of the finest leather you'll ever wear.

360 Flexy Walk Wish Wool Sneakers

You know those cozy AF Loro Piana cashmeres that you wish you could wrap your whole body in? Well, you can at least wrap your feet in them. The luxury label has a pair of leather-trimmed knit sneakers that feel oh so soft.

Giv 1 Croc-Effect Leather Sneakers

The Giv 1, with its (not too) chunky silhouette and, in this particular take, a shiny croc-embossed upper, is a must-have for casual footwear enthusiasts and sneakerheads alike.

Manual Industrial Product 01 Sneakers

Made out of a natural, vegetable-tanned leather that will get darker over time, this is an investment shoe if we've ever seen one.

Suede Sneakers

The brand may be best known for its supple Gommino driving loafers, but Tod's isn't a one-trick pony. Aside from (very good) apparel, the Italian label also does chunky boots, sturdy lace-ups, and sneakers that run the gamut from minimal to maximal as all hell. Take your pick, of course, but right now, the tonal, gum-sole, outdoorsy vibes are tough to beat.

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