BLACK SNEAKERS ARE A TIMELESS ESSENTIAL

Yohji Yamamoto’s love of the color black is no secret. The revered designer is never seen wearing anything but black, and has been vocal about the color’s beautiful mystery. Much like his own outfits, Yamamoto’s Y-3 imprint uses the color black to spotlight fine details. Here, pinched leather forms the signature three stripes of adidas as the primary, highly understated branding.

Maison Margiela’s Replica silhouette is one of the most versatile luxury sneakers on the market every season. For SS24, the label turns to its signature paint splashes to add a layer of intrigue to the black iteration of the style. With the gum sole, it’s just enough detailing to attract eyes without being too much.

Comme des Garçons has a string of successful sneaker collaborations with Nike, and the key to each one is restraint. While the silhouette is sometimes altered, the Comme des Garçons twist always comes in a black and white colorway pairing. Resurrecting the retro-look Nike Air Pegasus, this collaboration takes things back to basics with a triple-black finish.

For his FW24 collection, Rick Owens walked models through his Paris apartment wearing enormous inflatable boots. While the designer’s Jumbo Laced Sneakers don’t shock in the same way, they do feature a pumped-up, bulbous silhouette. It’s a signature of Rick Owens, and one that’s tempered by the all-black colorway.

Korean fashion brand Andersson Bell has found a signature in mixing disparate styles together. For SS24, the label hops aboard the gorp 2.0 train with the Aaron Trail Sneakers, which blend a hiking silhouette and technical sole unit with luxe materials like soft suede.

Gucci’s Ace Sneaker takes the style of a minimal tennis sneaker which, when dressed in black, is up there with the most versatile luxury sneakers on the market. Paired with sweatpants or tailoring, the black Ace Sneaker slots in effortlessly while the logo stripe and embroidered bee raise the visual profile.

There are few safer bets in footwear than opting for a timeless silhouette like the New Balance 2002R in a black colorway. Providing premium comfort as well as visual character, this is the definition of an everyday favorite.

adidas Originals is not short of trending silhouettes, but while the desire for styles like the Gazelle or Samba fluctuates, pairs like the adidas Originals Superstar are a more constant presence. Never too popular, but always in the picture, the all-black Superstar holds up to the test of time.

One part of the beauty of black sneakers is that without color to steal attention, the silhouette of a shoe starts to hold more importance. That’s perfectly exemplified by the Reebok Classics Classic Leather LTD Sneakers. With a striking new shape to the heel, the all-time favorite silhouette feels new and fresh.

CAMPERLAB’s Tossu Sneakers have a complex upper built of TPU, which acts as a kind of cage around a water-repellent sock liner. In color, the design can’t help being the most striking aspect of a look, but in all black, it becomes a more secretive affair: a surprise for those who pay close attention.