TEN OF THE BEST WHITE SNEAKERS FOR 2024 AND BEYOND
A pair of clean white sneakers is hard to knock, and pairs from Maison Margiela, Converse, visvim, and others emphasize the style’s universal appeal.
A look at Fall/Winter 2024 men’s fashion shows will tell you that more formal leather styles have superseded sneakers. That said, the few sneakers that did stand out from fashion weeks prove that if sneakers are to have a place in the 2024 rotation, they need to be understated. From AURALEE’s teasing looks at a new New Balance collaboration with muted hues and retro styling to the fascinatingly divisive loafer-sneaker hybrid courtesy of Junya Watanabe, who reworked the New Balance 1906R with a penny-loafer silhouette in black and white, the standout kicks of 2024 were quiet and confident.
Quiet confidence is a fitting explanation of the enduring appeal of white sneakers. The best white sneakers are versatile, eye-catching, and allow for subtle detailing in the absence of bold color. Examples from names like Maison Margiela, The Row, and visvim account for luxury fashion while drops from Salomon, New Balance, and PUMA x Coperni take a classic, sportswear direction.
Featured In This Image: Coperni sneakers
For FW24, Coperni teams up with PUMA, taking inspiration from the German brand’s footballing history to bring forth the 90SQR. The sleek profile of this collaboration is counteracted by a big, square toe-box that acts as the shoe’s defining visual characteristic. This is yet another sign of football’s growing influence on luxury fashion.
Featured In This Image: Maison Margiela sneakers
Maison Margiela wowed with a FW24 show for the history books. John Galliano looked to PVC, printed mesh, and even underwear embroidered with human hair to steal headlines. The fact that alongside this kind of conceptual exploration exists a wealth of wearable, versatile designs like the Maison Margiela Replica Sneaker is what makes the label one of luxury fashion’s most popular.
Featured In This Image: Salomon sneakers
The Salomon XT-6 has had a long reign as one of the most popular sneakers of the past five years. When it’s dressed in this triple-white colorway, it remains one of the best white sneakers on the market, pitting brutalist utility against an immaculate white color palette.
Featured In This Image: Acne Studios sneakers
Canvas plimsolls have been standard footwear for generations; with minimal detailing and all-around versatility, it’s a silhouette that suits an all-white finish. Acne Studios adds light distressing to the sole unit to raise the profile of this pair.
Featured In This Image: Converse sneakers
Converse’s Chuck 70 remains one of the company’s wisest moves. With gentle alterations such as a chunkier sole and reinforced sections on the canvas upper, the Chuck 70 reinvigorated the iconic Chuck Taylor silhouette, extending its illustrious life as one of the most popular pairs of white sneakers to ever hit shelves.
Featured In This Image: Spalwart sneakers
Spalwart presents a refreshing combination of luxury materials and understated visuals. Finding inspiration in retro military training footwear, the brand’s collection aligns effortlessly with both off-duty and special looks.
Featured In This Image: visvim sneakers
Japanese brands are famous for poring over details, perfecting each aspect of a design. Cult label visvim is the embodiment of this approach, offering up pieces like the Corda Folk Sneakers, which take a highly minimal silhouette and reframe it with luxe leather uppers and handcrafted construction.
Featured In This Image: Black Comme des Garçons sneakers
Every season sees Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons breathe new life into an underrated Nike silhouette. For FW24, it’s the turn of the Nike Tennis Classic, which is dressed in sparkling white to spotlight just how great this often-overlooked design really is.
Featured In This Image: New Balance sneakers
New Balance’s 998 is one of the brand’s more complex designs. The layered upper lends itself to a simple palette, which sets black hits next to off-white suede and white leather. The quiet palette lays the shoe’s anatomy bare, allowing spectators to appreciate the level of technical expertise that goes into every New Balance favorite.
Featured In This Image: The Row sneakers
The Row is known and loved for its pared-back takes executed with high-end materials. From cashmere knits to white tennis shoes for women, there is no category that The Row can’t minimalize and perfect. The Marley sneaker features a vegetable-tanned calfskin and suede upper with green laces that pop from the white backdrop.
- Date: February 5, 2024
