White Sneakers: The "Ketchup" of Menswear
While I attended college, I worked as a bartender, or as some people would dub it a “mixologist”, although I’ve always hated that term. Great gig and I worked at some cool craft cocktail joints with great drinks. Culinary drinks where we cared about ingredients, flavor profiles, balance, etc. All the things that make a fancy cocktail delicious and expensive.
Many times, people would request a cocktail off-menu. “Dealer’s choice” as we call it. It can be hard to make something for someone without knowing exactly what they’re after, but most bartenders have a few ingredients up their sleeves that please nearly everyone.
One such ingredient is St. Germain. It’s a french elderberry liquor that works particularly well with citrus. It pairs well with all sorts of different flavors, it’s affordable, and it tastes great. No wonder it’s a commonly reached for bottle among bartenders. So common that many industry professionals fitting call St. Germain “The Ketchup of Cocktails”.
Ketchup is a great condiment. It goes with a lot of stuff. It’s cheap. It adds a bit of flavor to your dishes. You probably own a bottle. Your friends probably own a bottle. Your frequented restaurants and grocery stores probably stock it. Most people have it and use it. Ketchup is everywhere.
In the last couple of years, white leather sneakers have become the ketchup of menswear. Your favorite “Instagram Influencer” is likely wearing them. Most of the brands out there have now produced a pair. I’ve noticed many of my clients send me looks that have white sneakers attached to the bottom of them. Like ketchup, white sneakers are everywhere.
We’ve hit a peak with these shoes. Many beginner stylists and “Instagram Influencers” looks are oversaturated with the use of these sneakers. Every brand has produced a pair because they know guys will buy them. You can look on any menswear Pinterest or Instagram account and you’ll see what I mean. I took a screenshot of every advertisement I got for white sneakers in a single day.
All ads received for white sneakers in just a single day.
Here’s the point where you’re going to expect me to take a firm stance against them. Rail against their use as I do with many other things that are in popular fashion.
The thing is, I just can’t.
Originally, I was going to write this post to push back against the use of these white sneakers.
Some of my thoughts included: “They’re too easy”, ”You can do anything with them”, “They’re so simple” and “everyone wears them”.
I was mad because people were taking the easy way out.
But then I thought, so what? Why not make things easier. For all the reasons I hated them, I grew to love them.
Yes, they’re oversaturated in menswear. But for good reason…
White sneakers pair well with a lot of items. Because of the leather, you can pull them off with a casual suit all the way down to shorts and a tee. Since white isn’t on the color wheel, they pair with any color palette. Their simplistic nature works with a wide variety of personal styles. Most style-conscious people have them and use them. So, yes, white sneakers are everywhere in menswear.
But I’m fine with it.
All looks with white sneakers that clients have sent me.
The problem comes from their overuse. When you can pair with anything, sometimes you pair with everything. There comes a time when you have to take off the training wheels and use other forms of footwear. But, for those just beginning their style journey, there isn’t an easier form of footwear to get into and put to daily use.
Realize that white leather sneakers are a crutch for many. But when you’re starting out or just don’t want to think about pairing, using a shortcut is just fine.
So, I say grab a pair. Make it simple. Think less. Getting dressed should never be a pain in the ass.
If you’re thinking about getting a pair, be careful with what you buy. As I said nearly every brand is making a pair of these now. It helps to buy from those brands that do it well. Curious? We want brands that have an emphasis on quality, but without overpaying for the name. All vetted brands below…
Greats
Easy to purchase and they hold up well. They are slightly chunkier than the other options below, but you may not even notice. Priced at 179.
Svensson
Rumor has it these are made from many of the same materials that the much pricer Common Projects sneakers are made from. Who knows. The slimmer profile and very minimal look make these very attractive. Priced at 203.
Koio
Still a touch chunky like the Greats, but they seem to wear better than the Greats do. There is a bit of suede on the interior near the heel that feels great as you slip into the shoe and is an added aid if you tend to blister near your heel. Priced at 248.
Please stay away from brands that offer something similar under the $100 price point. I promise you you’ll regret it. If you need something cheap and easy for casual wear, nothing will beat the classic styling of the Converse Chuck Taylor Low Top.
