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Women have designer pumps. Men now have designer high tops.
Lately I’ve found myself completely obsessed with high tops. Online, on the street, in a store… I am constantly drawn to them. Leather, canvas, rip-stop nylon, patterned, solid, shiny, studded – you name it and I am there. I love the shine and color blocking from Lanvin; the uber long laces and rich leather goodness of Dior Homme; and of course can’t avert my eyes from the studded Louboutins.
While I have long looked at women’s shoes as an artistic endeavor (I mean, have you seen a pair of Brian Atwood’s?), the men’s footwear scene is starting to offer some rockin’ options for guys.
Just the past year I’ve purchased pairs from Alife, Gourmet, Osklen, and even Feiyue while in Shanghai (that is a story for another day).
And the even better news is that emerging designers are also getting in on the act!
Pierre Hardy is one who is making a name with amazing footwear and accessories. I really dig the geometric patterns and the bright colors that cause your feet to just pop. The brand has done a great collaboration with fellow French designers Kitsune, and the recently released Pierre Hardy x Gap women’s shoe is causing a total frenzy.
Tim Hamilton continues to receive accolades for his unique take on dark hued menswear. Now he has teamed up with Lacoste for a dark gray (naturally) high top that to me is perfect for winter and could be really great with some rolled up pants… all the better to see the super high shoe.
For a little bit different collab you can find artist Steph Cop working with the Shanghainese brand Feiyue. I mentioned above I found a factory direct source for this heritage brand last time I was in Shanghai, but the version they’ve done with Steph Cop is truly a visual treat. While keeping the traditional Feiyue brand markings on the side, the outer has a pattern trippin’ my eyes like an Escher painting. Get me some of these shoes.
Adam Kimmel is another emerging talent who has recently released high tops. I love the
simplicity of what Kimmel called “… a refined version of a basketball shoe”. A basketball shoe fully made of leather. In Italy. That’s the kind of shoe I can get behind!
There is definitely some fancy footwear for men…and while it doesn’t yet have the notoriety of Manolo, Atwood, or Jimmy Choo maybe it’s better kept under the radar. Keep reading here for more *men’s* designer footwear news!
(images: PierreHardy.com, Hypebeast.com, Selectism.com)
