The art of sartorial restraint is not a simple one, with overly ascetic approaches to minimalism often resulting in banality. The best minimalist sneakers for men are often touted as something of a sartorial palette cleanser — a blank canvas for the rest of your outfit, if you will. However, in our humble(ish) opinion, a really good minimalist sneaker should also add something to your look; perhaps in the way of a subtly contrasting heel tab or a tonal textural overlay. Maybe it’s simply its evident high-quality craftsmanship that draws the eye or its uncanny resemblance to a dress shoe. Point being: making a minimalist sneaker isn’t easy.
The rise (and rise and rise) of minimalism, with sneaker-specific minimalism spearheaded by the release of the Common Projects Achilles Low in 2004, has resulted in pretty much every footwear and sneaker brand having its own take on the style. And while variety is the spice of life, the plethora of choices in the market can make finding the right minimalist sneakers difficult. So, on that note, we’ve put together our favourite minimalist sneakers for men. Far from boring, these kicks eschew extraneous details and unnecessary heft in favour of sleek, streamlined silhouettes that are characterised by subtraction rather than addition.
The best minimalist sneakers for men in 2023
Read on to discover the best minimalist sneakers for men.
1. Common Projects Achilles Low
Provenance is important when it comes to menswear, so let’s start at the source. Making their debut on well-heeled…heels around the world in 2004, the Common Projects Achilles Low has since come to define the minimalist sneaker category. Their pared-back aesthetic, impeccable craftsmanship, and considered design details have solidified them as the blueprint for the majority of forthcoming minimalist sneakers. Crafted from supple leather, they come in several neutral shades are are differentiated from other minimalist sneakers by the ten gold embossed numbers on the heel that denote the shoe’s size, style, and colour. Luxury minimalism at its finest.
2. They New York Circle Low
See? We told you minimalist sneakers don’t have to be boring. These two-tone kicks feature a semi-circle die-cut on the midsole, with the black-and-white colour scheme creating interest while retaining versatility. Careful attention to detail is paid, with the silhouette retaining its streamlined form despite the cutout, and the rubber sole acting as a seamless extension of the leather upper. While the They New York Circle Low can doubtless be paired with casual outfits, our platonic ideal sees them teamed with a slim-cut black suit with no break to show off the sneakers.
3. Adidas Stan Smith
Although the Common Projects Achilles Low kickstarted the minimalist sneaker trend almost two decades ago, Adidas has been quietly pioneering the pared-back sneaker since day dot. Or 1963, to be precise. The Adidas Stan Smith marked the world’s first leather tennis shoe (though since 2021, it’s also been available in recycled and vegan-friendly materials), with its cultural ubiquity so high that the man who inspired it needs to remind people that he is in fact, not a shoe. While today the style is made in a variety of neutral colourways, the original variant remains a classic, with the hint of green imbuing the streamlined style with a hint of sporty prep.
4. Ration.L R-Kind Trainer
When it comes to minimalist sneakers, a little texture can go a long way towards adding interest without compromising the sleekness of the silhouette. Crafted from vegan-friendly pebbled leather, the Ration.L R-Kind Trainer boasts a monochromatic colour scheme with tonal variation by way of a subtle contrast heel tab.
5. Pangaia Grape Sneakers
Proving minimalism needn’t be devoid of colour, the Pangaia Grape Sneakers boast a sleek, streamlined low-cut silhouette and feature subtle branding. In line with the brand’s sustainability initiatives, they’re crafted from grape leather which is made from the repurposed waste from the winemaking industry. Appearing on the lateral quarter is minute block text detailing the sneakers’ composition; despite this, they retain a minimalist aesthetic and can be paired with casual and smart-casual outfits alike. While they’re available in neutral hues of black, off-white, and sand, we’d recommend expanding your sartorial horizons by opting for something a little more off-kilter. Sakura pink and pistachio green will inject a healthy dose of colour into otherwise neutral looks.
6. Zespà ZSP4
White sneakers often risk veering into dull territory. French brand Zespà’s take on the style is minimalist without being mundane. While the upper and quarters of the Zespà ZSP4 are left deliberately sparse, contrasting colours on the tongue and heel counter add interest while allowing them to retain their easy-to-style nature.
7. Axel Arigato Atlas
Fusing Scandinavian essentialism with Japanese design philosophy, Swedish brand Axel Arigato knows how to make a good minimalist sneaker. While guides by our contemporaries will often tout the brand’s Clean 90 as the go-to minimalist style, we’d recommend bypassing that in favour of the Atlas sneaker. Like its stablemate, the Atlas sneaker boasts a sleek silhouette, however, the use of suede panels and stitched leather overlaid eyestays adds textural interest and precludes the style from being boring. The quarter and back tabs both house subtle gold logos, while the colour-matched rubber sole features subtle geometric patterns.
8. Clae Bradley
The dark gum sole of these sneakers lends them a more casual vibe. Crafted from either apple, cactus, or animal leather, the Clae Bradley Cactus sneakers are a clean, versatile style that works well as a daily driver.
9. Solari Milano Vegan Suede Sneaker G1
Toeing the line between dressy and casual, the dark chocolate brown upper of the Solari Milano Vegan Suede Sneaker G1 sets a refined tone, while the white rubber sole adds a relaxed touch. Made from bio-based materials, they’re an apt way to anchor cream linen suiting in the summer or elevate a simple outfit of jeans and a chore coat.
10. Crown Northampton Overstone Derby
Hailing from the home of shoemaking, Crown Northampton marries over a century of heritage with contemporary minimalism. Constructed from quality horween or full-grain calf leather and made using the traditional shoemaking techniques Northampton is known for, the Crown Northampton Overstone Derby is befitting of its moniker. Its unique construction methods mean it can be resoled when the time comes, while its elevated aesthetic allows the Overstone Derby to be paired with smart-casual and semi-formal outfits. There’s also the option to choose the sole colour (black, white, or gum) that best suits your style.
11. North-89 Court
Trust the Swedes to be able to make a minimalist sneaker waterproof. Ideal for rainy days when you don’t want to sacrifice the minimalist aesthetic by donning a pair of boots, the North-89 Court features a water-resistant rubberised leather upper and sits on a thick rubber sole. Monochromatic suede panels add an elevated touch to the practical style.
12. Velasca Amis
Suede is a good option for those desirous of a more casual minimalist sneaker. Relaxed without being too relaxed, the Velasca Amis riffs off 1980s tennis shoe styles. Cut low, it features a lightweight flat box sole that contributes to its streamlined silhouette, while a monochromatic overlay on the toe box adds visual interest.
13. Filling Pieces Low Top Aten
A sportier take on a minimalist sneaker, the Filling Pieces Low Top Aten — in spite of its name — boasts a slightly higher mid-top silhouette that recommends it to wear for casual and smart casual occasions. Its perforated leather side panels, gold deubrés, and stitched logo on the tongue lend it a luxurious aesthetic.
History of minimalist sneakers
While minimalist sneakers have long existed in the form of vintage tennis shoes, the trend rose to popularity in the fashion realm with the launch of the Common Projects Achilles Low, the luxury footwear brand’s debut release. Crafted from Italian leather and devoid of superfluous details, they represented a breath of fresh air amidst bulbous kicks and vibrant colourways. Straddling the bounds between a dress shoe and a sneaker, the Common Projects Achilles low begat myriad minimalist sneakers, with almost every footwear and sneaker brand releasing its own version of the style.
What makes a good minimalist sneaker?
With their clean lines and sleek silhouettes, craftsmanship is on full display when it comes to minimalist sneakers. A lack of extraneous details like chunky overlays and overt branding means minimalist sneakers need to be well constructed and executed to stand out from the surfeit of similarly low-cut pared-back styles. That said, some of the best minimalist sneaker brands have found ways to inject a sense of personality into their kicks without sacrificing the essentialist ethos — think Common Project’s signature gold lettering or Crown Northampton’s derby-inspired aesthetic.
Words by T. Angel
