NikeLab Blazer Advanced
If you like your kicks to stay fresh even in torrential conditions, you could do worse than NikeLab’s revamp of the Blazer. A world away from the OG basketball style, the Advanced mid-cut model loses the laces (because we all know they get ruined first) and suede construction in favour of a single zip to bring together wipe clean Vanchetta Tan leather uppers. Available at Hanon, priced £125.
J.Crew New Balance 998 Greenback
Want sneakers that scream MONEY! without parting with too much of the stuff? Look to J.Crew’s latest collaboration with New Balance. Inspired by cold hard cash, the re-working of the sports brand’s 998 model features a suede upper in various shades of green with white and gold accents on top of an ABZORB cushioned midsole. Because, rich people don’t get blisters. Available from 16 October at J.Crew, priced £160.
Adidas EQT Support 93/16 Boost
Adidas knows how to get Three Stripe purists hyped. One way it does this is by bringing back previously laid to rest models like the EQT, which until recently has lived behind glass cabinets at sneaker museums (they exist) since the 1990s. Returning in an original colourway, the re-engineered retro runner combines the suede and mesh upper of the EQT Running Support ’93 with modern day boost sole technology. Available at Adidas, priced £125.
John Lobb Porth
Esteemed English shoemaker John Lobb has spent close to two centuries turning out finely crafted formal shoes for everyone from Prince Charles and Frank Sinatra to Andy Warhol and Calvin Klein. An equally astute choice is the heritage firm’s line-up of off-duty kicks. The new Porth model has been made in Italy using a rare technique to produce an ultra-flexible, lightweight sneaker made from a single piece of leather. Available at John Lobb, priced £490.
Ellesse LS450
If you look at most trainer reissues from this year, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re back in 1994. And one of the key players in the tennis shoe game at the time, Ellesse, has reached even deeper into its archive to revive an iconic running shoe from the 1980s. The LS450 returns in an all-black colourway (that’s ‘murdered-out’ in today’s sneaker world), Featuring a soft handle suede and mesh upper with tone-on-tone signature branding. Available at Ellesse, priced £60.
Billionaire Reptile Print Sneakers
File these under ‘things to buy when the landlord forgets to collect rent’. With a name like Billionaire Couture (and a habbit of stitching clobber together with gold thread) it’s hardly a surprise the Italian label’s sneakers come with a hefty price tag. The tailoring firm – founded by flamboyant Formula One mogul Flavio Briatore and designer Angelo Galasso – is putting the luxe in sports luxe with panels of soft suede, mesh and textured snakeskin-embossed leather. Available at Harrods, priced £475.
Reebok Classic x Future Overbranded Instapump Fury
It may be cold outside but that doesn’t seem to be stopping Reebok dropping yet more flame emoji hot sneakers. The latest in a long line of collabs this year, the sports brand has tapped auto-tune-loving rapper Future to give a new look to the Instapump Fury. It’s hard to believe the style first made an appearance in 1994 looking at it today, fitted out with a black and white pump-powered bladder, cutout exoskeleton and split midsole. Available at Reebok, priced £125.
