- Leather sneakers can up your style game whether paired with a suit or dressed down with a sweater and jeans.
- We chose the Greats Royale Sneaker as the best overall for quality, style, and a great price for handcrafted sneakers made in Italy.
- If you’re looking for women’s styles, check out our guide to the best leather sneakers for women. The Greats Royale Sneakers take the top spot there as well.
Today’s office dress codes have led to the slow demise of dressing formally. Many employees are no longer required to wear ties, while athleisure wear has blurred the line between your workout and your workday. Casual work attire has also ushered in the popularity of leather sneakers – footwear with the poise and refinement of a dress shoe and the comfort of a running shoe. This list is focused on the kind of sneakers that are versatile enough to get you from the office to a dinner date or even a semi-formal event without hurting your feet or compromising your sense of style.
How to style leather sneakers
Generally speaking, the name of the game when it comes to dressing up sneakers is minimalism. Sleek monochrome sneakers won’t call unwanted attention to themselves and will instead add to the overall effect of your outfit. Whether they’re white, black, gray, or even a bright primary color, the cleaner the shoe’s design, the easier it will be to pull them off in a dressier situation. And yes, you can wear white sneakers in winter. Pair them with brighter colored denim or chinos and a thick neutral-toned wool sweater for a clean, refined winter look.
The suit-and-sneakers combo has by now become commonplace but even so, it takes a little finesse to pull it off. If you’re planning on achieving this look, a modern, tailored, slimmer-cut suit works best. Go with pants with no break (the break is where the material creases just above the bottom of the pant leg opening) or a slight break that just brushes the top of the sneaker.
We chose the Greats Royale Sneaker as our top pick because of its classic good looks, high-quality, solid construction, and reasonable price point for handcrafted shoes made in Italy. They’re $179, which may seem pricey until you learn these sneakers are made in the same factories in the seaside town of Civitanova Marche that luxury brands use for their sneakers that sell for double or triple the price.
Here are the best leather sneakers for men:
- Best overall: Greats Royale
- Best on a budget: Adidas Superstar
- Best for dressing up: M.Gemi Lucente
- Best for traveling: Kizik New York
- Best hybrid leather sneakers: Cole Haan Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford
Prices and links are current as of 2/3/2020.
The best overall
Beautiful handcrafted Italian-made sneakers at a reasonable price, The Royale from Greats is our overall favorite.
Greats is a Brooklyn-based direct-to-consumer brand launched in 2014 with the aim of disrupting the luxury sneaker market, a goal they're managing to achieve. The Royale, its best-selling style, is handcrafted in Italy's Le Marche region, which is famous for its shoemaking tradition. The sneakers are made from full-grain Italian leather with a molded footbed and waxed cotton laces.
The Royale is the most accessibly-priced luxury sneaker from Italy in the world, according to Greats CEO Ryan Babenzien. "We have been able to democratize luxury so a broader audience can buy a sneaker of this quality made in Italy that was previously unattainable," Babenzien told Business Insider in an email.
The sneakers have a minimalist aesthetic and come in seven color combinations. The all-white version - the Blanco - and the one in black - the Nero - are the company's biggest sellers. They also make a stunning chocolate-brown version and also regularly drop limited editions.
The Royale not only looks great but are exceedingly comfortable straight from the box. The entire upper, inside, and tongue are made of a soft buttery full-grain leather. The footbed and outsole provide good support while still being comfortable and responsive. They have a generously padded heel and tongue for added comfort. Some of the on-site reviews said these sneakers ran slightly large, by a half-size, but I found mine fit true to size.
The company is also attempting to tackle sustainability issues. The Royale is made with 25% reclaimed rubber in the soles; the insoles also use reclaimed materials. Greats also has a knit version of the Royale made from a combination of 100% recycled single-use plastic and ocean plastic.
The biggest news may be that next year the company is introducing a Royale made from 100% recycled leather using an innovative Japanese process, according to Babenzien. Greats doesn't use any plastic packaging and their shoe boxes are made from recycled cardboard. There's also the sustainability aspect of creating a high-quality and timeless sneaker that isn't going to get thrown out like a cheaply made pair of fast-fashion shoes. Greats also only works with factories that treat their employees fairly and ethically, according to Babenzien.
"The goal is to continue to make the best footwear we can while limiting our impact on the earth as much as we can," he said.
Pros: High quality, handsome sneakers made by an ethical, sustainably-minded company
Cons: A high price but worth it for all the reasons listed above
Read our full review of Greats sneakers here.
The best on a budget
The affordable Adidas Superstar is a classic that never goes out of style.
For 50 years the Adidas Superstar has lived up to its name. They've been worn by legendary basketball stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had a hip-hop song dedicated to them, and have graced the feet of countless style icons of the music, fashion, and art worlds.
While they've again become super popular over the last few years, many people are rocking the white version with contrasting stripes (black and red being the two most popular) or the black with white stripes. We recommend the white on white or black on black. These two colorways are a bit more subdued, which is what you want if you're looking for versatility in your sneakers. The Superstar will get you from a casual office setting straight to the club.
The Superstar features a full-grain leather upper - a much higher quality leather than many other similarly priced sneakers - and has a distinctive rubber shell toe. Buyers love the sneakers for their comfort, versatility, and durability. The biggest complaints we've read seem to be about sizing, with recommendations for getting a half-size smaller than you'd regularly wear. Some customers also complained about the initial stiffness of the leather before the sneakers have been broken in.
Adidas is also getting high marks for sustainability, including how the company treats its employees, and its pledge to only use recycled plastics in all its shoes and clothing by 2024.
Pros: A classic sneaker at a fair price from a company that's taking sustainability seriously
Cons: Some customers said the sneakers run large and that the leather is too stiff before being broken in
The best for dressing up
The Lucente from M.Gemi is a pair of super minimalist sneakers that look amazing with a suit and could easily sell for several times the price.
M.Gemi is another direct-to-consumer footwear brand that's disrupting the luxury market. The company was launched in 2015 with the idea of creating "postluxury" shoes. It has kept the quality and artistry of the luxury market without the price tag and limited access, according to the company.
The Lucente has a leaner silhouette, tonal stitching, and less ornamentation than the other sneakers on the list, making it perfect for pairing with a suit or for just elevating a super-casual weekend look, like joggers, a T-shirt or henley, and a black bomber jacket.
While M.Gemi makes a stunning version in white, I love the Lucente in a monochrome light gray for its subtlety and ability to easily pair with whatever color combinations and level of formality my outfit of the day happens to be.
The Lucente is crafted by hand in Italy in small family-owned workshops. The upper is made from calf leather with the same type of leather in a light tan lining the inside. The upper is hand-stitched (rather than glued) to a matte rubber tonal sole made by Margom, a highly respected Italian company known for its product quality and performance.
These sneakers are exceptional with their soft leather, beautiful design, and great attention to detail. Plus, they're really comfortable right out of the box; I didn't find any need for a break-in period. While they are expensive, compared with other high-end brands they're a great deal for what you get.
They only come in European whole sizes; the website has a sizing chart to help you figure out your size. For half-sizes, the company recommends getting the next full-size down. I typically wear a 9.5 US and got the Lucente in size 42, which fit perfectly. A few customers reported that the sneakers were on the narrow side. M.Gemi offers complimentary shipping and returns in case you have any sizing issues.
Pros: A superbly made minimalist Italian sneaker perfect for dressing up
Cons: Costly, but well worth the price, only come in full European sizes, some customers found them to be rather narrow
The best for traveling
The Kizik New York sneakers are comfortable, easy to get on and off, and versatile, making them perfect for traveling.
Going through airport security sucks and honestly, so does the process of taking on an off sneakers. Kizik has solved this problem: Its shoes are designed to get in and out of, hands-free, thanks in part to a titanium wire in the heel that compresses when you slide your foot in and bounces back into place afterward. They've become the only shoes I bother to take when traveling by plane. I've also found myself wearing them regularly because of the ease of getting into them and how comfortable they are.
Kizik's New York Sneaker is made from full-grain Italian leather like the other high-end sneakers on the list but also has a patented technology called F.A.S.T., or Foot Activated Shoe Technology. Besides the aforementioned titanium wire, the sneaker opens up when you slide your foot in, then instantly readjusts for a secure fit. You can also customize the fit using Velcro strips located on either side of the tongue to create a high or low arch and adjust the width and position of the tongue. The easy-on technology also makes these a great adaptive sneaker for people who lack dexterity or have other disabilities that make it difficult to tie laces or put on shoes.
They're versatile enough to wear with a suit or jeans and a T-shirt. They come in five colorways, from chocolate brown with a white outsole to a black-on-black version. These sneakers are also available in wide "EE" sizes.
The New York has a unique look with perforations at the heel and three straps across the front mimicking laces, so it has more of a sneaker vibe rather than that of a slip-on. They're a bit on the chunky side.
I'm really hard on footwear and as I mentioned, I've been giving my New York sneakers a lot of use. Because of this, I've had to keep up with cleaning and shining them to make sure they look their best. So yes, you can be lazy when slipping them on but if you're tough on shoes like I am, you can't be lazy with maintaining them. They cost less than many of the sneakers on our list and are worth the price for the high-quality materials and built-in tech.
Pros: Easy to get on and off, high-quality materials, adjustable
Cons: Some may not love the chunkier look, require a modicum of TLC to stay looking their best
The best hybrid leather sneakers
The Cole Haan Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford is the perfect combination of dress shoes and sneakers, and they're unbelievably light for comfortable all-day wear.
If you happen to work for a company that hasn't gotten the memo on the relaxing of dress codes or if you have an event that requires a bit more formality where sneakers are a no-go, the Cole Haan Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford is a perfect choice. It's a hybrid dress shoe-sneaker. The Zerøgrand line is Cole Haan's bestseller, selling millions since they launched in 2014.
While many of the sneakers on the list have a minimalist feel, the Zerøgrand Wingtip Oxford is the opposite with striking broguing and a dramatic rubber outsole. These shoes are a mashup of a classic dress shoe and modern sneaker technology. They're office-appropriate and still comfortable for all-day wear.
The first thing I noticed when I unboxed them was how incredibly light they were - lighter than any of the more traditional sneakers on this list. These Zerøgrands are the most comfortable oxfords I've ever worn. They have a responsive EVA foam midsole (like a running shoe would have) and great flexibility due in part to the outsole's deep grooves. They also have a natural storm welt to keep out moisture.
The Wingtip Oxford comes in six colorways. They're available in wide widths, and I found they fit true to size.
Pros: Incredibly light and comfortable, dressy enough for stricter office dress codes and more formal occasions, available in wider widths
Cons: Some customers say they run too narrow
There are a ton of great leather sneakers around. Here are two that almost made the cut.
- ECCO Soft 7 Lace-Up Sneaker: ECCO is a Danish shoe company known for stylish and super comfortable shoes. The ECCO Soft 7 Lace-Up Sneaker is sophisticated, comfortable, and comes in a range of colorways. The upper is made from full-grain leather and is partially lined in leather. Here's why they didn't quite make it: Some customers felt these sneakers didn't provide the same level of foot support as the company's other shoe styles. They retail at a price point that's close to the superior Giants Royale. Finally, the ECCO label is in a prominent area of the shoe in a different color making it very visible, which makes it less dressy, and therefore less versatile than the choices that made the list.
- Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Ox: The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Ox is another classic. The original is made of canvas but Converse upped the game with a leather version. The Chuck Taylors have a clean, stripped-down look, and a lower profile than the Adidas Superstars. Like the Superstars, we recommend the monochrome white or black if you're planning on dressing these up. They almost made the cut for the budget selection but the Adidas Superstar, although costing slightly more, still wins on quality and style.
Check out our other men's shoe guides
The best fall boots for men
Each year, the dizzying lineup of fall boots grows ever larger, making the decision of decking out your feet just that much more difficult. These are our top picks for the best men's fall boots.
The best men's leather dress boots under $500
Dress boots may be the most versatile footwear out there. They look as good with an old pair of jeans as they do with a suit and give off a slightly rugged, masculine vibe without being in your face about it. These are the best men's leather dress boots you can buy for less than $500.
The best men's stylish sneakers
The primary purpose of shoes is to protect your feet. Aside from that, most people would say that footwear's greatest use is for expressing your personal style - and sneakers, in my opinion, are the best type of shoes with which to do that. These are the best stylish sneakers for men.
The best men's dress shoes
Men's style is all about timeless design as opposed to trendy seasonal fashions. This encompasses not just styling, but also considerations like materials, construction, and pedigree. Dress shoes are one of the most important parts of a men's outfit and are worthy of some thought before you run out and buy the cheapest ones you can find. These are our top picks for the best dress shoes for men.