Congratulations! All those years being single and you’ve finally got a date on Valentine’s Day. You’ve got all the latest box logo tees and a fly footwear rotation to match. In the midst of walking on clouds, you’re probably even thinking you’re gonna break out those Bred 1s from Jordan’s rookie season.
Coincidentally, she’s thinking, “Why would he make that rookie mistake?”
Unlike a majority of guys, girls aren’t too crazy about us wearing hyped sneakers on a Valentine’s Day date or any other date for that matter. Women want to see that we’re capable of putting in “effort” and are capable of dressing more “sophisticated” as opposed to running the block on the streetwear front. This day is about her, right?
With that said, here’s an easy guide of five styles that are infused with sneaker DNA but also check your “effort” and “sophisticated” boxes while also giving you some inspiration for what you can wear them with.
Common Projects BBall Low
The latest style to take center stage from the Common Projects camp is the BBall Low. Taking inspiration from the basketball court rather than the tennis court, this silhouette is equipped with the same luxurious leathers as the former, but with a low-top basketball shoe design. This iteration features a tonal overlay with subtle styling that makes it easy to pair with anything from jeans and leather jacket to a full three-piece suit if you’re really trying to shoot for the stars. That being said, we’d recommend somewhere right in the middle and pair these trainers with a dark jeans, a neutral toned sweater, and a covert bomber jacket for a look that’s both MR.PORTER and girlfriend approved.
No. One Alpha
Finally, a shoe that will elevate your style beyond any of her past boyfriends. It’s a safe bet that she’ll be bragging about how she went on a date with Mr. GQ (that’s you) the morning after to just about everyone – even if they didn’t ask. The No. One Alpha is embedded with sneaker inspiration, but is dressed up with desert boot styling to give your look a more rugged appeal. Saving the best part for last, No. One’s emphasis on personalization gives you the option to personalize everything, including: the colors, materials, and even utilizing a custom last to hand-make the shoe to meet your exact specifications.
Gucci Major Tiger Appliquéd Sneakers
The Major Tiger Appliquéd Sneakers ensure that your Valentine’s Day date is going to be nothing short of Gucci – literally. Its premium high-top construction is assembled using full-grain leathers on the upper with a tonal midsole, while the roaring tiger motif on the side-panels show that you’re also the handsome devil that knows how to keep things fun and lighthearted. In terms of styling, this shoe will look great if you decide to pair it with a leather jacket and black skinny jeans, but your probably wouldn’t frown if you wore it with other Gucci staples like the ones shown below since you most likely have the dough to support her through the rest of this lifetime and the next one.
adidas by Raf Simons Stan Smith
The ball is back in your court with the adidas by Raf Simons Stan Smith. Instead of her complaining to her friends about how she didn’t like what you wore, she’ll be telling them how you were serving up aces left and right during your date from what you wore to that charming personality that won over her interest in the first place.
These Stan Smith’s are an upgrade from the classic tennis shoe, featuring the Raf Simons execution on color and quality. Constructed with an elegant leather upper, this silhouette is sophisticated enough to go with tailored essentials, like a cropped pair of trousers and tonal bomber jacket. The black on black combination works every time.
visvim Foley Folk
The cult Japanese label visvim is delivers a surefire way to make your Valentine’s Day wardrobe a breeze in both your eyes and hers. The versatility of the Foley Folk silhouette makes it incredibly simple to put together an assortment of sophisticated outfits and the fact that this one is all-white makes it eve easier. Not only will this specific product stand the test of time, but it’s also an investment piece that will age to perfection with every wear. Beyond dating, these will also pair with everything from sweats to tailored trousers. And if you’re still early on in your relationship and are looking to just keeping things simple, try incorporating some patterns into your wardrobe like a striped tee and Native American print overshirt to match the versatility low-profile sneaker.
