20 Luxury Sneakers That Are Worth the Money

Common Projects is patient zero for the current minimal-luxury-sneakers craze. The Achilles has become a holy grail for recovering Jordan fiends as much as it has for aspiring fashion nerds. Its cross-cultural appeal predated the muddled "mix everything together" world of modern menswear, and it looks good with just about everything. Among a sea of competitors, it's a shoe that has achieved that covetable "timeless" status.

Maison Margiela's designer footwear legacy has remained relatively untouched. Its most prominent product is an upscale reinterpretation of a standard-issue German army trainer sneaker, done up in white leather with suede accents and a gum sole.

Koio makes a completely minimalist sneaker, and it does it well. The shoes are made in Italy, and the company was founded by Germans who are based in New York City. You're really getting the best perspectives (and access) possible.

If ever there was someone to design a runner that's luxurious as all hell, it's Tom Ford. Tom Ford, the brand, is absolutely steeped in luxury. Makes sense; Tom Ford, the man, is also absolutely steeped in luxury. And it could go without saying, but just in case: His sneakers are, too. These are slightly chunky, done up on rubber soles with a mesh and suede upper, and finished with a now-signature Ford design detail: a zig-zag-edged side stripe that's something of a calling card for in-the-know sneaker fans.

Mid- and high-top sneakers always feel a bit sportier than low-tops, but that doesn't inherently make them any less luxe. Saint Laurent has a particular penchant for taking a sporty design up a notch, like it did with these mid-tops. The construction and materials (all calfskin leather) are a level up from any other mid-top you've worn before.

With these low-top sneakers, Lanvin has done what many brands try and fail to do: make a sneaker that is undoubtedly designer without doing too much. Rather than a logo or distracting pattern, Lanvin opts for slightly distorted sizing to make its all-white sneaker stand out. The low-top design is contrasted with a puffy leather upper and the brand's signature oversized laces. They're easily wearable and the kind of sneakers you have to know to know.

You'd be remiss to overlook Dolce & Gabbana's chunky dad sneaker in your search for luxury kicks. Not only are the tailoring and fabrics (a nylon, suede, and leather mix) up to a T, but Dolce & Gabbana also encapsulates all the modern, urban aesthetics on a luxury scale. The chunky heel provides a soft landing while you're walking, making them the perfect sneaker for spending a lot of time on your feet but in a fancy way.

The king of soft suiting and cozy cashmere brings that same appreciation for the finer things in life to sneakers, too. They're made in Italy (naturally), light as air, and have a suede and leather exterior to keep your feet as happy as you are when you're wearing Cucinelli.

At this point, the Ace seems destined for a rarefied position in the roster of modern luxury sneakers that have fully broken through the seasonal churn. And they remain in the lineup from year to year because they're just that good—low-slung but not unsubstantial, tastefully adorned, and easy to wear with anything.

Rick Owens does edgy luxury in a "let's turn some heads" way. While you may not be up to walking around in his six-inch platform boots, these high-top leather sneakers might be an interesting addition to your closet. The shape is a blend of a sneaker and a boot, and that oversized rubberized toe is signature Rick. This pearly off-white color is one of the easiest to wear.

Thanks to outrageous silhouettes, price tags, and hype, the Balenciaga sneaker is in a world of its own. The runner is a Balenciaga staple, and this one leans into the total irreverence with a small smattering of colors: pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue. This does the whole comfortable dad-shoe sneaker on a level yet unmatched.

Thick, bold soles are the name of the game for Alexander McQueen–style sneakers. Even though that construction is popular right now, a true McQueen silhouette is unmistakable. The mostly white sneaker is easy to wear, and the hit of olive green at the back makes them just different enough than all your other white sneakers.

Moncler's Lite Runners bring a sense of craft and provenance to a classic runner shape. By and large, the sneakers feel like more hands-on, high-end reinterpretations of things you've seen before. In other words: familiar, but not quite.

Prada's sneakers are split between an impulse toward total minimalism (think low-profile tonal white plimsolls) and the highly technical, from construction right down to the look of the things. But either one you go for looks truly purposeful, which makes them an interesting shoe to incorporate regardless of what floats your boat aesthetically.

Husband and wife Francesca and Alessandro Gallo founded this sneaker brand on a common passion for sneakers and art. Its flagship products are Italian-made sneakers with the breaking-in done for you. Why not splurge on designer kicks that already feel like your favorite pair? At least if you scuff them further, they won't look any worse for wear.

If anyone can make an all-white leather sneaker look like the coolest, sleekest thing on the market, surely its Hedi Slimane. If you have the money to burn, these are virtually impossible to compete with. They're a wearable construction and color but done in some of the finest leather you'll ever put on.

You know those cozy AF Loro Piana cashmeres that you wish you could wrap your whole body in? Well, you can at least wrap your feet in them. The luxury label has a pair of leather-trimmed knit sneakers that feel oh so soft.

The Giv 1, with its (not too) chunky silhouette and, in this particular take, a shiny croc-embossed upper, is a must-have for casual footwear enthusiasts and sneakerheads alike.

Made out of a natural, vegetable-tanned leather that will get darker over time, this is an investment shoe if we've ever seen one.

The brand may be best known for its supple Gommino driving loafers, but Tod's isn't a one-trick pony. Aside from (very good) apparel, the Italian label also does chunky boots, sturdy lace-ups, and sneakers that run the gamut from minimal to maximal as all hell. Take your pick, of course, but right now, the tonal, gum-sole, outdoorsy vibes are tough to beat.