The 10 Best Sneakers We Saw on the Runway During Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week, especially the men’s presentations, will always give industry insiders and fans around the world the best of the best in terms of theatrics and of course, design. This season’s most prominent luxury labels not only redefined the trends but also pushed the envelope in terms of construction and creativity, especially in the sneaker department. Houses like Balenciaga, Dior Homme, and Valentino got crafty with chunky silhouettes, vibrant colors, and pre-distressed looks. Other brands like Rick Owens, Boris Bidjan Saberi, and Y-3 imagined the future of footwear with odd shapes and functional details. Lastly, Pigalle, VLONE, and COMME des GARÇONS HOMME once again looked to Nike to help them deliver unforgettable collaborations that will have the most die-hard of sneakerheads waiting eagerly for their releases.

With Paris Fashion Week Men’s 2018 now complete, we examined all the kicks that hit the runway. From the awe-inspiring colorways right down to the most inventive features, this season’s shoe debuts will definitely be on a lot of fashion/sneaker aficionados’ radars. Check out our top 10 picks below.

1. Balenciaga

Bulky is back for Balenciaga’s 2018 spring/summer season thanks to a new iteration of the Triple S Trainers. As the distressed look becomes more and more popular, this model sports a hiking footwear-inspired design with a worn-in presentation on its midsole and outsole. The upper provides a striking contrast thanks to the hard-to-miss neon green coloring. You can actually pre-order the new Triple S Trainers now at Balenciaga.com for $795 USD.

2. Rick Owens

The footwear range in Rick Owens‘ upcoming 2018 spring/summer collection combines fashion-forward elements and ultra-rugged appearances. With shoes being such an important dimension to the dark-luxe brand, we here have some distinct designs in the form of unorthodox lacing and super chunky grip soles. You’ll definitely see these worn casually rather than in the mountains, even if they do look like they can handle any terrain.

3. VLONE x Nike Air Force 1

Harlem is back as A$AP Bari follows up the highly-coveted VLONE x Nike Air Force 1 Low with a huge selection of new colorways for its upcoming high designs. Its first model hosts black tumbled leather throughout its entire upper while yellow coloring is found on the stitching, midsole branding and VLONE insignia on the strap. Strong red is found on the lateral and medial Swooshes in addition to the silhouette’s tongue branding. These will definitely be a must-have for those awaiting Bari’s 2018 spring/summer drop.

4. COMME des GARÇONS HOMME x Nike Air Max 180

COMME des GARÇONS HOMME looks forward to another team-up with the Swoosh brand using the iconic Air Max 180 model. For its 2018 spring/summer range, some new colorways will be introduced featuring bright pink, navy, and some neutral shades. It will be interesting how CDG fans will accept the release considering that the recently dropped clear dunks and VaporMaxs were such a big hit.

5. Valentino

Valentino went the tribal-inspired route for its 2018 spring/summer sneaker lineup. The footwear capsule is all about heroism and power, and both are translated in the multicolor makeup and impressive handcrafted details — there’s fringes, beading, as well as whimsical embroidery in some of the shoes. These fun options are definitely perfect for those who want to add eccentric flair to their everyday ensembles.

6. Pigalle x Nike Air Shake Ndestrukt

Dennis Rodman’s signature Nike Shake NDestrukt model makes its way to Pigalle‘s newest 2018 spring/summer range. As two of the more refreshing designs to come out of the fashion week lot, Pigalle and Nike delivered a shoe that can easily flex between the active and casual lifestyle. Plus, with its distinct paneled front look, you have here a shoe that has both futuristic and functional characteristics.

7. Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton had a challenge to conquer by following up last season’s Supreme x LV debut on the runway. Without fail, Kim Jones delivered with tenacity his 2018 spring/summer filled with some of the best accessories and shoes to appear in Paris. There’s a pared down blue sneaker option as well as various colorways of chunky sandals bearing the LV logo in iridescent lettering. If you’re not up for the sneakers when the heat turns up, then your best bet will be any of the show-stopping sandals.

8. Boris Bidjan Saberi

Boris Bidjan Saberi always impresses when it comes to making avant-garde designs wearable as an everyday uniform. 2018 spring/summer for the brand showcased a stunning earthy color story of browns, greens, and oranges. For the sneakers, we see again distressed features pop up as well as functional details — some shoes only have a one zip closure and some also have web-like materials as panels. Chunky soles are added to ensure firm strides and exact footing.

9. Dior Homme

Dior Homme offers its own take on the bulky runner that’s become the on-trend shape of the moment. The house’s 2018 spring/summer looks to complement its sharp tailoring and modish looks with an athletic model featuring dense midsoles, large perforations, minimal branding, and striking neon accents. Look for this silhouette to become the shoe of choice when going for luxurious athleisure outfits.

10. Y-3

For 2018 spring/summer, Yohji Yamamoto continues to push the limits while incorporating addias‘ best innovations for his Y-3 line. BOOST Cushioning returns in addition to the popular midsole found within the Futurecraft 4D Runner. Black coloring continues to be the focal point as shades of grey and white serve as complements to Y-3’s ubiquitous color of choice.