10 Best White Sneakers for Men, a Minimalist Wardrobe Staple

I wrote an article a few months ago, Minimalist Wardrobe for Men, A Casual Guide, and people seem genuinely interested in having a simple, neutral wardrobe.  I decided to write this article, 10 Best White Sneakers for Men, a Minimalist Wardrobe Staple, as a follow-up to provide more sneaker options than just the one I initially suggested.

A clean, simple, versatile white sneaker for men is fundamental in a minimalist wardrobe.  It can go with anything: shorts, jeans, chinos, and it go can with any color: khaki, navy, black, gray, or white.

Aside from having a quality brown leather boot, such as the Clark’s Bushacre II, a white sneaker is all you need for footwear if the simplest wardrobe is your goal.  White sneakers do have one problem, that they are white.  This makes them notoriously difficult to keep clean.

Here are a few tips to keep the best white sneakers for men clean:

Canvas

1. Rinse white canvas shoe under lukewarm water

2. Mix 1:1 ratio of baking soda and powder laundry detergent, make into a paste with a little water

3. Use a toothbrush dipped in the baking soda/laundry detergent and work into shoe fabric

4. Let sit for awhile

5. Rinse again under lukewarm water

6. For stubborn stains, such as grease, use dish-soap and repeat steps 3-5.  For heavy duty stains, such as grass, tar or pen, use CLEAR nail polish remover with cotton balls.  Repeat step 5

7. Allow to dry

8. Coat with a light layer of talcum/baby powder and use a dry shoe shine brush to work into fabric

Leather

1. Use a damp Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on all areas of the shoe.

2. For exceptionally dirty fabric tongue areas, complete steps 1-5 under ‘Canvas’ directions.

3. After drying, consider applying a white shoe whitener

The following 10 Best White Sneakers for Men are in no particular order.  Some are leather, and some are canvas.  They come in various styles, so at least one should cater to your preferences.  I tried to keep them all moderately priced, but one in particular is a luxury white sneaker for men that seems to command the highest accolades in the industry.

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Vans Canvas Old Skool-True White ($41.54)

The Old Skool was the first Vans skate shoe to display the iconic side stripe.  With a canvas upper, metal eyelets and waffle outsole, these shoes are stylish, even if you don’t ride a skateboard.

Nike Air Force 1 ($95.40)

First introduced to the market in 1982, these white sneakers have withstood the test of time.  Initially Nike’s first performance basketball shoe utilizing its “Air” technology, these shoes quickly moved from the basketball courts to the mainstream.  Today, they can be purchased in low, mid or high, depending on your preference.

What else happened in 1982?  Michael Jackson released the Thriller album.  John Belushi passed away; Prince William was born, and a Sony Walkman went for $129.00.

Puma Roma-White/Light Gray ($44.96)

For those that don’t know, PUMA is the third largest sportswear manufacturer in the world.  PUMA was originally founded by two German brothers, Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, in 1924 under the name Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory.  In 1948, tensions rose between the brothers, and the factory split into two separate entities, forming PUMA and Adidas.

The Puma Roma originally debuted in 1968, where it was geared toward track events such as sprinting and hurdling.  It comes with a cushioned midsole for comfort, padded tongue and padded arch for support.

What else happened in 1962 (I like doing this)? The first WalMart store was opened.  Marilyn Monroe was found dead.  The Beatles released their first single “Love Me Do”, and the Cuban Missile Crisis nearly brought the world to war.  Also, tuition at Harvard was $1,520.

Adidas Stan Smith ($88)

In 1971, Stan Smith, an American tennis player was ranked number one in the world.  Adidas named their tennis shoe after Smith, and in 1973, Smith signed a formal contract with Adidas.

The classic Stan Smith design boasts a low-profile cupsole, leather build and a minimalistic trim.

What else happened in 1971? Charles Manson and three of his followers received the death penalty.  Walt Disney Resorts opened in Orlando, FL, and a gallon of gas was just 40 cents.

Vans Authentic-True White ($50.00)

The Authentic Vans original shoe is one of the most basic lace-up canvas shoes you can buy.  You can trace its roots to the founding of the company (Van Doren Rubber Company) in 1966.  Shortly after starting in Anaheim, CA, the company produced its first skate shoe, the Vans #44 Deck Shoe.  The Vans #44 Deck Shoe was later re-branded as the Vans Authentic.

The Vans Authentic has a simple canvas upper with metal eyelets and a waffle outsole.

What else happened in 1966?  Law enforcement reading the Miranda Warning became law.  Charles Whitman killed 14 and injured another 31 people from the University of Texas clock tower.  The US had roughly 500,000 troops in Vietnam and the average cost of a new car was $2650.

Nike Air Jordan 1 ($108.18)

There is a pretty interesting history regarding Michael Jordan, Nike and the Air Jordans.

Basically, Jordan didn’t want to have anything to do with Nike, and preferred wearing Converse’s Chuck Taylors on the basketball court.  He wanted to “feel” the court under his feet.  After protest from his parents and strong convincing from Nike, Jordan eventually signed.  The Jordan 1 was officially launched in 1985.

Jordan wore the black and red sneakers.  Legend has it that he was “banned” from wearing them by Commissioner Russ Granik and was fined $5000 per game, but the validity of this legend is up for debate.

Today, the Air Jordan 1 features “Air-Sole” technology for comfort and looks.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star ($40.03)

Arguably the Godfather of the canvas shoe, Chuck Taylors are some of the most iconic shoes from the past that still hold a formidable stronghold in the minimalist wardrobe.

Originally created in 1917, the shoe design has lasted over 100 years and still remains trendy today.  They were even able to defeat “The Beast” in what I consider one of the greatest movies of all time, The Sandlot.

“Chucks” are pretty simple: canvas upper, vulcanized rubber sole, all-star emblem.

You cannot go wrong with these as your minimalist wardrobe shoe of choice.

Reebok Club C 85-White/Sheer Gray ($51.22)

Everything about these screams 1980’s, which makes sense.  They were introduced in 1985.  Tennis’ strict dress code minimalistic guidelines made the Club C popular with tennis athletes and casual athletes alike.

Today, the C 85 still boasts the clean lines, simple designs, and the iconic Reebok Logo.

I can almost hear the synthesizer playing now.

Onitsuka (Asics) Tiger Mexico 66-White/White ($69.46)

Asics, a Japanese corporation, originally began as “Onitsuka Co.” in 1949.  The Mexico 66 design became wildly popular in the middle of the 20^th century following the increased variety in Olympic Sports.

Asics kept the Mexico 66 branding the same under the original Onitsuka name, while offering a couple more collections.

With full grain leather side panels, suede heal and toecap, this “Made in Japan” shoe will provide a stylish, quality design.

Common Projects Original Achilles Low-Top (Luxury $389)

These are expensive!  But, they are Italian.

The Common Projects Original Achilles Low-Top is the pinnacle of the best white sneakers for men.  Made from the highest quality leather, there is a ton of hype surrounding the quality of these shoes.  Check out this article from Highsnobiety for a full review.

Basically, combine the best of everything: rubber, leather, stitching, with a side of Italian manufacturing, and you have the best white shoe money can buy.

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Regardless of which white shoe you purchase for your minimalist wardrobe, whether on this list or not, you really can’t go wrong.  Just make sure it is something you love, enjoy, and fits comfortably.

Life is too short to walk around in things that make you feel uncomfortable.  “Buy what sings to you,” my Grandma used to say.  Stick to this, and you will be just fine.

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Did I miss some of the best white sneakers for men?  Feel free to leave a comment!

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Enjoy reading 10 Best White Sneakers for Men, a Minimalist Wardrobe Staple?

Check out some of our other popular articles: Minimalist Wardrobe for Men, A Casual Guide, 20 Best Watches Under 100 Dollars, or A Complete Guide to Men’s Hair Products.  

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Thanks for reading!

-Chris