When it comes to building a minimal wardrobe, you want shoes that work across multiple seasons and look great with a variety of colors.
The simple, minimal white sneaker is an absolute must if you’re building a stylish lean wardrobe. They look great with jeans, chinos, shorts… heck, they even look great with a suit.
Summer, spring, fall… you can wear white sneakers year-round. You can even get away with wearing them in the winter, too, if you’re in a relatively warm climate.
Below, we’ll cover what to look for, what to avoid, and our top choices for the best minimal white sneakers.
Buy Quality… The Investment Will Pay Off
When you’re building your perfect minimalist wardrobe, every item should be an investment.
Why? The goal is to have fewer, but better (meaning higher quality) clothing and accessories that fit well and work together.
That doesn’t mean that you need to spend a fortune. There are plenty of companies that make great products at a wallet-friendly cost.
But don’t think you’re doing yourself favors by picking up the cheapest pair of sneakers you can find. Yeah, they may look great for a month or two, but soon enough they’ll fall apart and you’ll be out looking for a new pair.
Best Budget Minimal White Sneakers
Our top choice for a minimalist white sneaker under $100 is the New Republic Kurt.
"Matching the aesthetics of classic Italian dress sneakers, we reimagined the interior for a comfortable step without any need to break them in."
Small details like the padded tongue, micro-suede lining, and the all-leather upper make this shoe an excellent choice. If you’re on a tight budget, you can’t beat the New Republic’s Kurt sneaker.
Best Mid-Range Minimal White Sneakers
Common Projects put the minimalist white sneaker on the style map. The only issue is that they’re over $400.
Since they’ve come out, a few companies have (nearly) matched the quality but at a fraction of the price.
Beckett Simonon Reid
Beckett Simonon isn’t reinventing the wheel with the Reid sneakers. They’re simple, sophisticated white leather sneakers in a classic silhouette made from high quality, full-grain Italian calfskin leather.
"The simple yet sophisticated design of the Reid Sneakers make them perfect to wear with everything from shorts to suits." –Beckett Simonon
BS produces products in small batches and sells direct on their site, so while you may not get your Reids at Amazon Prime-level speeds, you can rest assured you’re receiving a beautiful, quality shoe at a fraction of what you’d pay retail. (Same goes for all their other shoes, too.)
Greats Royale
The Greats Royale is a great middle-ground. I’ve owned mine for years, and at this point, they fit like a second skin… so soft and comfortable.
Whether you’re walking, working, or simply kicking it, the versatile and understated Royale Blanco is going to get you where you need to go.
Italian leather made in an Italian factory… these sneakers pack tremendous value and are recommended by just about anyone who’s ever tried them.
I put together a video illustrating the differences between a more expensive pair of minimal white sneakers like the Greats Royale, and a cheaper pair. You can check it out below.
Koio Capri
Full-grain calf leather upper, Margom rubber soles, and hand-painted edges. The Koio Capri sneakers are a bit of an investment, but they’re worth every penny.
In buttery full-grain calf leather, the Capri Triple White from Koio is the ultimate wardrobe cornerstone.
The leather is so buttery smooth and develops a beautiful crease pattern over time. These look fantastic straight out of the box and five years down the road.
Oliver Cabell Low 1
I want to love the Low 1 from Oliver Cabell. (I have this pair in Slate.) They look incredibly sharp, and compared to the Koio Capri (an EG favorite), they’re slightly more affordable.
The Low 1 from Oliver Cabell features 3 oz full grain calfskin leather and Margom outsoles, completely stitched and lasted in Marche, Italy.
My one gripe is that they’re a bit too narrow in the toe box. I haven’t experienced the same tightness or discomfort in any of the other minimal white sneakers I’ve tried on this list (I own them all except the Common Projects Achilles Low).
Still, everyone I’ve heard from loves their pair of Oliver Cabell Low 1s. The reviews are also glowing, so it’s possible I’m the only one who finds them too tight 🤷
From a quality perspective, they’re awesome, and at that price point, they can’t be beat.
M.Gemi Lucente
This is a relative newcomer to my stable of minimalist white leather sneakers, but I’d consider them a sleeper.
Streamlined and sleek, with a supple leather upper and rubber sole that’s been stitched by hand, just like your best dress shoes.
I feel like M.Gemi’s Lucente sneaker is rarely discussed when talking about minimal white sneakers, but they’re awesome.
Super buttery leather, so comfortable right out the box (no break-in period) and they look equally as sleek as the Koio Capris.
If you want a minimal white sneaker, but are looking for something that isn’t so common, go with the Lucente.
Best Investment-Worthy Minimal White Sneaker
Common Projects Achilles Low
Can’t help yourself? Want the original?
You can find CP quality in other brands like Koio, but you can’t find that Common Projects swagger anywhere else.
A streamlined, classic sneaker that doesn't shout, this Italian-leather walkabout features monochromatic coloring that keeps it as low-key as it is luxe.
Looking to build a minimalist wardrobe?
If you want to build a lean, versatile wardrobe that makes it easy to put together great outfits every day, check out our Minimalist Wardrobe Guide.
What’s changed?
| 07/07/2022 | Updated links, added Beckett Simonon Reid |
| 01/23/2020 | Original publish date |