The Tuscan Court Shoe Is Todd Snyder’s First-Ever Sneaker

The prolific New York designer is stepping up the casual sneaker game.

With every passing season, award-winning menswear designer Todd Snyder takes bigger and better steps forward. There’s an array of colorful, vibrant collections, expertly curated retail experiences and in this case, a literal step forward with the company’s first-ever pair of mainline sneakers.

Sneakerheads have already found a reliable resource in J. Crew’s former head of menswear: Over the years, Snyder has teamed up with New Balance, P.F. Flyers and Converse, among other famed footwear brands.

But the Tuscan Court Shoe exists on new footing entirely (pun intended).

The fresh kicks draw inspiration both from throwback basketball sneakers as well as the luxe craftsmanship of fine dress shoes.

“Collaborating with New Balance and Converse was a full-immersion crash course in the finer points of sneaker design, and the natural next step was to launch my own sneaker line — one that combined Italian craftsmanship with New York attitude,” Snyder said, noting that The Cage on West 4th Street, and the leafy tennis courts of Forest Hills were key points of inspiration.

Snyder “then added these luxurious Italian leathers and suedes to create a gentleman’s court sneaker.”

The designer went straight to the source to perfect the details of his first Snyder-exclusive sneaker, working with Tuscan shoemakers GEM Srl to bring together Vachetta leather and suede uppers in sporty-yet-refined fashion.

There’s also handsome brogue detailing on the upper, with functional touches like a cork footbed and an EVA cupsole, plus elegant Snyder branding on the tongue.

And style points abound across both new pairs: Biscotti Cream and Grigio Gray are rich colorways that should pair nicely with the crisp indigo and deep earth tones often found throughout Snyder’s collections.

“The decision to release my own court shoe was an easy one, especially after seeing the incredible demand for our first footwear styles and my many collaborations over the years,” Snyder said, referring (among other launches) to the spring 2022 release of his first-ever pairs of boots. “Any brand can release their own shoe, but for me, this deserves the utmost attention to quality and fit. Having our own luxe footwear helps make Todd Snyder a one-stop-shop for the modern gentleman.”

Befitting such elegant and versatile kicks, both pairs are priced at $498.

Mark your calendars in the meantime: They’ll be available at Todd Snyder stores (including the Liquor Store in New York City) and online starting September 14th.