Just for Kicks

The humble canvas sneaker is as easygoing as it is essential

- JONATHAN EVANS

Sneakers ($100) by Sperry x Beams Plus; cardigan sweater ($475) and shirt ($395) by Vowels; earring ($119) by Missoma.

THERE WAS A MOMENT, NOT long ago, when sneaker consumption hit a fever pitch. People lined up for hyped releases, traded elbows with fellow enthusiasts for a shot at a limited edition, joined digital queues with tens of thousands of others. It was fun! Until it wasn't.

Exhausted by chasing the next new thing-not to mention demoralized by walking away empty-handed-we shifted our gaze to classic loafers and lace-ups. Those aren't going anywhere. But it's summertime. Which means relaxing in a pair of worry-free knock-around shoes. Which means sneakers.

But now, instead of grasping for ultra-rare grails, the smart move is to reach for the ones that started it all. We're talking about the simple, canvas-and-rubber lace-ups that appeared more than a century ago and persist to this day.