At first glance, you may mistake these pearly sneaks for a humble tennis shoe. But a second look confirms a hunch – these are very special and quite unusual. The rounded, exaggerated heel gives these shoes an almost otherworldly feel. Buy for the man who doesn’t mind getting appreciative double takes.

Here’s something a little spooky for men who like their fashion with a side helping of a wink and a nudge. These AMIRI skate shoes have contrasting black suede appliqués to mimic the bones in your feet. Clever, cool and perfect for streetwear enthusiasts.

Thanks to a pillowy, slightly-platformed sole and a pony-hair upper, these brown sneakers from Mr Rick Owens are fashionably unusual. We like that they adhere to a classic shape and silhouette while simultaneously subverting the style – making them delightfully versatile.

Moving slightly away from its usual cult styles, Balenciaga’s Runner sneaker hews a bit more closely to the form that inspired it. But fear not, the design is still exaggerated and unusual, a shoe that has very clearly come from the geniuses at the French house. This is an indulgent gift for a trend hound.

Can we call these sneakers dressy? They make the case, crafted as they are from soft black leather and adorned with the classic Gucci monogram. What’s fun about this logo’d item is that it enjoys the luxury herald without being too shouty about it, allowing the wearer to be low-key or stealth while strutting their stuff.