You’re a sensible man. You already know full well how to wear sneakers, thank you very much: you lace them up (or, in some cases, slip them on). Indeed, the reason sneakers are so popular is precisely because they are so easy to wear. And yet, here we are offering you a lesson in styling your wardrobe’s most fundamental item of footwear. What gives?

The thing is, as the sneaker market has expanded beyond your basic tennis shoe, so too have its possible accompaniments. Which brings us to Exhibit A, the new sneaker from our very own line, Mr P. Being a running-inspired silhouette – albeit in suede – you might be tempted to reserve it for strictly casual outings, but it’s much more versatile than you’d expect. Here’s the proof, illustrated by three very different ways to wear it.

Don’t let that soft suede facade fool you; these running sneakers from Mr P. are made of sturdier stuff. Fitted with hand-crafted St Moritz rubber soles – tough, high-performance alternative to the lugged commando sole – they’ll last longer than most. No, we don’t recommend you go gallavanting around some muddy countryside trail in them (especially if you opt for this buff-toned neutral pair) but they’re still more than capable of withstanding a weekend’s worth of wanderings around town. Equip yourself, too, with a military-inspired utility jacket (more pockets equals more practical, it’s just the rules), a go-with-everything Breton tee and a failsafe pair of jeans and you’ll be ready to take on whatever Sunday throws at you.

With a colour-blocked design inspired by the running shoes of the early 1980s, these Mr P. kicks very much belong to the retro school of sneakers. And there’s no reason the rest of your outfit shouldn’t follow suit: don’t, however, feel the need to restrict yourself to a single decade. A mid-century-inspired cropped chino will show your chosen sneakers off to full effect, while a print that looks like it might have once graced your gran’s drapes in the 1970s (don’t worry: that’s a good thing) up top is just the thing for a warm summer’s day. Whether or not you are currently able to cook and eat food outside with friends or acquaintances right now, will very much depend on where you are in the world, but if you’re lucky enough to be able to enjoy a government-sanctioned barbecue, this is the kind of look you should be aiming for.

At MR PORTER, we really know our suede. We’ll concede, it’s a rather particular thing to get fixated on, but when you consider that most suede sneakers on the market use the cheapest hides available, our fixation starts to make sense. Instead of opting for the flimsiest leather, then, we sourced premium uppers from Italy – it’s the same top-notch quality you’d find on dress shoes. If you’re trying to make a good impression, match texture for texture and double up with this terracotta trucker jacket. It’s a classic style in an unusual colour, and thus a happy compromise between blending in and standing out, which is precisely the sort of thing you’re going for when you’re on a date. Try not to let you clothes do all the talking.