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Parisian Gentleman x Caulaincourt: Sartorial Sneakers

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Two men in stylish jackets stand next to a display of sartorial sneakers in dark colors, including burgundy and navy.Two men in stylish jackets stand next to a display of sartorial sneakers in dark colors, including burgundy and navy.

Hugo Jacomet of Parisian Gentleman and Sartorial Talks — and a good and dear friend of mine — has teamed up with Parisian shoe brand Caulaincourt to create an exclusive collection of what they are calling “Sartorial Sneakers.”

The collaboration consists of several of Caulaincourt’s sneaker models presented in exclusive patinas, materials, and color combinations created specifically for the project. And, in typical Caulaincourt fashion, there are some pretty unique designs in the mix.

But before getting into the shoes themselves, I have to explain what initially grabbed my attention about this collaboration.

Hugo Jacomet… in Jeans and Sneakers?

I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw a picture of Hugo wearing jeans and sneakers.

I thought, What is going on here?

Those who have followed Hugo for years will know why I found this amusing. He has become so synonymous with classic menswear, bespoke tailoring, and elegant dress that you could almost imagine him waking up on Sunday morning in a three-piece suit.

But, of course, that is not reality.

It actually reminded me of something that happened many years ago when Hugo was visiting New York. Whenever he came to town, I would usually meet him and we would grab dinner.

One evening, Hugo showed up wearing jeans, sneakers, and a zip sweater. We took a photo together and he jokingly told me:

“Justin, crop out the pants. Nobody can see that I’m wearing jeans.”

I started laughing.

A person with long white hair wearing a pinstriped blazer holds a pair of dark blue sartorial sneakers while selecting a brown suit from a clothing rack.A person with long white hair wearing a pinstriped blazer holds a pair of dark blue sartorial sneakers while selecting a brown suit from a clothing rack.
A man in a tailored suit and white shirt raises one leg to showcase a black sartorial sneaker.A man in a tailored suit and white shirt raises one leg to showcase a black sartorial sneaker.

It was funny because it highlighted these personas that we unintentionally build online. When someone becomes known for dressing exceptionally well, people can start believing that person exists permanently in that state.

But we are humans after all.

You aren’t walking the dog or going to the grocery store in a three-piece bespoke suit. At least, I hope not. Sometimes you want to put on some jeans, a T-shirt, and even a pair of Reebok Classics.

So seeing Hugo publicly embracing sneakers immediately caught my attention.

A man with long gray hair and glasses stands beside a wooden cabinet, wearing a houndstooth blazer, white shirt, dark pants, and black sneakers.A man with long gray hair and glasses stands beside a wooden cabinet, wearing a houndstooth blazer, white shirt, dark pants, and black sneakers.
A man with long gray hair wears a striped red and white shirt, brown trousers, and dark sneakers while walking down a staircase.A man with long gray hair wears a striped red and white shirt, brown trousers, and dark sneakers while walking down a staircase.
A pair of black leather sneakers with white soles and black rubber treads.A pair of black leather sneakers with white soles and black rubber treads.

Parisian Gentleman x Caulaincourt

Upon closer inspection, I realized that Hugo was wearing a sneaker from an upcoming collaboration between Parisian Gentleman and Caulaincourt.

I reached out to Alexis at Caulaincourt to learn more, and he explained the project to me.

The idea is essentially to apply the sensibilities of classic shoemaking to the sneaker: interesting leathers, patinas, thoughtful proportions, unusual designs, and better construction, while maintaining the comfort and casual nature that makes us want to wear sneakers in the first place.

Caulaincourt describes the idea as creating a dress shoe disguised as a sneaker, which is actually a pretty good way of putting it.

A pair of brown leather sneakers with white soles and brown laces.A pair of brown leather sneakers with white soles and brown laces.
A pair of brown suede sneakers with brown laces and black rubber soles.A pair of brown suede sneakers with brown laces and black rubber soles.

Unlike the average mass-produced sneaker, these are also designed with longevity in mind. Caulaincourt offers a resoling service for its sneakers, something you don’t often see in this category.

The collection comprises six model families: Rio, Storm, Bandi, Tokyo, Aventador, and Shadow, with exclusive versions developed specifically for the Parisian Gentleman collaboration.

Depending on the model, that means new patinas, different leathers and suedes, or combinations that Caulaincourt has not previously offered.

And there are some pretty cool ones.

A man with long gray hair and glasses sits on stairs, wearing a beige coat and brown sartorial sneakers.A man with long gray hair and glasses sits on stairs, wearing a beige coat and brown sartorial sneakers.
A close-up of brown leather sartorial sneakers worn with dark denim trousers.A close-up of brown leather sartorial sneakers worn with dark denim trousers.

The sneaker Hugo was wearing was what initially drew me in.

It is the Tokyo, and certain versions have this low-top interpretation of an Alpine-style shoe that naturally caught my attention, being the staunch Alpine-shoe advocate that I am.

I love that style.

It manages to take details that we associate with traditional footwear and translate them into something considerably more casual without simply becoming another generic leather sneaker.

And that is really what I appreciate most about this collection.

There are plenty of classic Derby-style sneakers on the market already. There is nothing wrong with them, and Caulaincourt has those here as well. But I like seeing brands experiment beyond that formula.

Gray suede slip-on sneakers with white soles.Gray suede slip-on sneakers with white soles.

Some Very French Sneakers

Another standout for me is the Shadow in gray suede. It is essentially a laceless wholecut sneaker, and it is super cool.

Will everyone love seeing a wholecut-style upper sitting on a white sneaker sole? Probably not. But that is precisely why I like it.

It is different. It is unique. And it feels very French.

There are also models that play with boot-like uppers, Oxford and Derby influences, unusual closures, Jodhpur-style straps, mixed leather and suede combinations, and, naturally, Caulaincourt’s signature patinas.

Patina has long been closely associated with the Parisian shoe scene, so incorporating it into sneakers feels quite appropriate for a collaboration like this.

The collection also includes several high-tops, which I am particularly happy to see.

Brown leather sartorial sneakers with white soles and a sleek design.Brown leather sartorial sneakers with white soles and a sleek design.
Gray suede slip-on sneakers with white soles.Gray suede slip-on sneakers with white soles.
A pair of gray leather high-top sneakers with a white sole displayed on a stone surface.A pair of gray leather high-top sneakers with a white sole displayed on a stone surface.

High-Top Sneakers Deserve More Love

High-tops are highly underrated.

People seem strangely afraid of them.

I designed my own high-top sneaker years ago and was disappointed by its sales, so eventually I discontinued it. I still intend to bring it back someday because, to me, a high-top is simply the boot version of a sneaker.

And being someone who loves boots, naturally I love a good high-top.

So I appreciate seeing Caulaincourt experiment with those silhouettes rather than playing it safe with six variations of essentially the same low-top sneaker.

That willingness to create something unusual is what makes this collaboration interesting to me.

Navy suede high-top sneakers with gray laces and a white sole.Navy suede high-top sneakers with gray laces and a white sole.
Brown leather high-top sneakers with a white sole and decorative side buttons.Brown leather high-top sneakers with a white sole and decorative side buttons.
A black leather sneaker with silver eyelets and a white sole, featuring a navy blue interior.A black leather sneaker with silver eyelets and a white sole, featuring a navy blue interior.

The Preorder Structure

There is also an interesting pricing concept behind the launch.

Rather than producing a large quantity of stock in advance, the Parisian Gentleman x Caulaincourt collection is being offered on a made-to-order preorder basis.

The earlier you participate, the larger the discount:

  • Tier 1: 35% off for the first 50 orders — sadly, these went to Hugo’s followers first and sold out
  • Tier 2: 20% off from orders 51 through 250 — there are still some of these left so hurry on that (but not many)
  • Tier 3: 10% off from order 251 onward

To get the discount you need to add the code: PGsneakersbottiers2026

Orders placed before midnight Paris time on October 15 are guaranteed by Caulaincourt for delivery before December 25th. The preorder will remain available for several additional days after October 15th, although those later orders are scheduled for delivery in January 2027.

I actually like the philosophy behind this system.

It isn’t simply discounting for the sake of discounting. By knowing what has already been ordered, Caulaincourt can manufacture closer to actual demand, reducing excess inventory and some of the costs and risks associated with producing stock that may never sell.

Some of those savings can then be passed back to the customer. It is a sensible model, particularly for independent brands.

A pair of brown leather high-top sneakers with white soles resting on a patterned chair.A pair of brown leather high-top sneakers with white soles resting on a patterned chair.
Two men are seated at a table discussing sartorial sneakers, with one man holding a navy sneaker and several other shoes in shades of gray and brown on the table.Two men are seated at a table discussing sartorial sneakers, with one man holding a navy sneaker and several other shoes in shades of gray and brown on the table.

Keeping Casual Smart

More broadly, I think this collaboration reflects where menswear is going. The world has become more casual. There is no denying that. That doesn’t mean we all need to start dressing poorly, though.

There is a vast difference between wearing a three-piece suit every day and looking like you just rolled out of bed. Sneakers, jeans, knitwear, suede jackets, overshirts, and other casual pieces can still be thoughtful, elegant, and presentable.

And I think that is what Hugo and Caulaincourt are getting at here.

It doesn’t mean you won’t see Hugo tomorrow wearing Corthay shoes and a three-piece bespoke suit. But on Sunday Funday? Apparently, even Hugo relaxes and wears sneakers too. And I think that’s great. I claim to be ‘The Shoe Snob,’ but I even scoff at people who condescendingly say they only wear leather-soled shoes exclusively, as if anything else is for peasants.

I particularly like the suede models in this collection. The Toyko would certainly be something I would wear left and right, and that gray suede Shadow is another standout for me.

Most importantly, though, I like seeing a French shoe brand continuing to experiment. Caulaincourt has always had its own personality, and rather than simply following the endless stream of generic leather sneakers, they are mixing traditional shoemaking ideas, patina, unusual patterns, and casual footwear into something distinctly their own.

Alexis is a great guy, and Caulaincourt is a brand run by good people, so it is nice to see them continuing to evolve in an increasingly casual world while still keeping casual smart.

If you like what you see here, make sure to check out the Parisian Gentleman x Caulaincourt preorder. With the tiered pricing, there are some significant savings to be had for those who order early.

And congratulations to Hugo and Caulaincourt on the collaboration.

Thanks, as always, for tuning in, and enjoy the shoes.

Access the collection here: https://www.caulaincourt.paris/en/

—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob

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A pair of sleek black leather sneakers with a white sole, featuring a slip-on design.A pair of sleek black leather sneakers with a white sole, featuring a slip-on design.
A pair of taupe leather sneakers with brown accents and laces is displayed on a wooden surface.A pair of taupe leather sneakers with brown accents and laces is displayed on a wooden surface.
A pair of burgundy leather sneakers with white soles, positioned on a dark surface.A pair of burgundy leather sneakers with white soles, positioned on a dark surface.
A pair of brown leather sneakers with dark laces and a white sole, placed on a wooden surface.A pair of brown leather sneakers with dark laces and a white sole, placed on a wooden surface.
A stylish gray suede sneaker with a white sole and a wooden heel detail.A stylish gray suede sneaker with a white sole and a wooden heel detail.
Brown suede sneakers with black soles and metal eyelets.Brown suede sneakers with black soles and metal eyelets.
Two pairs of stylish sneakers in brown leather and navy suede, displayed on a wooden table.Two pairs of stylish sneakers in brown leather and navy suede, displayed on a wooden table.
A brown suede high-top sneaker with black rubber soles is placed on an orange velvet chair.A brown suede high-top sneaker with black rubber soles is placed on an orange velvet chair.
An older man with long gray hair sits on a green upholstered sofa, wearing a beige blazer and reading a book.An older man with long gray hair sits on a green upholstered sofa, wearing a beige blazer and reading a book.
A pair of brown leather sartorial sneakers sits on a wooden chair with a yellow cushion.A pair of brown leather sartorial sneakers sits on a wooden chair with a yellow cushion.
A pair of brown leather high-top sneakers with a white sole and laces.A pair of brown leather high-top sneakers with a white sole and laces.
Black leather sneakers with white soles, worn with dark trousers.Black leather sneakers with white soles, worn with dark trousers.
A pair of brown leather high-top sneakers with laces and metallic accents on a wooden surface.A pair of brown leather high-top sneakers with laces and metallic accents on a wooden surface.
A pair of brown leather sartorial sneakers with white soles sits on a wooden table between two microphones.A pair of brown leather sartorial sneakers with white soles sits on a wooden table between two microphones.
A close-up of a hand tying the laces on a dark brown sartorial sneaker with a white sole.A close-up of a hand tying the laces on a dark brown sartorial sneaker with a white sole.
A navy blue suede high-top sneaker with a white sole and leather details.A navy blue suede high-top sneaker with a white sole and leather details.



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