Balenciaga Triple S review: worth it or skip?

What the Balenciaga Triple S does well

The headline: stacked triple sole. The details: Material: Mesh and leather; Sole: Rubber; Fit: Size up; Made in: Varies by line. In our list it is the pick for: chunky hype. It usually sells for $1,100–$1,250 in the US.

A trend icon past its peak.

The trade-offs

Good: comfortable, statement. Not so good: heavy, dated. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want timeless.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Brunello Cucinelli Suede Runner ($1,000–$1,200): suede runner. Better if you want refined.

Instead, consider the Loro Piana Summer Walk Sneaker ($950–$1,100): suede sneaker on a light rubber sole. Better if you want quiet-luxury comfort.

Instead, consider the Berluti Playtime Scritto Sneaker ($1,300–$1,500): Venezia leather with Scritto engraving. Better if you want a luxurious, distinctive sneaker.

Before you buy

Sole: a stitched cupsole or Margom sole can be resoled and lasts years; glued chunky soles are not repairable. Fit: minimalist sneakers run long; size down half a size if you are between sizes. Style: a clean white or off-white leather low-top goes with denim, chinos and casual suits.

Buyer tip

Wait for the end-of-season sales in January and June for seasonal colors; core white leather sneakers rarely get more than 10–15% off.

Buying in Europe: Italian and French sizes are used on most designer shoes, and they differ from US sizes by brand. Check the house’s own size chart, and remember that many Italian brands run about half a size small.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.