“Dads are having a moment,” I yelled across the house. I had assumed that this whim – which, at that moment, seemed wildly important – would, if shouted out loudly enough, resonate even with the most unsympathetic recipients: mothers (who have still yet to have their moment). I lumbered through the apartment trying to determine if my communicae had been received. My wife was working, violently attacking her keyboard at around 70- 80 words a minute. I kept talking gibberish. “Dads are having a moment. You didn't hear me? How come you didn’t respond? Anyway, dads are having a moment. Like norm-core, but dads. You know Pedro Pascal, and that other guy who was in that other thing that I mentioned that one time that we didn’t see… anyway, did you know this?” She stopped typing, but didn't pick her head up. She sighed loudly before saying, “That was like two years ago.”

“No, that can’t be right,” I said as I walked out of the room.

She was totally right.

For better or worse, this is pretty on brand for me these days. There is no chance of concealing what I have become. When it comes to having my finger on the pulse of something culturally relevant, that’s just no longer the case, nor should it be. I’m a 51-year-old father of three, and I’m not on the front lines of any movement. But I am in the front of the line during the French national sales at Le Bon Marche, and I can tell you, assuredly, unequivocally, what sneakers are right for dads.

Rich Dad: Tod’s T Vintage Leather Sneakers: Wildly understated and made in Italy (Tod’s still makes shoes by hand), this dad will pick you up from your after school tennis lessons in the Aston Martin. The luxury brand is a favorite of Harrison Ford and Catherine Deneuve. Not timely, timeless.

Hipster Dad: These Karhu x Vyner M-Runners are definitely the coolest sneakers I’ve ever owned. They're unreasonably reasonably priced, and given the lesser known, semi-obscure nature of the collaboration (meaning no one at after school pick-up will have ever seen them before) they come with built in street cred.

Fashion Dad: Don’t let all the young people on the website fool you. Axel Arigato is a sophisticated brand, engaging in ethical and transparent hand manufacturing, utilizing recycled materials and fashion forward but still age-appropriate design.

Dad Dad: I came home in my first pair of New Balance about 5 years ago. I was unconvinced that this brand, synonymous with gray, wide feet could ever be my brand. That was then. While my closet houses all of these other sneakers listed, if I had to choose only one, the 327 or the XC-72 would be it.

Dad Sneakers Protocol

Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park: Amsterdam

Summer Menswear Wish List