I Only Packed *One* Pair of Shoes for a Week in Canada—Here's How I Styled Them

As much as I consider myself a travel-outfit and packing expert after years of trial and error, I'd never quite nailed the shoe aspect of the equation. I'd be comfortable all over, with a carry-on suitcase full of perfectly-rolled-up tops, pants, skirts, and dresses and an outfit I could wear comfortably for hours on end, yet my shoe game consistently felt off. Either I'd pack too many pairs or not enough, and most of the styles I prioritized ended up being entirely impractical for the trip's slated activities.

I never put too much thought into this gap in my skill set until recently when I found out that I'd be traveling 20+ hours in the span of one weekend—all by train and only with one duffle-type carry-on. Knowing that my lack of travel prowess in the shoe department would only lead to pain and regret over the course of my trip, I set out to find a pair that would be comfortable, versatile, and chic for every occasion, including walking and standing around a miles-long race track given that my trip was dedicated to Canada's Formula One race. Since F1 drivers travel the world more than almost anyone—there are 23 races on the 2023 calendar in locations such as Azerbaijan, Japan, Brazil, and Australia—who better to ask for tips than them? 

Specifically, I sought out Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries, teammates on the Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 team that I traveled to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy with for the Imola Grand Prix last month. The Italian team, which is owned by Red Bull Racing's performance clothing brand AlphaTauri, happens to have a recurring collaboration with P448, the popular sneaker brand that has a factory roughly 15 minutes away from the team's. "It's so nice," says P448 founder and CEO Wayne Kulkin. "Maybe there will be a sample ready, and I can just drive it over." The partnership—which began in 2022 and just saw a second collection launch earlier this month—means that AlphaTauri drivers Tsunoda and de Vries wear their P448 sneakers to every single race, traveling in them on continent-crossing flights dozens of times per year. If the brand's sneakers can pass their test, surely they'll pass mine. 

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Kulkin had the same idea when he and his team set about designing the second P448 x AlphaTauri drop. "If you're making these people that have a very demanding physical life [comfortable and satisfied] and the shoes work for them, to me, that's the ultimate endorsement," he says. Their comfort was front of mind throughout the design process. If the two drivers think the sneakers are comfortable on flights, car rides, and long press days, the likelihood of the average consumer disagreeing is slim. To guarantee this, these sneakers don't require you to lace and unlace them at security or at your seat, are lined with towel-like material that's ultra-soft, and are made of malleable leather that won't result in blisters. After all, in a sport as precise as F1, any slight pain can make all the difference. These drivers need to feel their best when they touch down, and apparently, the key is a pair of top-of-the-line Italian sneakers.

"Comfortableness when you're traveling is really important because we're doing a lot of traveling, and you want to keep as much energy as possible for the race," Tsunoda tells me over Zoom. "I lean fully into the comfortable outfits and shoes as well, and it's really comfortable to wear P448 shoes. I don't want to feel any tiredness, at least physically, after traveling, so it helps for me." According to the Japanese driver, the best part about these particular sneakers is the smell—or, rather, lack thereof. "I have to say, for travel, they're perfect because the smell of P448 sneakers is amazing," he says. "Obviously, you take off your shoes on the airplane once you're in the seat, and normally straight away, you can smell them, but P448 shoes smell really good, and you can generally feel comfortable." 

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De Vries, who travels from his home in Monaco to all of the different races as well as his team's factory in Italy, likewise swears by comfort for long flights. Neither will be caught dead at the airport in too-tight jeans or trousers and boots that pinch. "Whenever things are uncomfortable, I will just not wear them," de Vries says. The fact that his P448 sneakers aren't, according to him, is a "very valid and important reason to wear [them]." 

As for styling, P448 designed the line in AlphaTauri's understated white-and-navy color palette and kept their shape and style fairly classic. The drivers agree that they can easily pair them with anything and wear them for any occasion, whether it's super casual, like a 24-hour flight to Australia, or semiformal. "There are just lots of options," Tsunoda says. When he's not working, the driver says that he prefers to style his sneakers with what we call quiet-luxury pieces (aka anti-logo, minimal attire) as well as vintage designer items. Taking his lead, I set off on my Montréal trip, which included two 10-hour train rides, with only my new P448 x AlphaTauri sneakers, plenty of low-key staples, and my favorite vintage finds in my carry-on. Scroll down to see three ways that I styled the Italian footwear in Montréal.

White High-Neck Top + White Linen Pants + Cashmere Sweater + P448 x AlphaTauri Sneakers

Though I technically arrived in Montréal on a Thursday, I didn't get in until around 9 p.m., so I wasn't exactly prepared to kick-start my trip. Instead, I went to bed early in order to prepare for a long day at the track with AlphaTauri, who generously hosted me for the day's two practice sessions. My sneakers, which had only really experienced train living thus far, got their official debut alongside a white-and-navy outfit made up of a high-neck ribbed top and matching wide-leg linen pants from Dissh, a navy-blue cashmere zip-up from Me+Em, and four of the five accessories I brought—a black Prada Re-Edition 1995 bag, oval-shaped Linda Farrow sunglasses, my Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch, and a pair of Jenny Bird earrings. While my trousers ended up a lot muddier than I'd hoped after we had to run for cover when the rain came down, my shoes remained in peak form, not a blister in sight. 

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Bright Sweater + Low-Rise Jeans + P448 x AlphaTauri Sneakers

Race day in Montréal saw me change up the color scheme but certainly not my sneakers, which hadn't failed me yet. My tickets for the race weekend were general admission, meaning that a lot of the day was spent walking around the track looking for good vantage points to watch from. Even so, I didn't feel even an ounce of discomfort in these leather sneakers, which took virtually no time to break in. I paired them with the only pair of jeans that I brought with me, a new style from Agolde that I've become obsessed with named Fusion that is loose and low-rise. Well, that and a bright-red cashmere sweater that I stole from my dad's collection, a tank underneath just in case the sun came out (it did), and my gold Bottega Veneta Drop Earrings that make every outfit look 10 times chicer. 

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White Halter Top + White Drawstring Pants + Cashmere Sweater + P448 x AlphaTauri Sneakers

For my two 10-hour travel days—I took an Amtrak train from New York City to Montréal, reading two books and watching three Twilight movies in the process—I paired the P448 x AlphaTauri Jack sneakers with my go-to travel outfit from Zara, which is made up of a pair of drawstring linen pants and a matching white halter top. Since the train is heavily air-conditioned, I added a cashmere hoodie. Unlike Tsunoda, I kept my shoes on the entire time I was traveling and therefore didn't check if they passed the sniff test, but they did keep my feet comfortable the whole way, which was a win for me. 

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Coming next: This Is the Future of Fashion and Formula One