If you’ve been keeping up with the thoughtfully curated pages of this Brooklyn style blog, perhaps you’ve noticed that we’re all about lacing up some of the best sneakers for summer these days. They’re a crucial component of any guy’s footwear rotation, ready for looks that are both casual & laidback as well slightly more crisp and business casual — if you secure the right pair of the best sneakers for men, that is.

And given my time in Brooklyn across the past dozen or so years, it’s only fitting that it’s a New York City brand (Brooklyn’s own GREATS!) that should catch your eye for the first time — or as a repeat customer.

The men’s and women’s sneaker and shoe company is one of the more buzzed-about affordable men’s sneaker brands across the past decade-plus, and a brand that’s doing things better than ever with the evolution of the GREATS Royale 2.0.

Of course, if you’ve kept up with the blog, you know GREATS has a knack for expertly crafting styles both on-trend and more classic, like the court sneaker style cues of the original GREATS Royale. And yet, better fabrication and construction makes all the difference, to the tune of more than 300,000-plus pairs of the GREATS Royale sold (yes, it’s true!).

The company even goes so far as to call one of its flagship models “the epitome of effortless cool,” and that’s a hard seniment to argue with — these are fresh and minimal while also proving eye-catching and stylish in their way, especially in a sleek shade of all-white premium leather.

And with handmade craftsmanship hailing from Portugal, it’s certainly worth noting that the GREATS Royale 2.0 are as much of a steal as the original style. But wait, there’s more! In fact, some pairs of the GREATS Royale 2.0 are marked down by as much as 40 percent right now at the company, these fresh kicks could change the way you get dressed this summer.

You can find the GREATS Royale 2.0 in 14 classic and limited-edition color combinations (try the Burnished Cuoio shade or Navy for a look that’s both dressy and on-trend), and each pair is outfitted with the same signature GREATS outsole plus tack stitching for contrast and durability.

The GREATS Royale 2.0 are also built with a leather-lined removable footbed designed to mold to your foot and offer support and cushioning over time — that’s critical no matter whether you wear your new favorite sneakers with stretch chino shorts and a pocket tee, or with a light blue chambray shirt and olive linen trousers for a high-low mash-up of business casual style.

The next time the occasion calls for you to lace up a pair of fresh kicks, you’ve got an ace up your sleeve with the GREATS Royale 2.0 — they’re back and better than ever.