There's something dark about Nike's Killshot 2 sneaker — its colorway. Duh. The "Phantom" Killshot 2 wears an all-black leather upper, set atop a matching black outsole.

Classic stuff for a pretty tough sneaker. 

Subtle disruptions to the Killshot 2’s symphony of darkness manifest as white contrast stitching throughout the sneaker, giving the otherwise basic shoe a stylistic edge. In fact, the Killshot 2’s stitched-up swag is highly reminiscent of the flip-tongue Killshot 2 Premium’s, which reps a similar thread style.

Then, of course, there are the white laces that round out the Killshot 2’s subtle moments of contrast. 

On the spectrum of Killshot sneakers, this Killshot 2 is the perfect mix of the Killshot 2 Premium and the classic low-top Killshot sneaker — the best of both low-top worlds.

Exposed stitching is a trusted, and dare I say, foolproof way to enhance any sneaker.

There’s the weird little wonders like the all-leather Paraboot Michael and PB&J-dipped adidas Japan sneaker that use contrast stitching to make already stylish shoes even better. Conversely, simple stunners like the wrinkled Nike Dunk or Converse's biker boot use contrast stitching to liven up fuss-free black uppers.

Nike's "Phantom" Killshot 2, available on the Nike website for $110, falls into the latter camp as a beautifully muted sneaker made all the more stunning by simple threading.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit the HS Style Guide for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.