The 15 Best Menswear Sneakers of 2014

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Released: November

Arguably the most menswear friendly Air Jordan sneaker of all time, the “black/white” colorway was a must-cop for many reasons. It was the first time this original colorway was reissued and, I mean, just look at the colors. Black and white works well with just about anything and the O.G. Nike Air detailing on the tongue make these all the more sweeter.

Released: June

If you missed out on last year's initial Engineered Garments x Vans collaboration, 'heads got a second chance with their second iteration this past summer. Done in tonal navy, black, and off-white colorways, the slip-ons set itself apart with mismatched combos of suede and leather on the uppers, giving them a truly unique look.

Released: July

Menswear retailer J. Crew has seen its fair share of New Balance collaborations, but this version of its 998 model arrived just in time to celebrate the birth of America. Nicknamed the “Independence Day” for obvious reasons, the subtle hits of red, white, and blue pay tribute to our country's flag in the cleanest way possible. And yes, they were made in USA.

Released: October

Riccardo Tisci's first foray in designing an athletic sneaker was met by unheralded fan fare from both style aficionados as well as sneakerheads because of the silhouette he chose to work on: the Nike Air Force 1. Tisci's been a self-admitted fan of the AF1 for as long as he could remember and the silo has been a cult classic for even longer so it was only fitting that this marriage of fashion and sneakers finally took place.

Released: July

Another fashion designer got to put his own touch on a sneakerhead classic. Even though Raf Simons already has his own collection with adidas, he's never reworked the O.G. Stan Smith, until now. Trading in the usual perforated stripes on the mid-panel, Simons opted for a more obvious “R' instead along with premium leather uppers to really make the shoe his own.

Released: November

Long before they were making clothes with Kanye West, Parisian fashion brand A.P.C. had been collaborating on low-key kicks with Nike. Past models include the Air Max 1, the Dunk, and Blazer, but last month A.P.C. applied its trademark minimal tastes to the Free OG. Released in navy, gray, and white, the athletic sneakers were an accurate reflection of the growing trend towards mixing performance gear into guys' everyday looks. It doesn't hurt that the sneakers were as comfortable as they were stylish, either.

Released: Fall 2014

Saint Laurent Paris is no stranger to the world of high fashion. Taking obvious cues from a certain skate sneaker, SLP gave these the luxury treatment by featuring its own original “babycat” leopard print as well as complementary supple leather uppers to make these really stand apart from its canvas counterpart.

Released: September

What better marriage of menswear and sneakers was there this year than a collab with vaunted luxury retailer Barneys and adidas on its classic Stan Smith? Done with minimal branding and whited out across the uppers, these were part of a pack that also included collaborations with Dover Street Market and Paris boutique Colette, but the Barneys iteration made the most sense here purely because of its stature with clothing nerds.

Released: August

After not having seen the light of day for several years, a childhood favorite was reissued this year in the form of a stealthy black and grey colorway that got 'heads ready to break out their athletic gear. The release was part of Nike's Geneaology of Free “Black Pack” designed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original Nike Free.

Released: General Release

The minimal aesthetic that Common Projects championed coupled with its attention to quality materials and construction is what brought them to the forefront of menswear since the brand's humble beginning a decade ago. The fact that the Achilles model remains a staple footwear option with dudes 'til this day is a testament to the brand's staying power.

Released: May

French fashion house Maison Martin Margiela's initial collab with Converse in 2013 was so successful that they dropped another collection this year which were equally dope. They used the same concept from the previous year's drop and dipped the entire shoe in paint to reveal a new color as the outer coating slowly chipped away with steady wear.

Released: March

No menswear closet is ever complete without a pair of Visvim kicks. The high-end Japanese clothing and footwear line returns with the Sashiko edition of its popular FBT model. Featuring a Vibram sole unit, premium suede and an embroidered shroud, the FBT Sashiko got things just right for those not adventurous enough to rock with their fringe counterparts.

Released: October

When the first iteration of the Y-3 Qasa High dropped in 2013 people went crazy over them because of its minimal, streamlined look. Ever since the all-black-everything trend took hold, sneaker brands followed suit by dropping murdered-out versions of their best silhouettes and the all-black Qasa High has been a hit among stylish HealthGoths everywhere.

Released: September

Based out of Tokyo, Hender Scheme has a knack for churning out super luxe, high quality leather versions of footwear classics as part of its “Hommage” collection of shoes. If you can't tell by now the Manual Industrial Products 10 is nearly an identical replica of the Air Jordan IV, but crafted entirely from undyed raw leather so that it'll produce a beautiful patina as they age.

Released: May

The second sneaker from the Parisian fashion house on this list, the paneling on these SLP high tops are inspired by one of the greatest sneakers and colorways of all time–the O.G. Air Jordan 1 “Black/Red.” Given the penchant for menswear dudes to cop the most luxe versions of their favorite things, these were a top choice for those wanting to flex on their sneakerhead counterparts.