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As the intersection of sneakers and men's fashion continually merge, this year proved that sneakers were here to stay in the closets of stylish dudes everywhere, and not just sneakerheads. The menswear crowd, once beholden to hardbottoms and blazers, has, over the last few years, propelled themselves away from traditional footwear to more comfortable and sportier ground.
We've seen time and again how sneaker culture has infiltrated the fashion world from the likes of Alexander Wang and Hood By Air's runways to lookbooks from freshfaced newcomer Aimé Leon Dore, and this year has really seen the movement take over. While the sneakers on this list are also kicks that most sneakerheads would probably rock, they work especially well with fashion-forward 'fits. From high-end takes on low-key classics to footwear that looks like it came straight from the future, we take a look at The 15 Best Menswear Sneakers of 2014.
Air Jordan 1 Retro
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.
Engineered Garments x Vans Slip-On
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.
J. Crew x New Balance 998 "Independence Day"
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.
Riccardo Tisci x Nike Air Force 1 Mid
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.
Raf Simons x adidas Stan Smith
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.
A.P.C. x Nike Free OG
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.
Saint Laurent Paris Leather Sneakers
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.
Barneys x adidas Stan Smith
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.
Nike Air Presto SP
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.
Common Projects Achilles
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.
Maison Martin Margiela x Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 1970s
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.
Visvim FBT Sashiko
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.
Y-3 Qasa High
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.
Hender Scheme Manual Industrial Products 10
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.
Saint Laurent Paris SL/10H High Top
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.