Men’s Style Guide | The Three Sneakers Every Man Should Own

Over the last few decades, sneakers have evolved from a piece of clothing that, outside of a niche market, was primarily used for purely athletic purposes. Now, almost everyone owns at least one pair of sneakers that will be worn as casual footwear, and will never even see a gym or a treadmill. While that niche market for sneakers still exists, walk by any Footlocker or sneaker boutique the night before a new shoe drops to see the line-up of tents if you need proof that sneakers are now firmly cemented as a piece of clothing accessory that can be worn by anyone and at almost any time. Sneakers come in many different styles and forms, and knowing which one is right for you and what situation to wear the right shoe in is not always obvious. With this in mind, I have compiled a short list of the three types of sneakers that every man should own and given an example of a personal favourite of mine for each style.

The Athletic Sneaker

These are your everyday shoes that you can wear to run errands, grab groceries, or go to brunch in after a long night. Comfortable and versatile, they can be worn with shorts, cuffed jeans or sweatpants. My personal choice for an athletic sneaker is the New Balance M998DMON – with its clean lines and simple colour combination, these sneakers can be paired as a complimentary piece with almost any outfit. While New Balance occasionally get made fun of as “mall walker” shoes, they have quietly put together a great collection of simple and timeless sneakers that are both practical and stylish, and this pair is no different.

The Streetwear Sneaker

These are a slight step up from your standard athletic sneakers – perfect for a casual dinner, a walk along Queen Street or Yorkville. Slightly more fashion forward and sleek, a pair of these goes perfectly with jogger pants or skinny black jeans. My choice of streetwear sneaker is the Adidas NMD Japan. Both straightforward and stylish, a pair of sneakers like these is simple enough to be paired with many different outfits without sticking out… while also being unique enough to act as the centre piece of an outfit if desired. Adidas has really made a strong effort over the last few years to challenge Nike for the top spot in the sneaker world. While the introduction of the Yeezy boost certainly put Adidas on the map, it was their follow up release of the NMD that really solidified them as a competitor in the world of fashionable sneakers.

The High Fashion Sneaker

As sneakers have more and more become an integral part of the fashion world, many major high fashion labels have taken notice and joined in on the fun. Now every iconic fashion house from Louboutin, to YSL, to Margiela makes their own line of sneakers, many of which cost upwards of a few thousand dollars. These high fashion sneakers can be worn during a night out, to an art-opening or fashion show, and in some cases even act as a replacement to dress shoes. While there are a plethora of options to choose from for a high fashion sneakers, I have selected the Adidas Y-3 Kyujo. One of the reasons I chose this specific pair is that it retails for around ¼ the price of many other designer brand sneakers. With their all black colour way and hyper-stylized silhouette, these shoes can be worn with jeans or dress pants and will make you the talk of any event you wear them to. The second pair of Adidas shoes I have selected, this specific pair comes from the Y-3 series, which is a line of sneakers designed by legendary Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto.

Which sneakers do you like to wear and how do you like to wear them? Let us know in the comment section down below! If you don’t like to wear sneakers at all, let us know why not!

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