The 15 Best Trainers Of 2016

Another year (almost) over, another banger-packed assortment of sneakers to slide our feet into. There have been monster releases with queues that have lasted days, unexpected collaborations that have blown our minds, and nice simple designs that have reminded us why we all got into trainers in the first place: they’re just easy, aren’t they?

Thousands of drops from the last 12 months have been whittled down to a final selection of FashionBeans’ favourite trainers of 2016. In no particular order, here they are.

BAIT x Diadora Shrek N9000

Yes, they are movie tie-ins. Yes, Diadora is what your mum used to buy you for school when you wanted Nikes. Yes, Bait is a funny word. But the Shrek N9000 continued the Italian label’s collaboration hot-streak, this time with Dreamworks and the cult West Coast retailer.

Adidas Gazelle GTX London

Designed in pillar box red and black to honour the British capital, the Gazelle London is thankfully kitted out in Gore-Tex tech, making it as waterproof as the name it bears requires. Even in suede, the shoes’ practicality stands out and the low-profile, lightweight structure retains all the support of an athletic shoe, giving you the best of both worlds.

Puma Clyde Select Away

A design that’s barely changed since it graced the oversized feet of NBA legend Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier in 1973, paired with a bit of gold-leaf on the signature. That’s all that was needed to make these navy trainers – usually such a hit and miss colourway – one of our favourites this year.

Nike Roshe LD 1000

Nike’s lifestyle runner, however controversially, made our list of the ugliest trainers ever made. So how does it appear here as well? Well, this shape is more of a hybrid of that and the Cortez, nicking the former’s construction and the latter’s lines. The result is a banger.

Adidas Skateboarding Busenitz Pro 10-Year Edition

Falling somewhere between a skate shoe and the Adidas Samba, The Busenitz is a trainer way too nice to pretend you can kickflip in.

Clarks Torcourt Super

Clarks Originals’ hurtle into trainer grail territory continued this year with the Torcourt Super. A stacked suede shape with tennis shoe styling and that trademark crepe sole make for a standout shoe that’s been cruelly overlooked by footwear fans.

Highsnobiety x Adidas Consortium Ultra Boost

In March, hype lifestyle publication HighSnobiety hooked up with Adidas to produce the kind of trainers Arnie’s Terminator would wear to his spin-class. A gunmetal knitted upper with a tonal leather lace cage is enough to make anyone say: “I need your clothes, your kicks and your motorcycle.”

Nike Air Max 97 Silver

The 20th anniversary re-release which all of your #GainsGoals are wearing on Instagram are sadly an Italian exclusive. Best book your flights now, then.

Ronnie Fieg Asics Gel Mai Militia

Ronnie Fieg’s friends-and-family issue Asics Gel Mai drop drove fans wild with jealousy in November, and rightly so. The hiking boot ropes, the gym shoe construction, the burnt orange pigskin suede. It was a hit through and through, but at just 750 pairs, was snapped up in no time at all.

Nike Air Max 95 W Multi Pony

*Plays Ginuwine on repeat.* The Air Max 95 is a classic straight from the brain of footwear designer Sergio Lozano, a man who went against all the designs that made Nike, well, Nike. The sneaker may have been ahead of its time when it was first introduced, but this version with the multi-coloured ponyhair detailing is pure 2016.

J.Crew x New Balance Moonshot 997

When J.Crew and New Balance first teamed up, the partnership marked one giant leap for trainer collaborations. Built to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, this year’s Moonshot 997 drop offered enough luxe material to give any sneakerhead a real Buzz. Each pair even came vacuum-sealed in silver packaging, like the food astronauts eat in orbit. Only tastier.

Adidas Stan Smith Primeknit Wool

It would have been too easy to fill this list with all the models that received a Primeknit update this year. However, one kick stood head and shoulders ahead of the herd: the Stan Smith in wool. The design classic’s new standout upper in grey is tastefully contrasted with an off-white sole, making them easily the most wearable of 2016.

Adidas Moskva City Series

Say what you will about its foreign policy but Russia does inspire some pretty cool trainers. Turning a city into a shoe once again, Adidas paid tribute to Moscow with this beefed-up Gazelle profile. A white full-grain leather upper nods to the original colour of the Kremlin walls while the Gore-Tex construction makes it a winner for colder climates.

Beauty & Youth x Reebok Club C

Tokyo retailer Beauty & Youth’s take on the re-emerging Reebok Club C shoe is ultra-soft and incredibly wearable. There’s only one issue: that luxe off-white suede upper just begging to be ruined the first time you wear them.

Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2

Yeah, they’re a little weird looking, ugly even – it’s just a chunky stripe up the side of a plain old Adidas Boost. And yet here we are, how can you have an end of year list without them? It’s the most sought-after shoe of the last 12 months and it’s pretty much totally, totally awful. How dope is that?

 

Credit: Sam Diss

5 Boots Every Man Should Own

Winter: the only season that can dampen your style from a stride to a squelch. But no man should suffer a perpetual snail trail. Ditch the trainers, stash away the brogues and lay off the loafers – here are the five essential boots you need in your wardrobe.

Black Chelsea Boots

Although popularised in the Swinging Sixties, Chelsea boots had more regal beginnings – way back with Queen Victoria. Or more specifically, her shoemaker: J. Sparkes-Hall patented the design in 1851, and ma’am was said to wear them on the regular – be it horse-riding or strolling through the palace grounds.

Though you might be more likely to traipse around beer gardens than Buckingham Palace, the core message still stands: these really are as tough as old boots. Not to mention stylish.

“Try a real leather [style] in dark brown or black,” says Giles Farnham, head of personal shopping at River Island. “And, as with any skinned footwear, maintenance is essential. Regular conditioning will ensure your boots age well.”

Example Styles

Suede Desert Boots

Like so many menswear classics, desert boots began in the military. While stationed in Burma during WWII, British officer Nathan Clark (note the surname) noticed officers wearing basic suede boots with crepe soles. Turned out they’d had them specially made in an Egyptian bazaar to withstand the tough desert climate, and clever Nathan, sensing a good idea, brought the idea home to the family business – British shoe giant Clarks.

The suede variation of the chukka boot is now a menswear staple, and while this material requires treatment with a weatherproof coating, they can power through most of what autumn and winter throws at them. Aside from rain. Farnham advises avoiding wet weather at all costs as this can damage even the best quality suede.

“Try your desert boots with a smart denim,” says Farnham. “Perhaps an indigo or raw selvedge, and complete with a crisp inch and a half turn up.”

Example Styles

Hiking Boots

No longer just standard issue for naturists, hiking boots have found a place in the fashion mainstream. But it was a rocky route. Outdoors wear was considered niche apparel until Carhartt WIP popularised the hunter-gatherer trend. From there, the likes of Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Bally followed, showcasing luxury takes on hiking boots for AW14 that skyrocketed what was once a functional piece to the heights of high fashion.

That said, they’re far more than a mere fad. Hiking boots were designed specifically to face the elements and as such, make mush of commuter slush.

When your kicks take a workwear edge, it’s advisable to steer your entire look into tougher territory, says Farnham. “Hardy footwear is best worn with equally hardy clothing, so try styling your boots with a rugged, heavy denim jacket and a chunky knitted cardigan.”

Example Styles

Brown Leather Brogue Boots

The brogue has been a menswear fixture since the dawn of time (well, the 1900s at least). And while brogue boots may be the less traditional footwear option, they’re by no means less versatile. The addition of brogue detailing to a sturdy boot base guarantees a durable anchor that will still chime well with tailoring.

That’s where their strength lies. Brogue boots are a smart and versatile option for those that prefer a sartorial streak to what they put on their feet – no technical features, no metal accents, no Dales-ready design.

“The traditional punch hole detailing means brogue boots look great with heritage pieces, like heavier wool blazers,” says Farnham. “And for extra points, take your trousers to a local tailor and have them slightly cropped and tapered to highlight the boots.”

Example Styles

Work Boots

If brogue boots champion Savile Row, then work boots skew more building site. Which, in 2016, isn’t all brick dust, arse cracks and well-thumbed issues of Nuts magazine.

Thanks to the likes of Timberland, your dad’s work boots are hot property, with the brand having blown up thanks to hip-hop’s finest (Diddy, Kanye and Biggie have all sported their own pair in the past).

True, they may not sit pretty with suiting, but worker boots are the perfect foundation to a jeans-tee combo. (Same can’t be said for that hi-vis jacket, though.)

“As with hiking boots, keep your look rugged,” says Farnham. “A pair of work boots are your statement, so a white tee, bomber jacket and grey marl sweatshirt will balance your look.”

Example Styles

 

 

 

Credit: Murray Clark

7 Of The Most Stylish Men You've (Probably) Never Heard Of

Red carpet events are predictable affairs – and we don’t just mean the tailoring. Browse any major event coverage online and most of the ‘best dressed’ slideshows you click through tend to throw up the same familiar faces: Hollywood actors styled in luxury labels and chart-topping musicians paying their dues to the brand paying their rent.

But what about the men who – although not front-page news – are every bit as fashionable? Here, we introduce seven of the most stylish, and their styling tricks worth tapping:

Alan Ferguson

Alan Ferguson is a music video director whose fame was relatively confined to music circles until late 2014 – when he married Solange Knowles.

After rubbing shoulders with ‘Yoncé at what was arguably the most hipster wedding of all time, Ferguson proved himself a worthy style icon, thanks to his distinctive blend of heritage style and sleek minimalism. A glove-fit two-piece might read traditional, but Ferguson rejigs it slightly – adding in an oatmeal leather trench coat, or in the case of his all-white wedding suit, a pair of gold toecap shoes. Subtle enough to wear, but bold enough to sing.

Anderson .Paak

The understudy of ex-N.W.A member and billionaire headphone peddler Dr. Dre, Anderson .Paak (real name: Brandon Paak Anderson), is a walking, talking example of when the student becomes the master.

Hip-hop’s most exciting rising star is more than just a multi-talented singer-songwriter-instrumentalist. The 30-year-old has a style as distinctive and free-spirited as his original stage name: Breezy Lovejoy (no judging). Part grunge, part hipster, he looks just at home suited up or streetwear-ed out.

Simon Porte Jacquemus

Paris-based designer Jacquemus might be best known for his NSFW fashions, but it’s his knack for reinventing French classics like the Breton stripe that’s earned him his.

As headline-grabbing as his womenswear designs are, though, it’s his personal style that we think deserves some spotlighting. Like his work, this man’s wardrobe is mostly timeless pieces given a remix – jeans and an asymmetric gingham shirt or an unstructured navy suit styled with black Chelsea boots and a red neckerchief. Bon travail.

Eric Rutherford

Eric Rutherford spends most of his time in the buff. But on the odd occasion he does actually get dressed, he’s really quite good at it.

The actor/model/instaceleb has amassed a global following thanks in no small part to his razor sharp wardrobe, most of which involves well-crafted transitional staples. The remainder? Statement pieces that toe the line between trend and novelty, like a bold checked blazer or a bright suit – always masterfully anchored with muted staples.

Matthew Healy

When Matthew ‘Matty’ Healy opens his mouth, it’s not just million-selling No 1 hits that come out. The shaggy-haired frontman of eclectic Brit band The 1975 is more than comfortable engaging in a tête-à-tête on his favourite designers and their latest collections.

As a result, his look is in the vanguard of edgy, vibrant rock ‘n’ roll style, with effortlessly cool, often all-black, outfits comprising Saint Laurent (of course), Dries Van Noten and J.W. Anderson.

Roberto Raro

We can all identify a Pitti peacock, but rarely can we actually name one. Which is why Roberto Raro, in all his suited glory, gives a face to the anonymous gaggle.

As director of several menswear stores in the Middle East, Mr Raro encapsulates the sort of bird that nests in Florence for January; the primary colours, the pinstripes, the razor-sharp tailoring. But despite the excess, Raro still pulls it off with that essential Italian ingredient: sprezzatura.

Vincent Cassel

If Vincent Cassel’s name sounds familiar, it might be because he’s had starring roles in two of the Ocean’s Trilogy films. Or, and perhaps more likely, you still can’t quite get over the fact that it was him, not you, that got to spend four glorious years married to Monica Bellucci.

But Cassel can teach you more than how to woo cinema’s greatest beauties; he knows how to, er, nail smart-casual too. His go-to? A good shirt – a versatile piece he spruces up with a suit in a complementary shade or plays down with a contrasting blazer, relaxed trousers and sneaker-loafers. Parisian insouciance at its best.

Credit: FashionBeans