Director Jian DeLeon Picks His 10 Favorite Sneakers of 2017

There are a ton of sneakers that drop every year, and narrowing down the best ones can feel almost impossible when it seems like we’re inundated with a plethora of enviable releases every week. One sneaker I’m surprised did not make my list was the 2017 re-release of the Air Jordan 1 Black/Royal, which is hands-down my favorite sneaker of all time. I definitely copped a pair to keep on ice, but as it stands, my 2013 pair remains in my rotation until the soles are worn to the ground—though I’m still hoping to get my hands on a satin pair someday.

We now live in a world where cheap new balance tennis shoes men and women increasingly get dressed from the feet up, and I’ve generally viewed sneakers as the men’s equivalent of women’s handbags—signifiers of status, taste, and personal style. Even though side bags are a “thing” and visvim ballistic backpacks are admirable flexes for discerning men, there’s still something to be said about how we express ourselves by what we put on our feet.