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.

cheapnewbalancetennisshoes

Oprah’s Favorite Sneakers Are Perfect for Travel

Each year, Oprah brings the world her very personal list of favorite things including clothing, books, tech, food, and more.

The list, which turns 20 this year, is indeed hand-selected by the queen of talk shows herself and gives fans everywhere the opportunity to say “Oprah told me to buy it.”
And because Oprah is such a globetrotter herself, it’s no surprise that so many of the items on this year’s list are perfect for travelers, including Vionic’s midi slip-on sneakers.
“Treat feet to these sneakers designed to hug arches and support natural alignment with an orthotic insert. They’re super comfortable,” Oprah says.

As Vionic describes, the sneaker makes casual look chic with a new, perforated leather upper that comes in five different colors. The sneaker also provides all-day comfort for travelers walking around the globe thanks to its twin gore panels and removable microfiber-covered EVA orthotic inserts. The shoes are so comfortable and so perfect for walking that they are even recommended by another influencer, celebrity doctor Andrew Weil.
Beyond these super comfy cheap new balance tennis shoes and fashionable sneakers, Oprah also recommends a few other travel-ready fashion items including the Emi Jay Smooshshirt and Emi Jay Smooshpant, made of ultra-soft fabrics and available on Amazon. This look will keep you looking chic and cozy even on long-haul flights and would pair perfectly with your new Vionic shoes.

Why the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 just became our new spring go-to shoe

When the newest version of the New Balance 1080s arrived this year, we were curious. Last year’s model saw a major update where the brand decided to switch out their classic, more solid EVA foam to replace it with their iconic Fresh Foam material. This resulted in a softer, cushier support system and one that many neutral runners were a fan of. While the solid old model focused mainly on function, in 2016, this shoe got a major makeover. New Balance refined the look making it, well, prettier, more sleek and more in touch with the styles of 2017.
First Impressions
After such a major shift from the 2015 to the 2016 model, we were expecting a more subtle update for this year’s shoe. When we opened the shoe box last month, that’s exactly what we saw. The Fresh Foam 1080 v7 is a tweaked version of last year’s shoe with a slightly narrower toe box, an adjusted sole, and a hot-spot free upper. And of course, with first impressions comes looks. And since the popularity of athleisure has set a new bar for all athletic wear, chunky, frumpy shoes are just not going to cut it anymore– no matter how functional. Style-wise we felt like the colours pop on this one with a nice yellow-blue blend and slight hot pink accents. It’s got an interesting look but if this is your everyday running shoe, it’s also not so overpowering that it will clash with your favourite gear either.

cheapnewbalancetennisshoes