Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 8)

The stage is set, and you know what that thumbnail means: A low-lighting and slightly blurry picture of four of my shoes signifies another new installment of my Best Foot Forward series. I knew this day would come eventually, but I have to admit it’s here sooner than I was expecting… this is going to be the last part of this series for a long time. I’m still going to be posting other topics regularly (especially once this semester wraps up), but I’ve simply run out of sneakers to cover after this post is uploaded. This is bittersweet because I wish I had more to share on the blog, but I’ve been able to reflect on the collection that I love so much. That’s okay, though, as there are many more series that I’ll be able to begin shortly. For now, lets check out these last four pairs.

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Air Jordan 6 Retro “Infrared”

These are the sneakers that Michael Jordan wore as he transcended the rest of the league and began what would go on to become one of the most prolific NBA Finals careers of all time. After years of coming up short of the finals, the 1991 Chicago Bulls made it to the biggest stage and beat the Los Angeles Lakers handedly in their series, 4-1. As we all know now, Michael Jordan went on to win 5 more final series without a single finals loss, but it all started with ring #1 in the Jordan 6. Happy to have this pair in my collection.

Pair 2 (Upper Right): Timberland 6-Inch Construction Boot in Black

All black everything. I talked about the brown alternative to these boots in this post, and even though they are the same model, these two pairs of Timberland 6-inch boots are entirely different vibes. This pair has become a streetwear staple in 2019 after years of popularity in the 2000’s. I like to pair these with rugged streetwear fits and pieces like my distressed black denim jacket. Perfect boots for frigid winter days.

Pair 3 (Lower Left): Represent Work Boot in Black Leather

To the untrained eye, these look incredibly similar to the black Timberlands I just talked about. That’s the case for the trained eye, too… the two are very similar boots. The main difference and reason that I like these so much, though, is that they’re able to be dressed up more than black Timbs but less than black SLP Wyatts. These are a perfect middle-ground pair of boots with a very comfortable and durable crepe sole. I need to show these more love.

Pair 4 (Lower Right): Nike Killshot II in Navy / Gum

Reddit’s favorite sneaker, and for good reason. This pair goes with almost every outfit. I primarily wear these in the summer and spring because the navy swoosh doesn’t go with my primarily black fall/winter wardrobe, but that isn’t to say they’re condemned to the closet for the cold months. These are very reasonably priced, look better with wear, and bring together most warm-weather outfits.

And that concludes Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series for now. I’m sure there will be occasional future installments as I add more pairs to the collection, but with my current mindset of quality over quantity, that may take some time. That’s okay, though. This series has allowed serious reflection on my collection and led me to be very grateful for the amazing and diverse collection I’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate. Thank you for reading, learning, and appreciating such a random thing like sneakers with me. You’ll hear from me again soon.

Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 7)

Spending yesterday’s rainy afternoon walking around SneakerCon Atlanta with my girlfriend has me excited to write and post Part 7 of Best Foot Forward. Two of the pairs that I will cover today are nostalgic to me, and the other two are new additions to my collection that I’m happy to have.

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Nike Blazer ‘77 in Vintage White

This 2019 release went under the radar to a certain degree. While the Nike X Off-White collaboration brought some attention back to the Blazer silhouette, this specific non-collaborative pair isn’t making many best-of lists for the year. That doesn’t take away from how much I enjoy this pair, though. A bold contrasting black swoosh stands out from the white leather upper, and this pair goes nicely with nearly any outfit. Perfect shoe going into the Fall season.

Pair 2 (Upper Right): Common Projects Achilles Low in Black / White

Since covering this pair in a recent clothing haul post, I’ve worn these multiple times and I’m loving them. A simple black and white color scheme pairs perfectly with monochromatic looks, and the sleek silhouette of the CP Achilles will never go out of style. Not much else to say here besides the fact that I see these getting a lot of wear over the next couple months.

Pair 3 (Bottom Left): Air Jordan 3 Retro “Black Cement”

This specific pair of Jordan’s are one of the first Jordan shoes I remember discovering, and upon seeing them I thought they were one of the coolest and most unique designs I had seen. Black and red is hard to mess up, but introducing elephant print is certainly a gamble. Luckily enough, the Jordan 3 pulls it off, and this iconic pair is one of the biggest streetwear staples.

Pair 4 (Bottom Right): Nike Air Force 1 High “Wheat”

This is a simple pair of Air Force 1s in a simple light brown colorway, but there is more significance that makes this pair special to me. I wore these a lot right around the time I met my girlfriend two years ago, so I associate them with very nostalgic and happy times. This will always be a special pair to me for that very reason.

What makes a pair of sneakers special isn’t how much they cost or how hyped up they are, but instead the personal significance they have to you. Every pair that I have in my collection makes me happy in one way or another, and I love being part of a sneaker-loving community who shares the same passion as I do for what is such a trivial thing to the average person. Thanks for reading my post!

Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 6)

The sixth installment of my Best Foot Forward series features everything black, white, and grey. That’s right, we’re in for a monochromatic look at some of the most versatile sneakers in my collection. Ranging in price, accessibility, and style, these sneakers are all very distinct from one another, but match with most outfits and situations handsomely. Let’s take a look.

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Nike X John Elliott Vandal in Anthracite

If you’ve been playing really close attention, the name John Elliott should ring a bell. One of my favorite designers John Elliott has collaborated with Nike on multiple occasions, and it always able to reinvent or reimagine iconic Nike silhouettes by giving them tasteful modern twists. We already covered my JE Air Force 1’s here on the blog, but today is a look at Elliott’s take on the classic Nike Vandal. A premium suede upper gives this sneaker a luxurious appearance countered only by the bold white midsole and gradient strap at the top of the tongue. While these weren’t the easiest sneakers to break in, they are fairly comfortable now that I’ve paired them with enough outfits. Any time John Elliott’s name is attached to something, it’s a possible purchase for me.

Pair 2 (Upper Right): Vans Old Skool in Black

I’m a firm believer that everyone could and should have a pair of these sneakers in their collection. Fashionable, timeless, and comfortable, the Old Skool has its roots in skating culture but has transcended into a streetwear staple for years to come. You can’t tell easily from this picture, but the midsole of my pair is showing clear signs of wear that, if it were any other pair, I would wipe away with a Crep Protect wipe, but I instead let build up to add character to this classic silhouette.

Pair 3 (Lower Left): Common Projects Achilles Low in White

After purchasing the CP Achilles Low in white is when I realized that I was truly entering a new phase of the kind of sneakers I’d be adding to my collection. Aside from some minimal golden branding on the outside of the shoe that is innocuous to the average person, the CP Achilles looks the same as any other white leather sneaker. So why is it worth its somewhat lofty price tag? The CP Achilles is a staple for me not because of hype or clout, but because of timelessness and craftsmanship. The leather on this pair is as nice as any of the other leather sneakers I’ve ever worn. Comfortable, modern, and minimal, the CP Achilles low can be dressed up or down to give entirely different vibes. I love this pair.

Pair 4 (Lower Right): Air Jordan 1 Retro “Shadow”

This is the fourth and final pair of Air Jordan 1’s that I have to show you as a part of this sneaker series. Contrary to what some think, the Shadow 1 is actually an original Jordan 1 colorway released in 1985. This cool grey pair is less of a statement piece than either the red or blue variants of the shoe that I wear so often, which compliments the other pairs nicely. I wear my Shadow 1’s on rainy winter days and am not surprised to see the resell price increase day by day as this pair becomes more and more popular.

Thank you for reading another installment of my sneaker series! I look forward to posting another soon, which will likely feature more color than this post did. We will see.