Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 15)

August is finally here, which means cool breezes, fall outfits, and the end of blisteringly hot summer days are almost upon us. In 2022, I decided to focus on refining and maximizing my sneaker collection’s potential by placing an emphasis on quality over quantity when considering my next purchases. To do so, I’ve carefully considered how each pair corresponds to the rest of my collection and wardrobe, while also taking into considering Atlanta’s often unforgiving climate. Luckily, the hottest days of the year are now behind us, and each pair of sneakers highlighted in this post will be able to complement sweaters, coats, and jeans to create the best fits possible very soon. This has been a very fortunate year for my sneaker collection, and as always, I’m grateful to be able to share some of the highlights on “Best Foot Forward.”

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Rick Owens Ramones in Natural

After I initially purchased a black pair of this iconic Rick Owens silhouette, I assumed that I wouldn’t eventually add another pair of this model to the rotation. Objectively a bulky, unconventional pair of sneakers, the Ramone silhouette has always appealed to me because of how well it pairs with the oversized streetwear aesthetic. This pair’s cream colorway, pentagram accent logo, and slightly more structured materials than on my other pair made these a necessary pickup when I found them on sale on EndClothing.com.

Pair 2 (Lower Left): Birkenstock Boston in Taupe Suede

I’m always looking to add variety and practicality to my rotation, which is exactly why I recently purchased a pair of Birkenstock’s iconic Bostons. Extremely easy to slip on, this pair can be either dressed up or down and worn year round. They’ll primarily be used for everyday activities like walking the dog or taking out the trash for me, but I also have some fall outfits planned that center around this simple yet effective style.

Pair 3 (Upper Right) Maison Margiela GAT in Black Splatter

The Maison Margiela GAT has quickly become one of my favorite designer sneakers. Its simple design can easily be made eccentric via its artistic and eye-catching colorways, often channeling Jackson Pollock’s abstract paint-splatter techniques, which are some of the greatest pieces of all-time. This black pair serves as a canvas for vibrant red, blue, and yellow paint spatterings that pair perfectly with its brown gum sole. While not for everyone, I love this pair and often let this be the statement piece that defines whatever fit it’s in.

Pair 4 (Lower Right): Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 “Wave Runner”

Instantly recognizable, the Yeezy Boost 700 is one of the controversial artist’s most iconic pairs of sneakers released to date. Utilizing a unique color palette of neon orange and yellow with many shades of blue and gray, this pair really shouldn’t work on paper. But in practice, the “Wave Runner” 700 is an alluring and eclectic pair of sneakers, made only more appealing by their incredibly comfortable structure. Politics and controversies aside, Kanye West’s style and music will always have a special place in my heart, and these shoes are no exception.

I feel incredibly privileged to be able to explore an interest of mine while curating and building a collection of sneakers that allows me to express myself and connect with a community of people with the same passion for shoes that I have. Even though every pair can’t be worn as often as I’d like, owning pieces of history that help encompass the entire sneaker culture is such a fantastic feeling. With the hottest days of the year behind us, I’m looking forward to doing these pairs justice with proper outfits as soon as possible.

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.