bred 1 — Home — What’s Cool?

Today I am excited to start what I hope will be a successful series of posts on this blog which will highlight one of my biggest hobbies and passions, which is sneakers and footwear. In these posts, I will select 4 sneakers, boots, or shoes from my collection that are not entirely similar to one another and share something about each pair whether it be why they are special to me, the history of the shoe, or a funny story that occurred while I was wearing that pair. I’m fortunate in that I have been able to cultivate a diverse and sizable collection of shoes to post about, so this series should last a good while. Once I write about every shoe in my collection, I will then have to wait until more pairs join the shoe-family to continue posting. Let’s start, shall we?

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

I’ll start by saying that the Air Jordan 1 is my favorite sneaker silhouette of all time. As this series continues that will become evident as I highlight different colors of the “same shoe”, all which are extremely different to me. The “Bred” (black + red) colorway of the Air Jordan 1 may just be my favorite shoe of all time overall, as well. Iconic for its infamous banning in the 1985 NBA season when Michael Jordan debuted a sneaker which had colors contrary to his Chicago Bulls dress code, the Jordan 1 in black and red has become one of the most culturally significant and easily recognizable shoes with its distinct university red swoosh. One of the more versatile sneakers in my collection, the Bred 1 is a go-to for any season and will forever be a sneaker that I cherish dearly, and will hopefully double-up on sooner rather than later.

Pair 2 (Upper Right): Nike X Off-White Presto - The Ten

While it may look like an ordinary or even somewhat strange sneaker to the average person, this sneaker is one of the most highly-coveted in my entire collection. The Nike X Off-White Presto released in 2017 as a part of Nike’s collaboration with Off-White label founder and Rockford, Illinois native Virgil Abloh. Virgil's series, The Ten, redesigned and reconstructed classic Nike silhouettes such as the Air Jordan 1, Nike Blazer, and pictured here, Nike Presto. The deconstructed and very literal aspects of this sneaker make it unique, such as the detached tongue, quotation marks on the shoelaces and back velcro tab, and the zip tie (more info here) which I refuse to wear on feet as I think it looks a bit over-the-top. I enjoy the street appeal of this pair, but mainly enjoy them because of their comfort and am a big fan of the color blocking and interchangeable neon laces on these shoes.

Pair 3 (Bottom Left): Adidas Yeezy 350 Boost V2 “Sesame”

While there is a lot to be said about artist and pop-culture icon Kanye West, it is undeniable that he had made an everlasting impact on music, of course, but more recently sneakers and fashion as well. West’s promise to make Yeezy’s available for everyone seems to finally be coming true as adidas has upped production numbers on recent releases, especially for certain colorways. I was lucky to have scooped a pair of the “Sesame” 350s the morning that they released on YeezySupply.com, and since then I have worn they fairly regularly. I have owned a fair share of Yeezys throughout my sneaker collecting time which have come and gone, but the “Sesame” 350 is the one pair that I have left. The comfortability of Mr. West’s collaboration is incredible, and the neutral tones and gum sole featured on this specific pair make it the perfect casual summer sneaker, or a nice fall switch-up when paired with a button-down shirt and overcoat for a sophisticated urban look.

Pair 4: (Bottom Right) Saint Laurent Paris Wyatt Harness Boot in Black Leather

These rival my “Bred” Air Jordan 1s for favorite shoe in my collection. Perhaps these are my favorite non-sneaker footwear of them all. The iconic statement piece featured here is one that I am extremely lucky to have as a part of my collection. The quality of Saint Laurent footwear is incredible (I have another pair which will be featured in a future post) and the craftsmanship is remarkable, as well. This boot makes me feel like an absolute rockstar when on foot, and its heel gives me just enough height to be able to say that I am actually six feet tall without having to round up. Pairing this boot with an all black outfit or oversized sweatshirt in the winter makes me feel like I can conquer any task in front of me, and they are certainly a conversation starter, as well. Forever love my Wyatts.

I’m excited to continue this sneaker (and boots, etc.) series over the coming weeks and months. I find great value in cherishing dearly the possessions you have in your life, and reflecting upon why I love every single pair in my collection on this blog will allow me to do just that. Stay tuned.