Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 13)

I am extremely pleased to bring back one of my favorite series on this blog today with the thirteenth installation of my sneaker series Best Foot Forward. I’ve been fortunate enough in the past few months to add sneakers to my collection that I’ve lusted over for years. Ranging from luxury designer options to iconic athletic silhouettes, the four pairs featured today fit nicely into my collection and will fit into my summer rotation very nicely.

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Saint Laurent Paris Jodhpur in Brown Suede

The Jodhpur silhouette has been imitated countless times by fast fashion brands looking to recapture the essence of the boot that Hedi Slimane made so famous during his time at Saint Laurent Paris. Its sizable heel, soft-to-the-touch suede, and elegant shape are only possible with the quality and craftsmanship that SLP has to offer. I chose the brown suede colorway because it fits well into my wardrobe, which is mainly made up of understated and neutral pieces. Can’t get enough of this pair.

Pair 2 (Lower Left): Maison Margiela GAT Replica in White + Gum

The Maison Margiela German Army Trainer Replica has quickly become one of my favorite go-to sneaker models for both casual and more formal occasions. Whether I’m tossing these on to go grocery shopping or to go to the office, the GAT Replica is an extremely comfortable and visually appealing sneaker. The White + Gum colorway is one of the most iconic and recognizable on this pair, so I had to scoop them once I found a sale online. I’ll be wearing these all summer long.

Pair 3 (Upper Right): Nike Air Max 90 “Infrared”

I regretted selling my Infrared Air Max 90s for years after buying and then selling them in high school. When they released last year, I was lucky enough to win a pair through the SNKRS app, which as all sneakerheads know, is a rare occurrence. My favorite Air Max of all time, the AM90 pops with its Infrared accents. I usually turn to these for more casual looks, whether pairing them with sweatshorts or ripped jeans on the weekends. Can’t go wrong here.

Pair 4 (Lower Left): Air Jordan 6 Retro X Travis Scott “British Khaki”

One of my favorite rappers collaborated on one of my favorite Jordan models in a colorway right up my alley. How could I say no? Cactus Jack, more widely known as Travis Scott, brings his eclectic and outlandish style to this pair with furry suede, bright infrared accents, hidden pouches, and a playful glow-in-the-dark sole that channels the pairs I grew up wearing as a kid. These definitely fit into my wardrobe and aesthetic and definitely turn heads along the way.

I’m lucky to be able to continue growing my sneaker collection pair by pair. A focus on quality over quantity means I don’t add pairs quite as often, but make sure that the ones that I do are up to my standards. Which of these four is your favorite? Thanks for reading.

Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 3)

I’ve decided to kick off the weekend with another submission from my sneaker series. This past week was the first lull here on the blog from me for a variety of reasons, and luckily one that didn’t last longer than a week, but I’m going to try to be better with consistency and frequency posting here. With that being said, let’s take a look at the sneakers being highlighted and discussed this week, which also happen to be four from my collection that have taken the spotlight recently and that get lots and lots of wear.

Pair 1 (Upper Left): Common Projects Chelsea boots in Brown Suede

I’ve been asked the question before “If you could only keep 3 pairs of shoes from your entire collection, which would they be and why?” and this pair of boots is always one of the first to come to mind. A perfect blend of elegant and street-worthy, the sleek silhouette of the Common Projects Chelsea boot is my favorite offering on the market right now. There are many alternatives, both more and less expensive, but Common Projects’ quality and craftsmanship make them worth the price tag in my opinion. I’m 20 years old turning 21 relatively soon and have worn this pair consistently since I was 18, and there are very few signs of wear and tear besides the darkening of the incredibly comfortable crepe sole which is to be expected. I’m as ecstatic to have this pair in my collection now as I was the first day that I unboxed these, and still in awe of the fact that I own the same pair I held in Barneys New York’s Chicago location thinking “one day… one day…” as a 16 year old.

Pair 2 (Upper Right): Nike X John Elliott Air Force 1 Low in White

The recent reemergence of this classic Nike silhouette’s rising popularity, the fact that I live in Atlanta, Georgia, me wanting to have a matching pair with my stylish and amazing girlfriend, and the collaboration with one of my favorite streetwear labels John Elliott made this pair a must-cop for me. It’s no secret that white Air Force 1’s are now the go-to sneaker for many millennials. Their versatility, comfort level, and history make for an easily-recognized and iconic pair to add to any collection. The Air Force 1’s relevance to me is even higher thanks to Atlanta’s hip-hop history, making it a staple in Georgian streetwear. I knew that my girlfriend had wanted an all-white pair of AF1’s for a while, so nearing our 1 year anniversary I got us both a pair in so that we could match. John Elliott’s reimagining and manipulation of the classic sneaker also made this absolutely necessary. The embossed leather swoosh, double tongue, and silver aglet are perfect additions to a nearly perfect sneaker.

Pair 3 (Lower Left): Air Jordan 4 Retro “Bred”

Michael Jordan is my favorite, and in my opinion the greatest, basketball player of all time. Not only did MJ bring 6 titles to my Chicago Bulls franchise, he did so in style and iconic fashion. One of Jordan’s first truly iconic moments, dubbed “The Shot”, eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1989 Eastern Conference playoffs, and was made while wearing the “Bred” Air Jordan 4, cementing a spot in sneaker history and making this pair an instant classic. It also didn’t hurt that the 2019 retro (30 years after the original release) was done perfectly: great materials used, solid construction, and very comfortable to wear.

Pair 4 (Lower Right): Saint Laurent SL/06 Distressed in White

These are easily the most unique pair of luxury sneakers that I own. Out of the box, these shoes look worn. That is the point. Contrasting the cleanliness and elegance of my Saint Laurent Wyatts featured in Part 1 of this series here, this low-top sneaker is rugged and an entire aesthetic of its own. Understated luxury, even with a loud and embroidered branding on the side that looks hand written, shines on this pair. These sneaker accompany my style very well, and the eggshell white color accompanies almost every outfit paired with these.

I hope that this series continues to inform and entertain you about sneakers, fashion, and myself in general. It will certainly continue soon, as long as more NBA speculation and analysis, self-reflective posts, advice posts, and many more. Stay tuned.