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.

Best Foot Forward: A Sneaker Series (Part 1)

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.