Issue #296 | Where Did All the Crazy Sneakers Go?

Where Did All the Crazy Sneakers Go?

That new sneaker smell is wearing off. “Just a few years ago, sneaker stores were awash with challenging, novel concoctions, coming off a decade or so of manufacturing innovations,” says Jacob Gallagher for the Wall Street Journal. But today, one of the biggest shoes in the world is the Adidas Samba, which hasn’t changed much since it went into production in 1972. Are consumer tastes becoming more conservative? Or is it the sneaker companies who are becoming more averse to change, playing it safe by rolling out classic styles that rely on new colorways to feel fresh?

Wall Street Journal

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Five Fits With: J.Crew Men's Creative Director Brendon Babenzien

Photographer and writer Christopher Fenimore landed a big fish for his latest installment of high-profile dudes who dress well. Brendon Babenzien has had considerable influence over menswear for nearly three decades, first making a name for himself at Supreme in the late ’90s and now helming J.Crew men’s, which he’s credited for saving from becoming a boarded-up storefront between a Dippin’ Dots and a Sharper Image. (2022’s big pants had something to do with it.) From Paraboots, to raw-hem denim, to bombers, here’s what a leader in the world of menswear classics wears day to day.

Esquire

How I Organize Outfits and Get Style Inspiration

We’re guessing you don’t have computer files filled with outfits you once wore that are labeled according to a particular clothing item or style. But we’re also hoping we’re dead wrong, ’cause we’d be impressed. Style writer Simon Crompton does this for a living, so his meticulous recordkeeping doesn’t come as much of a shock. But outside office hours, he’s limited to the same resources and all their shortcomings as the rest of us, Pinterest and Instagram chiefly among them. For those serious about going god-level with their style, look no further than Crompton’s personal tips and tricks for staying inspired.

Permanent Style

Give Your Boots a Winter Tune-Up

Recently, we pulled a pair of moc toes out of winter storage and the treads were looking tired. Like, so bereft of rubber that one misstep on a patch of ice could end it all. If you haven’t taken a close look at the state of yours—whether mocs, Chelseas, or chukkas—right now’s the time to tune them up before the snow and wet weather becomes a serious health hazard. If you don’t already have “a guy,” the shoe and boot nerds over at Stitchdown recently pulled together a comprehensive list of the best cobblers across the U.S., as recommended by readers and even repairs people themselves. Most charge ballpark $200 for a refresh, which is a pretty fair price for extending the life of your favorite boots, and yours. Find an expert near you.

Good style shouldn’t be a secret.

You’re clued in and looking tack sharp, thanks to Blazer. But that friend (or two) could stand to take some tips on style. Drop a hint and loop ’em in.