Issue #328 | Will the Olympics Save Nike From Its Midlife Crisis?

Will the Olympics Save Nike From Its Midlife Crisis?

If the Adidas Samba is actually on its way out, like some are claiming, everyone’s shoe rack will have some free space. Some say Nike is going to fill it, but with the Olympics looming, Wired isn’t so sure. “In the past year, Nike has struggled with layoffs, restructuring, and accusations of sexism; had its new baseball kits widely derided by both fans and players; and been subject to sneaker competitors such as On Running coming for its lunch. It’s hard for a shoe—even a spectacular one, even many of them—to overcome all that.” As elite athletes go for the gold, Nike faces a trial of its own.

Wired

This iPhone Travel Pack Will Turn You Into a Content Pro

[Partner] We’re all content creators at the end of the day—some of us just get paid to do it. Whether you’re a cool dad who’s passionate about catching the moment with your iPhone or an influencer who uses one to deliver a steady stream of primo content to a devoted following, accessories like tripods, gimbals, and lenses are going to level up your shoots. And you’re gonna need a place to put them while on the go. The Sandmarc travel backpack is built specifically for all your iPhone photography needs with specialized compartments, comfortable straps, and even a holder for POV shots so you never miss the moment.

Capture life on the go.

How the Long-Hated Boat Shoe Became Summer’s Coolest Style

“Preppiness was a little bit too white, a little bit too conservative, a little bit too East Coast, a little bit too rich and posh,” says Marco Tamponi, the creative director at shoe company Sebago. But the style hasn’t belonged exclusively to those clubs for a while now since being remixed over the decades by rappers in the ’90s, and more recently, everyone from writer Jason Jules to cultural icons like Pharrell. Now, with collaborations featuring reworked material palettes, brands and designers are giving boat shoes their very own moment in the sun.

Robb Report

After Becoming WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes Received an Extremely Meaningful Rolex

However gaudy, the big belts in the WWE are the right size, and are about as sparkly as you want them to be, considering what these fellas are doing in the ring. But at a recent event, the accessories suddenly got very tasteful. Pro wrestler Cody Rhodes had been freshly crowned the league champion when he was given a Rolex Datejust from the organization’s execs—just like one that his father, Dusty, had owned. Sometimes, tough guys cry, too.

GQ

Omega Unveils Two New Chronoscope Speedmasters Ahead of the Paris Olympic Games

“The stainless-steel model will sell for $9,800, and the gold model will sell for $51,400,” relays Robb Report on a pair of Olympic-edition Omega Speedmasters. Per usual, the gold feels like it’s just out of reach, and more so since it’s made with the brand’s proprietary Moonshine formula, a gold that, “in hand, is warm and lustrous, and very durable. It looks especially lovely when brushed.” That watch, including the three-link bracelet formed from solid gold ovals, has no shortage of the rosy finish, making it a clear winner at this year’s games.

How Ripley, the new TV series, is resurfacing the old money aesthetic. Forget all The Masters hoopla—Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Nicholson, and more celebs really knew how to look good on the links. Whether you bought your jeans for $60 or $600, this denim devotee will help you fix ’em. All the Airpods features you didn’t know existed, including listening in on another room. Five master craftsmen show us their studios, tools, and tailoring.

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