words & images // Nick DePaula
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With the new year underway, one of the many resolutions that I plan on eventually breaking in the near future is that I'm really going to try and wear more of the random sneakers I have lying all around my place.
It's pretty much rained for the past 3 months straight out here in Portland, and I stuck to a thin rotation of 15-20 pairs for that stretch. Hopefully that changes soon, and here's what I've rocked in the past week.
Air Jordan 1: One of my favorite shoes ever. And I've always hated white shoes. I've barely ever liked red too. That's how good they are. I'm actually barely older than these, as I showed up on planet Earth in April of 1985 and these were constructed a short while later in September of that year. I was so pissed I couldn't get a new pair online that I broke these out last Saturday. (Tried via phone at 5 AM -- the worst.) The "Nike Air" is definitely sweet, but I'll eventually have to track down a new Retro pair one of these days.
Balenciaga Arena: I've been looking for an all grey pair of sneakers to kick around, and I couldn't be happier with these. The leather is insane and the metallic silver midsole is pretty awesome in person.
Nike x Sole Collector Penny 1: Part of our "SC Penny Pack" at our Las Vegas event with Penny Hardaway, I broke these out for the first time for a recent interview with a sneaker blog in town that asked me to wear my favorite recent shoe. I guess these would be it. The all blue upper and iconic white wing are about as classic of a colorblock as it gets.
Li-Ning Way of Wade: With the Heat in town last week on Thursday, I lucked out and was able to get a pair of Dwyane's new "Warrior" Way of Wades in my size. These will be getting wrecked on the court for the next month, and I can't wait to see how one of fall's more controversial sneakers shape up on the hardwood. After breaking them in for a shoot-around, don't be surprised if I end up liking them more than his Fly Wades.
Reebok Kamikaze II: It couldn't be worse timing for me as a Sacramento-born Kings fan, and I'd really rather just boycott all things Seattle in the meantime, but I still am ridiculously excited about the return of Sonics legend Shawn Kemp's signature Kamikazes. It's one of my very favorite shoes of all time and I'm hyped that Reebok is getting some love again.
adidas Campus Snake: These have been on my feet pretty much at all times since Friday night. I picked them up right before Christmas and I love them already. Easy black and white, with a great hit of snakeskin along the heel tab. Perfectly done.
