What David Gandy Can Do For Your Style
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In 2006, New Balance commemorated 100 years of making quality running shoes with the smart 670 Centenary. Designed by Victor Dixon, whose portrait is
featured on the insole, there are only 1906 pairs of these available worldwide (’cause NB were founded in 1906, see). BUY THEM
More footwear on Brandish
Comfy skate shoes, in a lovely brown/beige colour scheme, from hipper-than-us label DVS. Of course, you don’t have to be a skater to wear them, which is just as well – skating is for teenage dirtbags only. And Tony Hawk.
More fresh footwear on Brandish
These swish Air Force Ones are part of Nike’s ‘Skins’ Pack. The shoe features a premium leather mix upper, the Inside-Out midsole plus a leather sockliner and insole. The toe panel has been produced using a faux snakeskin leather. Produced to mirror the original ‘Mita’ release, the ‘UnMita’ edition is available in limited numbers online from Triad, so move fast if you want to bag a pair. BUY THEM
Human running machine Dean Karnazes, who recently ran 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 US states (really, he did), wears these high-tech running shoes, because he can’t be bothered to mess about with laces – Karnazes has been known to run 350 miles in one stretch, so he’s no ordinary jogger.
The Boa’s lightweight, laceless body is enmeshed in thin steel cables that connect to a
tension dial at the back. A simple turn tightens the shoe onto the foot. They’re also coated in Gore-Tex, so your feet won’t get wet even in the worst of conditions. BUY THEM
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1 BLUNDSTONE 6-TIE
Classic hard-wearing leather boots from Australian shoemaker Blundstone, who have been making footwear since 1870. Available in brown (pictured) and black. BUY THEM
France’s Spring Court may not be household name over here, but their trainers have graced some very important feet. Serge Gainsbourg used to kick around in well loved and battered pair, but so did the Brit Mod boys in the 60s. If that isn’t recommendation enough, a certain Mr Lennon sported a pair on the cover of the Abbey Road album.
Like their British counterpart, The Green Flash, they’ve been on the market for years and are still available today with the trademark four-hole ventilation (which was introduced in 1952). Available in many colours, but our tip is to keep it simple and go for the classic all white shoes. How much for iconic trainers like this? To you sir, £40. BUY IT
[viaRetroToGo]
You need pretty big balls to wear these tartan-print Converse Allstars, because they’re not exactly subtle. They’re perfect for attention-seekers and Scotsmen though – and especially attention-seeking Scotsmen. We like ‘em. BUY THEM
For more cool stuff to wear, on your feet and other places, check out our CLOTHING archive.
Check these rascals out! Pointer, who I confess I haven’t heard much about are making a fine line in footwear that is rivalling Converse Chuck Taylor’s for kickabout retro trainers. They’re pretty widely available, and come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but these are my pick of the bunch.
Chuck’s were once the property of punks, but with Converse-esque shoes being all the rage, it’s pretty tough trying to be a bit original. Well, these Pointers are nothing if not different from the rest, and at £34.99 they’re surely compulsory wardrobe additions that everyone will be wishing they had.
When Nike met Sony and decided to make sweet gaming-trainer love, the results were predictably desirable. Meet the PlayStation 3 Hybrid Air Max 90s. It’s a bit of a mouthful, I know. Only 24 pairs were ever made, and they’re the first Nike Airs to have a Hologram Swoosh on apparently.
The patent leather upper has been designed to mimic the PS3 console’s heat sinks, the back of the shoes have the PS3 launch date (presumably not the European one, grr…), and inside the trainers there are mechanical drawings of the console itself.
What’s more, a pair is being auctioned off for charity here, and with over 11 days to go, bidding has topped the $800 mark. Lawks.
These limited edition sneakers (trainers is such a chavvy word that we’ve stopped using it) look very smart and seasonal, with their hazelnut/orange colour scheme.
They’re available from Overkill, a Berlin-based online streetwear shop. Overkill has a great range of stuff and they do deliver to the UK and elsewhere in the EU. Allow 7-10 days for delivery, so if you want them for Xmas, it’s probably a good idea to order them soon. BUY THEM
1 ADIDAS TUNiT2
Adidas claims its new Tunit2s – as worn by the likes of Arjen Robben and Ashley Cole – are the world’s first fully customisable football boots. What that means is that you can buy them in different kits: the most expensive Premium Pack, which costs a cool £270, includes three different sets of uppers, two pairs of chassis (the base, in other words) and three different sets of studs (for firm, hard and soft ground). Available from December 06.
Trainer fashions come and go, but some classic looks manage to stay on the shelves for years. Here’s our top five picks – buy a pair of these, safe in the knowledge that they’ll outlive any passing fad.
1. PF Flyers Center Lo
Introduced in 1937, PF Flyers are more or less unchanged in over 60 years. Inm fact, you can pick up a pair of originals for very little, but I prefer these slight updates, the Center Lo in leather, with canvas lining and rubber sole. A classic and cheap to buy at just £32.
2. Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66
Introduced in 1966 and featured at the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968. Leather uppers, suede toe and rubber outsole, along with the famous tiger stripes. You can pick them up with laces or velcro straps for around £65.
These are the nicest shoes I’ve seen in ages. A leather moccasin with fully formed removable footbed, a two-part rubber sole (geddit?) unit set into leather lower and heel. Waxed cotton laces and leather lining.
For £129 you get a shoe that’s hand-stitched throughout with waxed cotton… to make each pair unique. A bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for with shoes. Available from Oi Polloi.
The Gazelle was first launched by Adidas in 1968 as an all-round training shoe. Of course, it went on to be one of the most iconic trainers in history. Now, Adidas has re-introduced the Gazelle City Series, with the best of the bunch being the Tokyo Shoe which comes in white and red, with a dapper little "I love Tokyo" logo on the heel, and perhaps more impressively, the shoe also has a red sole, which is a great little detail.
These rudeboys will set you back a paltry £50, and are available by following this link. Paris, London, Rio, and Barcelona are also available.
From:What David Gandy Can Do For Your Style