SIX SHOES TO LIVE BY

October 29, 2024

Caleb Empig

Shoes. Sneakerhead. Hypebeast. Oftentimes, these terms evoke images of BAPE-adorned nonchalant individuals who wear UNC Blue Jordan 1 highs with the tongue out and the laces undone. To be fair, sneaker culture has often got a bad rep. Resellers and scalpers use bots and unfair tactics to get as much stock of new shoes as possible, from the New Mambacitas to the Olive Travis lows (which I didn’t even try to cop). But if you break through this initial–and admittedly obnoxious–barrier, you’ll find a culture rich with history that is ingrained in the very soul of American street style. Jordan’s were all the rage back in the 90s and still are today. New Balances have had their time (they’re becoming increasingly less relevant) and so did Golden Gooses (which I personally think are atrocious). Shoes are arguably one of, if not the most important piece of a fit. It truly says a lot about an individual based on their shoe game. As such, I’ve decided to dedicate this article to exploring my own personal shoe collection. To keep it short, I’m limiting it to the shoes I’ve brought with me to school.