schnike

Nike Sneakers
A.P.C., $140
I caved into the TopShop madness this weekend. It started out promising with the free cookies and water I received in line as I waited, courtesy of the Mark Ronson-look alikes and brand ambassadors (or is that title too generous?) who comforted the tired and hungry in anticipation of being let into the recently opened fast fashion wonderland. I entered and immediately found it to be overwhelming. LOTS of trendy clothes and LOTS of trendy looking people. I felt a lot of the fabrics and they felt cheap so obviously cheap. Maybe that's the point? The clothes reminded me of the trendy pieces you guiltlessly buy every season and guiltlessly throw away when it's on to the next big thing. It all seemed very well intentioned, but what is there for the crowd that wants something a little more classic and worth the money? Well, I found out not too far away. I went to A.P.C. on Mercer and found a decent sale rack. I had no reason to purchase them other than they were prices I can afford and they felt like clothes I'd have for a while. And then I saw the sneaker pictured above. So simple and timeless. The price hurts a bit, but A.P.C. is seductive in its simplicity and for a quick minute I considered it. But we're in a recession, so I decided maybe next time.

i'll wear them in any terrain

Clarks Desert Boot
Sand Suede, $89
Thank goodness for late Christmas gifts.

nu shooz

Jil Sander for Aloha Rag
High-top, $395
low-top, $345
Keanu takes the words right out of my mouth.

a man's right to shoes

Common Projects
Suede Desert Boot in Grey, $310
While waiting to hear about the availability of a pair of Rag & Bone bermuda shorts in my size, I stepped out of the dimly lit fitting room at Odin to find a wall of non-descript white shoe boxes. My eyes wandered in their blank direction, where upon it was revealed they were the boxes for Common Projects shoes, the most ludicrously overpriced but badass tennis shoes brand. Minimal in design, but maximum in their subtle impact, Common Projects are the tennis shoes dreams are made of. Dream wasn't far off from what I was experiencing. My trembling finger tips reached out, almost as if I were reaching to touch E.T.'s cold, alien light of a finger. Steven Spielberg wasn't directing this scene, but the halo of light persisted from a neat pair of grey desert boots, calling to me silently, urgently. The touch was soft as a threadbare t-shirt, the feel was sporty luxury defined. I dared not try them on for fear I would feel something a little too real for an inanimate object. The sales girl, a cross between Alex Wek and Clara Bow, informed me my beloved bermudas were on hold at the East Village location. Thank you, I said, mouth still agape at the sight of those wondrous shoes.

footsies

Hmmm. You have to appreciate how honest we men can be, especially when it comes to $1300 luxury goods.

sneakerhead

Lanvin Taffeta Hi Top, $730

Too bad my Economic Stimulus check wouldn't cover such an extravagance.

owner's manual

Five recent purchases that have just made my life a little bit better:

"Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution in Sound"
Fencing LA by Asics
Adidas Gazelle 2 Tex/Lea
BDG Skinny Jean in Gray
"Badlands" on DVD, dir. Terrence Malick

wanted: common projects

Common Projects Lace Up Low Top in Navy, $264

Christmas is fast approaching and my list is practically non-existent. Should I ask for things that I need or should I indulge in the things I've been pining after in the most lustful of ways? One thing is for sure, I do need a new pair of shoes and if only Santa were so kind, the Common Projects pictured above would be mine. If only...

i want you all over me

I normally don't have a foot fetish, but I can't resist the fantasy of this Oscar nominated actress walking all over me, literally, in her five inch Jimmy Choo booties. Those shoes are hot sex on a platter.

Click here to find out whose lovely feet I adore.

spring bling

i walked into the gap for the first time in well over a month. i had not been moved to set foot in there as a result of their big campaign (scroll to bottom of page) for beige. bleh. spring is full of pops of color and lightness, not heavy cargo pants and safari inspired tops. however, i went in today, on a whim, and was thoroughly impressed. shots of cobalt blue and evergreen were contrasted with shades of creams and steely greys. stripes, light cottons, and layering pieces were in abundance. with all of that in mind, i was immediately drawn to these bad boys...

i've been looking for a pair of white slip ons and these are perfect. unfortunately, vans does not make half sizes after twelves, so i thought my chances of comfortable white slip ons were non-existent, but much to my surprise these shoes fit and have a greater attention to detail than the vans. i love the touches of chocolate and bamboo color in the contrasting stitching around the shoe and the palm print on the inside of sole. they're comfortable and exactly what i had in mind.

i also couldn't help but to indulge in their blow out sale. i picked up a white short sleeve henley, periwinkle and gunmetal grey striped t-shirt, crew neck t-shirt in dandelion, and a heather grey and butter horizontally stripped v-neck t-shirt. i am generally in love with heather grey in any form, but i especially cannot resist it when paired with the right color and any shade of yellow just seems right for spring. my lovely and oh so stylish friends at gold digger noticed the beauty of mixing the neutrality of gray with the sweet jolt of yellow. i also noticed it a while back after stealing inspiration from the casual coolness of proenza schouler designer jack mcollough (pic left).

although he's doing it in white and yellow, i think you catch my drift.

i managed to get all of these pieces for under $40 and i was allowed to bop along to beck's 'new pollution' and the shins 'sea legs' during this surprising and satisfying shopping excursion (kudos to the music supervisor at gap, inc. as both songs have a warmth and ease to them that evoke thoughts of spring).

now, if only it would warm up a litte bit.

in my shoes

although i have been in a white tennis shoes phase for almost a year, i cannot resist these bold and beautiful asics . cookie monster blue and school bus yellow? yes, please.

asics california. $80.