Silhouette

I Love Shoes!

No doubt about that. And while I may not have a crazy collection (I have somewhere around 30 different pairs, nothing compared to most sneakerheads) I still appreciate a great sneaker, or boot, or dress shoe. (Don't even get me started on my shoe fetish...I love a woman in spiked heels or boots.......)

What is it that makes a shoe stand out to me? What is it that gives it that "got to cop that" mystique?

The silhouette.

It's pretty much a tenet of design. ( I can only assume...)

At the end of the day, that's all that really matters. That's why Bapestas and Air Force 1s exist on a level field. It's the shape of the shoe. If a shoe looks good, it doesn't matter how much it costs. If the shape stands out to you, then it's a good looking shoe. Anything else, like luxe materials, limited runs or top tier branding is just gravy. The basics of a shoe are the important thing. That's why the Chuck Taylor Converse have had such an impact on popular culture, and so many shoes are made in their image. That's why wing tips are found in office's, at weddings, in casino's and courtrooms.

Here is my favourite original and similar (or blatant) silhouette.

Nike Air Jordan 3

JB Classic Scarface

Some more favourite "Silhouettes"

Red Wing RW1

Nike Sportswear Air Yeezy

Supra Skytop

Air Max 90

Air Max 95

Adidas Superstar (Shelltoes)

Nike SB P-Rod 2

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When I see you...

Style Inspiration Series 4

Shout out to HUF S.F!

It's funny how somethings that are at one time part of a counter culture movement can come to the very front of the culture it was turning away from. When skateboarding started in the 70s (as we know it now) it was viewed as an activity by burnt out stoner surfers to do when the waves weren't hitting. Fast forward more than 30 years and it is a culture that drives commerce and dominates mainstream fashion (too many brands to link too, just trust me) and media (ditto).

I remember back in High School, when I was heavy into "extreme sports", like in-line and skateboarding, some of my more melanin proficient friends told me I was acting "white". They didn't know I first tried skateboarding when I was 7, and my black cousin was the one who taught me how. It's funny how little they actually knew about me or skateboarding. Thanks to Paul "P-Rod" Rodriguez, Terry Kennedy, Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco and countless others ( I see you Eric Koston, Daewon Song, Stevie Williams, Kareem Campbell, Ray Barbee, Christian Hosoi, Steve Cabalero & Chris Pastras et.al) skateboarding has always been accepted (mostly) by "non-whites". More so than the excitement of the sport, it's the style and fashion attributed to the sport that has been picked up upon in recent years. And there's no doubt that those guys I mentioned above have style . Shit, Chris Pastras is a spokeman for WeSC, Pharrell owns Ice Cream/BBC, P-Rod is the Michael Jordan of Skateboarding both in ability and exposure and Steve Cabalero has one of the most successful (read:popular) Signature Skate Shoes of all time. I hope this doesn't seem like too much of a digression, but I felt it could add some depth to the post, y'know, before I get to posting related photos that I found on the interwebs. Even though I could probably write an essay on the impact skateboard culture has on our mainstream pop culture...hmmm...nah, who has the time? (Maybe I should find the time...)

Stolen from the interwebs!!!!

Nike SBs are amongst some of the most coveted limited edition sneakers

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Supra has smashed the market with their Skytops and NS (Non Skate) Collaborations, and mainstream clothing lines sponsor professional skateboarders.

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Thank God I never listened to anyone in High School to tell me how I should be acting or dressing, or doing...or else I wouldn't have know who this guy was (it's Stevie Williams...) when I saw him at Supreme L.A. DGK All Day!!!

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I never really let my affinity towards skateboard culture go. Instead I grew up, and found ways to keep it with me. Shout out to The Hundreds! Shit, I may even buy a board this summer and see if I can still kick-flip. (disclaimer: that is NOT me busting out the kickflip -heelflip?- on The Hundreds deck)...go visit www.theberrics.com if you need a daily skateboarding fix. Bangin'!!!

When I see you...

Beard Inspirations...

It's late fall, we're gearing up for winter and my winter beard has been in full effect for two weeks. I'm talking about a Vincent Chase without a movie deal kind of beard, a Gil Grissom CSI beard, a Sam Roberts "Where Have All The Good People Gone" beard...get the picture?

I enjoy the winter beard, often find myself scratching it as a way to pass the time, wondering to myself if I look like a vagrant...but, still I keep it. Helps me to feel more of my age, or at least more so like a man who can actually grow a beard. I don't have to shave for an office job, so as long as I keep the beard clean and even, it's not an issue. Plus, the feeling I get when the sucker comes off in the spring (or whenever I get tired of it) is amazing. It's not terribly difficult to part with so who knows how long I'll keep this one around. I have been known to start a winter beard in the summer, when I'm working a 20 day contract that only allows time to eat, drink and sleep outside of work, but the actual winter beard is something to behold.

A big beard can either make you look like you are down and out or enjoying a laid back lifestyle. I like to think that my own beard is the latter and not the former.

So...this post is dedicated to those beards which give me the courage to wear one in order to keep my baby face shielded from the elements but more imporatantly, allows me to be a lazy m*&$%erF%#*er for about 6 months...

The Boss (pretty much what I'm aiming for this winter)

?uestlove

Pacino

George Clooney in "Syriana" (a down and out beard)

Zach Galifianakis

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When I see you...