[ URBAN + TAKE(ØUT) ]

SUEDE is apparently becoming hot this season with sneaker designers. It’s an interesting choice because it has strong weaknesses like the ability to become dirty and absorb liquids quickly, but it’s also soft probably making for a comfortable wear. Not to mention it just looks more luxurious. Here are some S/S 2010 offerings…

Richard Chai relatively new to the menswear fashion scene has already made some major moves since the release of his own line in 2004; he has already completed capsule collections for Topman and Target. His newest collaboration, supposedly set to drop this January is between he and Keds. These understated yet eye-catching hi-tops feature a single zipper fastener running vertically up the front to secure the shoes, reminiscent of the new Rick Owens trainer redux. There are still holes for laces if you want to lace them up, but I ask you this question…..why would you?

Check out his Spring 2010 collection here.

Let’s get it going! Our year-end review of the 5 Dopest Sneakers of 2009. Now, just to add some qualifiers — we’re talking about SNEAKERS, not designer shoes, not footwear in general — straight up Kicks. Sneakerheads…if you have any sneakers you think we missed, drop us a comment!

1. Space Jams

Grade: A

“Arguably the most classic, yet innovative sneaker to date. They bridged the gap and provided the new generation with an even greater appreciation for the Jordan brand.” – The Couthless Suit

2. Air Yeezy

Grade: A-

“The Yeezys created a strong following…that’s probably only rivaled by the Jordan Brand — difference is…he did it with ONE shoe. Amazing.” -  the FlyyNerd aka Will Walker, Sneakerhead

3. Supra TK Society

Grade: B+

“If the Skytops were the dopest shoe in 2008, these would have to be their cool, tall 1st cousin. TK’s crushed the game with that extended hi-top — had kat’s looking like fly astronauts.” – Italo Brown, Editor

4. Nike SB Blue Lobster

Grade: B+

“They were the BEST PACKAGED sneakers I’ve seen in a while. They went all out with the marketing, and followed all the way through to the ice-chest box they came in. It’s rare to see that much attention to detail — plus, the sneaker is bonkers.” – Big Vic, Sneakerhead

5. Adidas x Jeremy Scott Wings

Grade: B

“Innovative. Artistic. And definitely veered away from the ‘strap’ trend, which was very difficult to do this year. Jeremy Scott has a unique eye and he made sneakerheads respect it.” – Italo Brown, Editor

Urban Graduettes, would you let your man rock these?…

New York based artist MOMO has successfully collaborated with the Adidas brand Y-3 to create a collection of “fli-tops” with artistically architectural colorways. This capsule collection is a redux of the Y-3 Hayworth Mid II but it boasts designs similar to his work in the International Outdoor Urban Art Exhibition. Tentatively, these shoes will be part of a limited run of 350 pairs worldwide with a pricetag of about $320. They will debut in the US at Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out.

If you’ve been following our twitter feeds (gr8vision, GunnerSixx, bleyzmanuel) you will have already known that we took notice of the recent “Construction Worker” trend in footwear (a brother confesses, Red Wing Inspired boots are my sh*t). If that wasn’t enough, we even posted the re-release of Polo Boots, back in July. Now everywhere you look, celebs have been rocking  steel toes — Timbalands and Doc Martens to be exact. So again…don’t act like we never told ya!

(Photos courtesy of Concreteloop — AUC stand UP!)

I was thoroughly shocked when I went into the New Orleans’ Saks today and saw the Dior Homme Spring ’09 sneakers [in the black and white colorway] on the 50% OFF RACK. So at the risk of getting kicked out of the store, I took this picture and hit up the other chief editor of the Urban Takeøut blog. After a brief discussion we came to the agreement that in any other major city above the Bible Belt, these bad boys would have been expeditiously “scooped.” But sadly, my hometown has never been really fashion forward, or fashion stationary for that matter.

STEP IT UP!

 Take one of the most anticipated footwear collaborations (Kanye West x Louis Vuitton), cross it with an ill photographer (Daniela Muller-Brunke), and what do you get?? A well-done visual presentation of iconic footwear, quarterbacked by Highsnobiety.

Enjoy the rest of the experience here.

This post is dedicated to all those who DIDN’T get a pair of the ever-so-coveted Air Yeezys. With two colorways already released in limited quantities, eBay-ers have treated these sneakers with the same price inelasticity as diamonds — making it pretty difficult to obtain a pair without selling a kidney on the black market.

Today we’re gonna show you a few kicks that (1) ARE available (or will be available shortly), (2) ARE dope enough to draw the attention of others, and (3) WON’T leave your account overdrafted.

EXHIBIT A – The Ocean Runner by Greedy Genius

Likeness: Extended HiTop; Grey Colorway; like the LV sneakers by Kanye…but Hitop.

Where it Differs: Think Sperry x Supra x NIKE….not Kanye x NIKE x Warren Buffet. These are gonna be a heavy hitter upon release, mainly since this is the best looking Greedy Genius shoe to drop. Expect heads to turn, and wallets to say “Thank You”.

EXHIBIT B – RT1 by NIKE (White/Grey/Turquoise colorway) aka “The UnYeezys”.

Likeness: Extended HiTop; Bright contrasting interior; Safari Texture; Protruding tongue.

Where it Differs: Well….add a strap & an air bubble my friends, and PRESTO-Alacazam!! You have an Air Yeezy (but for about $135 LESS).

EXHIBIT C - Ex-O- Fit Hi SG Strap by Reebok

Likeness: Mid-Strap; Vibrant (attention-grabbing) colorways; mixture of materials.

Where it Differs: This sneaker is ALOT more OSTENTATIOUS than the Air Yeezys. It uses tone-on-tone, so more than likely…your sneakers will stand out from the rest of your ENTIRE outfit. Oh…did we mention you can get these for under $100?

YOU CAN’T SAY THAT WE DON’T LOOK OUT FOR YALL!

I just thought I would play a little game with the readers. The rules are simple…name each sneaker’s designer brand (not just designers because a designer for one brand might have his own brand too…hint, hint) but only the ones where you can see both pairs. And you thought you and your dudes were ON IT. You gotta love Paris street fashion. Anyway, comment and let me know what you come up with. And of course I already know the right answers. Lol.

I should go further and ask from what season too…For more pics featuring “on-it” crews like this check out Jak & Jil Blog.

OK ladies it’s pretty obvious that most of the hi-profile hi-tops of the season have been for men. So here are some I found (besides the Upper Echelon hi-tops) for the young women who have a little monetary pool on the side for splurging.

Maison Martin Margiela Line 22 women’s sneaker

These MMMs are my favorite. I’m not sure if it’s the construction and the fact that they show skin, or the fact that the colorway is “nude.” (Take note of the famous Margiela trademark on the underside of the tongue…fabric with the numbers 0 through 23. He did kind of Mike Jordan the fashion game though. Lol)

Y-3 Kimpu sneaker

Essential…all white hi-top for the summer. ‘Nuff said.

Adidas Nizza Hi-top

“Icccey “…not in a sleazy voice. (It looks like they have the wrong shoe stuffer in the sneaker. It’s making it bulge up in the middle)

Free People Cinched High Top sneaker

I’m loving the gathering on these bad girls…right down the middle of the shoe, no laces. These are definitely statement pieces. You gotta make sure that these standout so subdue the outfit, keep the colors light.

Look what the Easter Bunny brought me…another SNEAK TIP featuring Alessandro Dell’Acqua. Shout out to William Yan for getting the pictures (I definitely couldn’t get past the Flash Player on the Alessandro Dell’Acqua site).

I love this designer’s use of contrasting materials on the hi-top sneakers. PUNCTILIO!

Notice there are no straps…The last sneakers we featured from this designer were from a 2007 collection so it’s not surprising that there are no straps in this collection. The strap thing is getting overdone, but I hope it doesn’t get played out soon.