#shegotstyle: My Reebok Classic's #StepForward Custom Marble Sneakers
As a sneaker fan since childhood, I've always dreamed of having my own shoe. I've customized pairs, designed on Nike iD and even went to sneaker design school to learn about sketching silhouettes from scratch and material and textile design. Putting a creative spin on sneakers and other fashion pieces is a great way to flex your artistic muscles but it's often hard to find some time to take a break and paint.
Recently, Reebok sent me a very cool kit to customize a pair of the Reebok Classic white leather sneakers. It's part of their #stepforward project which asks artists and influencers to define what their version of Classic is to them. The kit came in a giant branded paint can which included a blank canvas, paints (white, black and shades of grey), brushes, a tray, a black Krink marker, extra shoelaces and a paint mask.
It took me a little while to decide what I wanted to do with the shoe, as I love a classic white sneaker with a gum sole - it's so clean! I decided to go with a marble print as marble is a classic, natural stone that never goes out of style. I already have a marble laptop case, a marble agenda, marble bookends...so you get my enthusiasm for the stone. I didn't want to do the full shoe in marble so instead I wanted to colourblock it, so it could serve as a compliment to the white leather, gum sold and canvas laces.
To paint the shoe I decided to opt for nail polish instead of regular paint to ensure that the design could stay on the sneaker and dry properly. I wanted to make sure that I could not only create my own custom piece of art, but also wear it in the streets. After a ton of research on Pinterest, DIY blogs, Tumblr and a trip to both the Dollar Store and the art supply store, I was ready to go. I decided to use nail polish colors that were closed to the paints that Reebok sent me - black, white, light grey, graphite - and also added a few of my own colours using silver, mint green and gold. I've seen all three colours created in nature on marble in the past and I thought it would add a personal touch. I also picked up a gold textile medium marker to add my own touches of gold to the sneaker to compliment the gum sole.
Once I had all my supplies, I planned out my design and taped the show accordingly. To get the marbling effect for your sneakers, first make sure your taped up tightly. Then get a large bowl or tin and fill it with water - I used a foil turkey container from the Dollar Store. I added droplets of paint to the water and quickly swirl it around so it looks kind of like marble. The nail polish will dry fast so work quickly. Dip the untaped portions of the shoe in the paint, do one coat and see how it looks. I recommend doing one coat the cover the entire taped portion at a time. Then add more layers as it dries. Do both shoes and dunk as needed. Then once you're happy with the pattern, set it to dry.
After, I removed all the tape and touched up, adding more nail polish with a paint brush or sponge where necessary. You can remove excess paint from the edges with your finger or nail polish, but you won't be able to clean off entire sections - that paint is more or less permanent. I then went in with my gold marker to add touches to the tongue, Reebok branding and in the marble pattern itself, giving a little shine. Once I was happy with the design, I went over all the nail polish sections with an essie gel top coat to give it a subtle sheen.
After I washed my hands, arms and nails (this is a messy project no matter what) and the shoe had tried I was able to lace up the shoe and shoot it. While the shoes aren't quite perfect, I'm pretty happy with the outcome. Much like a piece of salvaged marble, they're a little rough but still a work for art for some. Let me know what you think of the sneakers and enjoy a few beauty shots below. Thanks to Reebok Classics for involving me in the #stepforward project. This is what classic is to me.
Photos by Pierre Richardson. Shot on location at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal.
#shegotfit: Additional images of adidas PureBOOST X for espnW's We Tried It
Today marked the debut of my new column for espnW called We Tried It, in which I wear items from the fitness, athletic wear and athleisure space. Given that I love to stay active and always up trying new gear or sports, it's right up my alley. In the debut article, I try out the new adidas Running PureBOOST X - the first female-specific performance shoe from adidas. Since there's only room for two photos in the post, I figure I should share the rest of the shoot that was done for the piece. Check out the images below and let me know if you've tried out the PureBOOST X yet.
Credits:
Photos: Pierre Richardson
Sneakers: adidas PureBOOST X - courtesy of Finishline
Leggings: Mission I’m Possible by Fruition
Tee: UNIQLO hyperwarm long sleeve t-shirt
Bra: Under Armour
Sunglasses: Celine from Native Ken Eyewear
#shegotstyle: Elements of Personal Style with @nikelab x @sacaiofficial and @champssports
Fashion and style are often looked at as two different entities - fashion is the business, while style is more a question of personal taste. As my style continuously evolves, it always remains intrinsically different. In the age of blogging and social media, I've often felt both a sense of kinship with fellow fashion weirdos but also, a bit outcast when it comes to what generates likes, hearts and emojis. Prevailing trends have become somewhat homogenous, across Instagram, Pinterest and influencers. Can there be early adoption in the style world anymore thanks to the internet? Is personal style still personal, or is it all for public display?
Fashion and style are often looked at as two different entities - fashion is the business, while style is more a question of personal taste. As my style continuously evolves, it always remains intrinsically different. In the age of blogging and social media, I've often felt both a sense of kinship with fellow fashion weirdos but also, still a bit of an outcast when it comes to generating likes, hearts and emojis. Prevailing trends have become somewhat homogenous, across Instagram, Pinterest and influencers. Can there be early adoption in the style world anymore thanks to the internet? Is personal style still personal, or is it all for public display?
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
Growing up, I was always most happy when I was taking style risks. Within the risks, there are always a few elements that I take into account when selecting pieces and creating looks to the pieces that I select still fit into my overall signature look. The "athleisure" trends is something that was always organic to me, mixing skate shoes and sneakers with dresses, long before Vogue and Chanel followed suit. Sporty spice elements and comfort are necessary in all almost all of my ensembles. "High and low" dressing, wearing high fashion brands and more accessible labels, is now de rigueur. As Zara outfits and Nike sneakers are oft paired with Chanel bags and Celine glasses (guilty). Finally, I like special pieces and texture. The mark of an interesting outfit is always in the mix of textiles as wearing the same fabric head to toe, even in different colors and patterns, seems a bit safe. Adding a fur, leather or suede elements to say, neoprene or cotton adds dimension and interest that I love.
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
Keeping all these elements in mind, I was ecstatic when I heard that Japanese brand Sacai was collaborating with Nike Lab, Nike's most progressive and fashion forward label. Chitose Abe, Sacai's founder and designer, used to work for Comme des Garçons, under one of my idols - the legend Rei Kawakubo. Abe's designs are often made with interesting and unique textiles, incorporating cool details and plenty of movement. It's a much more progressive brand choice than other athletic wear collaborations as of late. The first iterations of collection caught my eye, but I didn't have a chance (or at the time, the $$$) to invest in a few pieces. Naturally, I was over the moon when a package from Nike Lab showed up on my doorstep a few weeks ago.
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
The packaging itself is special, as my jacket came in a large, cloth garment bag and hanger that was branded with the collaboration's logos (Nike always remembers these small touches). Inside was Abe's unique take on the infamous windrunner, Nike's marquee lightweight jacket. The hood and body of the jacket is completely covered in faux fur made from acrylic and polyester, while the arms made of ripstop fabric feature prominent Nike branding.
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
The actual shape of windrunner is different too, as it's loose fitting with a trapeze coat type of cut similar to the swinging jackets of the 1960's. There is a elastic cord with toggles along the bottom hem of the jacket that allows you to adjust the flare of the trapeze shape, but it's most fun to wear the jacket unbunched at the hem so it flounces as you walk (or spin - you definitely need to spin in this jacket). The loose fit coupled with the heavier weight of the faux fur means that when the jacket is worn open, it hangs off the shoulders, allowing for more movement, rather than a snug fit.
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
Styling the jacket, especially given the volt (neon lime green) and midnight blue colorway, was a bit of a challenge. I wanted the rest of the outfit to echo the three main elements of the Nike Lab x Sacai jacket - high fashion, sporty styling, and a textural melange. I decided to pair the bright jacket neutral colors and relatively basic silhouettes rendered in interesting fabrics. My top is a black Elizabeth and James crop top with a mesh insert between the bust. Since the jacket is so detailed and covered up, I wanted to show a little skin to balance it out and wear black so the colors popped against the top. The shorts are by Rick Owens and are made of cream silk with a drop crotch silhouette. They're simple, but interesting and not always the easiest to wear when you're thicker in the thigh department like me. Much like the top there is a sheer element as the shorts are somewhat see-thru and the length also allows me to not be so swallowed up by fabric - long, wide pants felt too heavy paired with the jacket. To add a little more interested and cover myself up a tad, I wore Pretty Polly tights under the shorts. They tie the top with the shorts as the tights are both black and sheer and give a bit of a graphic, streetwear element to the look.
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
The shoes are the Nike Roshe Run Print and are courtesy of the fine people at Champs Sports. The sneakers, like the rest of the outfit besides the jacket, are black and white with some visual interest thanks to the print. I was originally planned to wear black and white block heels, which also works for the look, but decided against it to show that even a short girl can wear such a voluminous piece like the windrunner without having to add extra inches. Since we shot in daytime on an overcast day, I kept my Celine sunglasses handy.
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
Personally, I love the jacket. It allows me to make a personal style statement without having to even open my mouth. It's impossible to be a bad mood when you wear the windrunner because it's so unique and equal parts utilitarian and ostentatious. Fashion should be fun, and personal style should make you feel happy, empowered and most importantly, like the very best version of yourself. After all, who doesn't want to look like an high fashion muppet? Grover wishes he could be this chic!
Photo by Pierre Richardson.
The jacket retails for $800 US but is unfortunately completely sold out on Nike.com. However there are a few popping up on eBay if you're so inclined. The shoes are available at Champs now for $80 US. More outfit images and the Polyvore shopping guide for the rest of my look is below, using a mix of exact and similar items. Thanks for reading and let me know how you would style the Nike Lab x Sacai windrunner or if you'd be daring enough to wear it yourself!
Hello, World!
All photos by Pierre Richardson.
shegotgame @ #ALLSTARTO - #SNKRSXPRESS Experience
All aboard the #SNKRSXPRESS! Nike Basketball always come up with some of the most inventive experiences and All-Star in Toronto is no exception. One of the most interesting activations is the #SNKRSXPRESS experience which is a tricked out Toronto streetcar featuring an interactive buying experience. You embark the train at 277 Queen Street West thanks to reservation on Nike.com/Toronto. Once you're inside you're issued a boarding pass, take a photo of your "game face" and check out all the product on display. There are all sorts of basketball-inspired touches like a basketball chandeliers and light fixtures, a table full of heat and even a shoe cleaning station courtesy of Jason Markk.
Next up, you board the car and get an assigned seat. Each seat is assigned an Nike Basketball NBA player - I had Draymond Green. Next, you put on a pair of headphones and watch an introduction video by the Raptors' own DeMar DeRozan on an iPad. DeMar breaks down the experience, which includes trivia games, curated Spotify playlists, a GameFace photo generator, and of course the option to buy shoes.
The shoes available for purchase show up on the SNKRS app right on the iPad. The items available will change throughout the weekend and include the latest heat from Nike Basketball as well as retros and re-releases. Once you make the purchases, you pick them up at your final stop on the #SNRKSXPRESS. The ride takes about 20 minutes and is a fun, immersive experience. There are plenty of fire kicks on display all the custom details - like the Nike branding, wood panelling and the complete overhaul of a Toronto staple - is really dope. If you get a chance to take a rid, you won't regret it! If not, be sure to check out the photo below and let me know what you'd cop if you had the chance.
Photos courtesy of Katherine Roy. Special thanks to Jordan and Nike Basketball.
shegotgame @ #ALLSTARTO: Jordan Brand's 306 Yonge Flagship
It's official - Jordan Brand now has a home in Canada. Yesterday, the doors opened to 306 Yonge the first Jordan flagship outside of the United States. The store features an open concept with sections devoted to different collaborations - Public School and OVO - along with a heat wall of classic Jordan silhouettes. There's a hearty mix of performance, like the Jordan XXX, along with a Skill Performance section that lets you test our their new performance silhouette. There are Toronto branded tees that feature the AJ1 on a skate and the CN Tower and our many languages. The entire stockroom is incased with glass so not only can you pick up your pair from the wall, but you can see what's actually in stock. There are no back door deals in the shop!
Downstairs is the 306 Underground - Jordan's customization centre. There are multiple options for customization including sweats, tees, and dri-fit shirts, ranging from $42-$185 Canadian. You can choose embroidery or screen printing from various Canadian artists including Toronto photographer JayScale. You get to watch your items being created right in front of you and the entire experience is well curated. In the Underground space there's a barbershop, coffee and tea and of course, plenty of swag to check out. My favorite part of the entire experience is how well Jordan Brand has embraced Toronto - thanks to the hockey jersey pins, the Toronto signs, the inclusion of Toronto artists - the 6ix is finally on the footwear map in a real, authentic way. It makes me proud of a Toronto sneaker kid at my core.
Check out more images of the 306 Yonge and 306 Underground below. I'll bring you everything from the best of #ALLSTARTO so stay tuned for updates here on and on my social media - @shegotgame on Twitter and Instagram and shegotgame85 on snapchat.
Photos courtesy of Jordan Brand and Jennifer Toole.