Half of the sneaker game is knowing what kicks are out when, and which shops have them. Our Shelf Space column looks at what shops around the country are stocking in a given week, and gives a quick glimpse into the mind of the buyer/manager/owner who put them there.
As we continue our mission of bringing you the insides of the best sneaker spots from around the U.S., we stop in at Extra Butter, located in Rockville Centre (Long Island), NY. Jason Faustino gave us a look at 10 of the hottest sneakers currently sitting on its shelves. Hit the jump to see his picks, as well as what he has to say about each one.
Vans California Switchback, $80
"It's fall now, and if it weren't for spring, this would be my favorite season. This is the go-to shoe right now. Good with any outfit, on any occasion. There's a jersey-like mesh on the inside that makes you want to go all hippie and sock-less. Not happening though."
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Adidas Fortitude Mid, $80
"It's rare these days that a new shoe comes out and just immediately says, 'Hi, I'm here and you already want me!' The Fortitude Mid is one of those shoes, and this style has been on my feet quite a bit. I remember seeing things on the interwebs and people getting sensitive about the 'x'-stitching. Silly stuff. I'm straight-edge, so I just tell people that's what the x's are for!"
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Toms Botas, $79
"Lately, I've been listening to older music that actually stood for something, and it brought me back to my days when I was heavily involved with Amnesty International. I did good things for good causes, which we could all use a little more of. In addition to being simple and classy, these waxed canvas Toms will allow you to do a little good as well."
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Nike Air Force 1 High Premium LE, $135
"It's near the end of 2010. You'd think I'd be over this reflective material that everyone calls '3M' by now, but I'm not. I'm a straight sucker for it. And this murdered-out, reflective black Air Force is just mean. This falls into a category of shoes at the shop we've dubbed 'Sinister Minister.'"
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Saucony Hangtime, $75
"Burgundy suede could be all over a wart-infested pony, and you know what? I'd still say it looked dope. A pony is a frightening animal with a gargantuan head that freaks me out...but I digress. These old-school flavors remind of times before my time—and fake nostalgia is hysterical! But, really: Come to the shop and see Scoop rock these loose-laced with gray denim, and somehow try rocking them cooler then that!"
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Vans Mountain Edition Low, $55
"Now to a time period I do know—early to mid-'90s. This shoe reminds me of then. I think of baggy jeans with frayed bottoms and walking around listening to music on my Walkman that I'd later quote on various notebooks (instead of now on Twitter). But even today, the shoe looks rugged and fresh. The low price is always a plus as well."
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Adidas Jeremy Scott License Plate, $160
"I'm a fan of Jeremy Scott's bizarro designs, and taking a chunky Adidas high-top from the '80s and putting an NY license plate on its tongue is genius. Most might think of the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song, but I think Jeremy should do another version that matches the old gold/blue NY license plates, so it can be more Nas, 'NY State of Mind'-y."
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Air Jordan 2 Retro "Vashtie", $95
"Vashtie did the female Jordan-heads a solid here by coming out with a unique pair of 2s just for them. She also pissed off dudes like me who wish they were made in big sizes! Hell yeah I'd wear purple, but the point is, Jordan Brand should keep working with creative individuals...*cough, cough*me*cough*"
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Air Jordan 2 Retro QF, $135
"Back-to-back Jordan 2s. I slept on these, and Jordan 2s overall. It wasn't 'til this year that I became a fan of the style—shame on me. I'm a Pisces who loves water and when these are on I look down at my feet and imagine they've been in cold water for so long that I got hypothermia. That mesmerizing quality sold me—you'll want them years from now, I know it."
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Nike Air Carnivore, $110
"This one gets a lot of hate. It's simple for me. They're outrageous. I wanted them as a kid, never got them; now they're back, so I got them. The exotic print on the side makes me crazy and I'd like a future home of mine to feature a nice play between the good and evil of purple and green, like in the movie Unbreakable."
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