Shelf Space: Sneakers for Sale at Saint Alfred (Chicago)

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 headed to one of our favorites — St. Alfred, located in Chicago, Illinois. The store manager and photographer, David Robinson, gave us a look at 10 of the newest sneakers currently sitting on the store shelves. Hit the thumbnails and arrows above to see his picks, and to read what he has to say about each one.

St. Alfred says: "Off top, these remind me of the Deluxe x Vans collab that was done last year. This is a great shoe for when someone has to get a little dressy but doesn't want to put on hardbottoms."

St. Alfred says: "The 574 is one of my favorite NB styles and it looks great with almost anything. I've been appreciating some of the rich colors New Balance has been doing. In my opinion, even though these are a little bright, I still think they're good for the fall. These can be the only color pop you need to go with whatever fall apparel you have."

St. Alfred says: "Most Spizikes don't really register on my radar but, seeing these in person, I definitely appreciate them more. The materials loook good and the blue is a really rich blue with an ice sole. If I wasn't such a diehard Bulls fan from the MJ era, I would slip these on. But I can't wear anything with Knicks colors."

St. Alfred says: "Converse has been killin' it with their collabs and this one is no different. This isn't the first time Missoni and Converse have gotten together to work on a Chuck Taylor and these stand out like all the other ones. This is a shoe that you're going to look back on and wish you picked up."

St. Alfred says: "Many women assume we don't carry shoes for them, but we've been working hard to bring in shoes that we think women would like and that are also something that we personally think are fresh. We have a good amount of sneakers in store for women but I wanted to pick these because I love seeing women in IIIs and Wallys. Both shoes are timeless and I'll usually do a double take if I see a woman wearing a pair. They can be worn with almost anything and it's dope seeing them in a size smaller than you're used to dealing with."

St. Alfred says: "I've personally been coming in contact with a lot of shoes that have using 3M material on them. I don't mind these at all, I think it's dope that the whole shoe is 3M. These are perfect for some of our customers who bike, especially at night. Or for someone that wants to have their feet stand out while walking out and about."

St. Alfred says: "I haven't really been a fan of all the Vac Techs Nike has been releasing, but after seeing these in person I was impressed by how they came out. The tonal laces and gum bottom are also a nice touch."

St. Alfred says: "These are dope, period. I love black shoes and I love how these are mostly black with the Native American blanket colors on the heel. These were an automatic grab."

St. Alfred says: "This is the second color in the Horween Dr. J Pro. The leather on these is unbelievable and will only get better with age. A Horween Chromexcel leather shoe for $90 is something you can't miss. I love the black version but this burgundy I'm feeling more."

St. Alfred says: "These need no explanation. You already know. RIP JMJ."