Jordan Brand’s decision to release matching Slide models with Air Jordan retro releases seems a bit sporadic, but we’ll take what we can get. We’ve seen the Slides twice this year, once for the Air Jordan III ‘True Blue’ and then for the ‘Stealths’ and we’re getting them again to coincide with the Air Jordan XIV ‘Light Graphite’. As usual, the sandal mimics its namesake colorway, keeping the aesthetics intact despite having drastically less space to work with. Take a full look at the Air Jordan XIV Slide ‘Light Graphite’ after the jump and let us know if you’ll be grabbing these. If so, SoleFly has them in stock right now.

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Trying to nail that classic basketball look but know that your favorite suede and/or nylon pairs simply cannot handle the kind of nasty weather we’re about to experience across the northern hemisphere?  Look no further than the Nike ACG Lava Dunk High, a beefed up take on the 1985 classic with a little Lava Dome thrown in in the form of a classic proto-ACG trail-ready sole.  These two Lava Dunk High Premiums come in high-contrast colorways that feature flipped colorblocking but the same material layout, and you can find both the Max Orange and High Voltage pairs at Nike Sportswear retailers including id4shoes on eBay.

Nike ACG Lava Dunk High Premium
Midnight Fog/Max Orange-Orange Peel-White
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High Voltage/Anthracite-Bold Berry-White
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adidas Originals was among the first brands to show us a wilder side to 2011 when starting back at the beginning of the year, we got a bunch of preview images depciting various classic models with animal print uppers.  The adidas Originals Azzi Mid is actually a new design, though the design is something like a Stan Smith Mid vamp paired with the Immotile cycling shoe’s famed low-profile sole.  Add all that together with a golden croc skin upper plus blue and black corded laces and you’ve got one of the sleeper hits of the year, and they’ll be available at select Three Stripes retailers starting next month.  via ST

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Everybody understands the chess-vs-checkers analogy, but Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto has been playing a different game entirely with his adidas Y-3 capsule.  The decade-old collabo ranks as one of the industry’s longest running, and it’s managed to stay fresh thanks to outrageous releases like the adidas Y-3 Honja High pictured above.  While his peers are going crazy over wild animal prints after having spent much of the post-recession era offering plain tonal designs, Yamamoto proves once again that his mind is unbounded by popular trends with this dope geometrically-patterned polka dot look.  Click through so you can see some more images and if these tickle your fancy, get them straight from the Y-3 e-store.

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When we talk about someone having ‘hops’, it’s generally a case of extraordinary jumping ability, but who’s to say you can’t put your hops on display in a casual setting? Nike Sportswear’s latest lifestyle release comes in a seasonally appropriate colorway named after a key ingredient enjoyed in brews year round, the Nike Toki Mid in Golden Hops suede. These are reminiscent of a variety of Timbo-like ‘wheat’ kicks we’ve seen in recent years, but the Toki’s distinct chukka-turned-sneaker lines make it a standout along with the unique faux carbon fiber weave on the heel. Click on the jump below to examine some additional angles and look for these at NSW spots like Titolo.

Nike Toki
Golden Hops/White
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The process of taking classic retro models and beefing them up with boot-like additions seems to be getting more and more common, and will no doubt ramp up in the coming winter months. A bit ahead of the curve comes the adidas Originals ZX 8000 wrapped in smooth brown leather that combines with d-ring laces to give them a very outdoorsy feel. This one is a far-reach from the classic trainer look typically exuded by the adidas Originals ZX 8000, but the release works by transforming the shoe into an entirely different context. Check out the photos after the jump and let us know what you think of this new look for the adidas ZX 8000, which is available now at Afew.

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Things have been all quiet on the ‘Cool Grey’ front over the past month, a break from the barrage of similarly colored sneakers that seemed to dominate the first half of 2011. Well it’s not over yet, as the Jordan 2′Smooth pictured above is poised to make a last stand for the classic shade before the year’s end. The Jordan 2′Smooth is a low cut basketball sneaker that borrows most heavily from the Air Jordan XX, both in its artfully lasered upper and its Podulon soles on bottom. Take a full look at the Jordan 2′Smooth in cool grey after the jump, and hit up Finishline to grab a pair for yourself.

Jordan 2′Smooth
467815-020

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Where did all these sneaker to outerwear crossovers come from? It seems like everyday another brand drops an update on a go-to style featuring material selection that speaks to a trail ready sensibility. The Hundreds puts their two cents in here with the ‘Hiker Pack’, a combo of pieces featuring the Hundreds Johnson Mid and the new Riley High. A clean brown leather wraps the uppers, with metal d-rings lined up with red boot laces, all sitting on a caramel colored sole. Take a full look at both of these after the jump and let us know which one sports the boot look better. Both pairs from the ‘Hiker Pack’ are available now at Premier.

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The Vans DQM General Store is now officially open for business! Combining the avant-garde, rebellious nature of skate with a gritty yet refined blue-collar ambiance, the Vans DQM General Store utilizes the working-class decorum of the classic cobbler while focusing on premium Vans footwear and apparel. Dotting the earthy backdrop a wall of blank skate-decks and some vintage Vans shoeboxes, which help complete the gorgeous in-store set-up – certainly one of the best in New York’s famed SoHo shopping district. Thursday night was a celebration marking the opening of the Vans DQM General Store, and friends and family of the Vans and DQM circles got a first-hand look at the collaborative store while enjoying live music and a Vans sneaker cake. Check out the recap of the night’s events below and be sure to check out the Vans DQM General Shop, located on 93 Grand St. in lower Manhattan.

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We saw Nike going in on the black and gold color combo back in February for their Black History Month collection, and this just released Nike Air Classic BW comes off as an echo of that motif. As with the aforementioned February releases, the gold is strictly an accenting color here, silhouetting the swoosh and showing up on the gradient above the Big Window Air Max unit. The “Nike Air” and “Air Max” graphics also come in the regal gold, breaking up the black leather that otherwise dominates the upper. This is the latest in a string of strong releases for the Nike Air Max BW for this month, keeping this sometimes forgotten Air Max sneaker in the public eye. We’ve got a full look of the Nike Air Classic BW in black/metallic for you after the jump, and if you feel like you need them then hit up Titolo.

Nike Air Classic BW
Black/Metallic Gold
309210-032

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The world of sneakers has fallen back to Earth after last week’s astounding release of the Nike Mag 2011, but Sneaker News was still filled with some great news from the world of kicks. Let’s start of with Air Jordans, because we showed you samples of the upcoming Military IV and Air Jordan XIIs as well as sneak peeks at the new Jordan Son Of Mars hybrid sneaker. The Nike LeBron 9 was a major topic thanks to the unveiling of new Miami-inspired and China colorways in addition to news of a $250 P.S. Elite. Nike SB did its usual rounds, as we previewed upcoming releases, and the Nike Air Yeezy popped up on the feet of Tiffany Beers, NSW Design Innovator and contributor to the Nike Mag 2011. More on Nike included the news of the OG 49ers colorway of the Nike Air Diamond Turf II and the NCAA Football PE colorways of the Nike Trainer 1.3 Free.

Celebrities and athletes were also featured this week, as we brought you a look at some of the most iconic sneakers from the 80′s and 90′s spotted on the feet of celebs during that time. We got a look at two Air Jordan Cleats from Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season as well. Saucony made a big splash thanks to the release of the Bodega x Saucony Elite Grid 9000, which featured four astounding colorways of the classic trail-inspired runner. It was a nice ‘come-back’ week for customs, as we got a look at four Air Jordan and three Nike SB custom jobs. Another sneaker event went down in Austria, as we got a nice recap of Sneakerness Vienna. There’s plenty more to see so stick around and check out the Sneaker News Weekly Rewind!

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These days, Air Jordans are prized for their visual appeal and their performance aspects. But be reminded that the Air Jordan sneaker is first and foremost a performance sneaker, as Tinker Hatfield’s process in designing sneakers begins with creating a shoe around the human foot. Air Jordan comfort took an interesting turn when Zoom Air cushioning was first introduced to the Air Jordan legacy via the Air Jordan XII, and here we have a look at the two Air Jordans that bookend the Air Jordan XII and it’s full-length Zoom; the Air Jordan XI was supported by full-length Air embedded into the midsole, while the Air Jordan XIII utilized a combination of Zoom Air compartmentalized on the heel and forefoot – a set-up used on Hyperdunk 2011. So which type of cushioning bodes better for on-court performance? Well, Michael took the Bulls to 72 wins, won his fourth NBA title, and took home the MVP trifecta (All-Star, Finals, and League) while wearing the Air Jordan XI. In the air Jordan XIII, he also won a title and the trio of MVPs, scored more during the Playoffs, but won 10 fewer regular season games. A strong case can be made for either season, but check out the detailed juxtaposition of the Air Jordan XI and Air Jordan XIII soles below and let us know which season – ’95-’96 or ’97-’98 – was better! via hoopchina.

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