NIKE RT1 HIGH McFly 2009 Barney's Exclusive

Back to the Future themed-post, take II, rolling...

To err is human, to forgive is divine.  I have erred.  You see, as previously chronicled here, I explained that prior to recreating the iconic Air Mag from Back to the Future II, Nike created just four McFly-themed sneakers: the Hypedunk Supremes 2008/2010, the Nike Hypermax McFlys, and the Nike Zoom Tre AD.  But they were all of them deceived, for another ring was made, in the land of Mordor...err, wait, wrong movie.  There was however, another sneaker produced in the McFly colorway, also exclusively sold through one store, and also produced in extremely low numbers.  

Behold, the Nike RT1 High in the McFly colorway.   Produced as a Barney's New York exclusive, these kicks dropped in early 2009 and were only made available in limited quantities.  Nike included the option of a pair of sea-foam/mint laces to match the soles as well, though, the gray laces give them a more stealth appearance.  Although the alternating light and dark grey leather, white sole-trim and  pebbled rear panel give these shoes their own unique stand-alone look, it's clear this pair fell from the BTTF II tree. 

Some rather unique details that propel them forward through time:  my favorite classic/futuristic sneaker detail: horizontal repeating motorcycle jacket-esque ribbing.  The mint paisley on the back of the tongue is a classy hidden touch.  Additionally, a detail that I would venture to be lost on most individuals who are not aware from whence the "Nike" name is derived, is a blink-and-you-missed-it set of stitching on the tongue, an outline in sea foam of the Athena Nike Winged Victory, found at the top of a set of steps in the Louvre. 

Up, up and away....

NIKE Air Revolution VNTG QS 2012

Loving the future does not equate to a dismissal, disregard, or a weariness for things past.  Au-contraire: many times that which is past, can be made new again.  That which is past may in fact have appeared in its day to have been ahead of its time.  More interestingly still, that which is past may still appear to be futuristic-looking. Some things have designs that remain current, relevant, and timeless: these are classic pieces.  However, what really stand out for me, are those pieces that look retro and futuristic at the same time.  

What do I mean?

First, what don't I mean? I don't mean things that were meant to specifically look futuristic in the past.  Consider such things as "futuristic" cars of the 1950s....these vehicles look futuristic, only from the perspective of someone in the 1950's imagining what the future would have looked like.  What happens is that these vehicles look overly 1950s, vice appearing to look futuristic.  

But to achieve both a retro and futuristic look is genius: essentially to look "classic" in any era.  To me, those things that most effectively look and feel futuristic are those, for which, appearing to look pioneering or visionary was incidental.  How does this happen? Through timeless design.  I tend to also favor certain colors that to me appear futuristic.  Think the DeLorean: stainless steel. Obviously the shape is very 80s but the boxy look is making a resurgence in automotive design. Upgrade the technology and the DeLorean still looks au courant today, or, tomorrow.  But the stainless steel was a key in the timeless design. Imagine if the DeLorean had been green or blue? Just not the same.  To me, whether stereotypical or not, greys, silvers, blacks and whites look futuristic because we all envision the future to be sleek, uncluttered: ie, objects will look almost simple because we would have evolved them to their most efficient forms, free of adornments.  Not everyone subscribes to this idea, see: Jean Paul Gaultier's costume designs for the hyper-futuristic The Fifth Element. 

The NIKE Air Revolution re-issue (yes these are a design from the past, but with a brand-new color way), accomplish the difficult task of look retro and futuristic at the same time.  Let's examine: we wore high-tops in the 1980s (original NIKE's), in the 1990s (LA Gear, DK Knights) and through the 2010s (Air Yeezys)...and today.  The Air Revolutions are sleek, uncomplicated and look as though a guy from the year 2025 could wear them, existence of powerlaces or not.  Also, a very small detail make these shoes: the repeating vertical lines on the rubber ankle strap. 

Imagine these being worn with distressed light-wash Diesel jeans, a fitted graphic tee and a clean short haircut.....while listening to Obsession by Animation driving a White Range Rover Evoque.  

NIKE Dunk SE DeLorean 6.0 2010

I dream about the future a lot.  

So apparently did Philip K. Dick, H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, Sirs Isaac Asimov and Arthur Conon Doyle. What is it that draws Man to look to what might be?  Why are wormholes, parallel universes, space-time continuums, and time-machines so mind-blowing and maddeningly alluring?  Is it that we yearn to know the extent of our own mortality... Or do we all just really REALLY want a Mattel hoverboard already.  

Whatever the reasons, the ideas, thoughts, hypothesis, books, movies and...objects that appear futuristic, to those of us futurists, hold particular appeal.  It's one thing to think about the future, but another to hold it in your hand, or, wear it on your feet.  If you're a casual reader of this blog, you'll know that I am fascinated by combinations of things from the past with things from the future, such as a perfectly-tailored suit with a hypermodern pair of kicks.  Chronicled first here, and then also here, I've introduced two visually stunning pairs of sneakers that give me a sense of what we might be bounding about in in the near and distant future.  They're sleek, well thought-out, devoid of trend, and would look at home on a space-ship in the year 2050.  

Fans of the film Back to the Future II, including myself, had been clamoring for years for the Air Mags, which, in 2011, Nike finally released.  Considered to be the holy-grail for sneakerfiles, these shoes sold out immediately at jaw-dropping prices via a special auction on eBay for all 1,500 pairs, with all proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.  A posting on that pair is forthcoming...

In the meantime, Nike sated its hungry fans with several BTTF2-themed kicks.  The Nike Hyperdunk Supremes in 2008 and 2010, the Nike Hypermax McFlys, and the Nike Zoom Tre AD, all served as precursors to the eventual unveiling of the Air Mag.  However, Nike also produced something very special, not necessarily BTTF2-themed, but still a member of the club: the Nike Dunk SE DeLorean 6.0.  

Inspired by the ill-fated automobile styled for more form vice function, the DeLorean, which gained cult status with its inclusion in the BTTF trilogy, Nike designers truly outdid themselves.  On sale the night of November 26th, 2010, aka Black Friday, at nine PacSun locations in the U.S., all 1,500 pairs sold out instantly.  I was able to track down a pair in my size from a DeLorean enthusiast in southern California, and here they are.  Of note, the silvery material of the shoe closely resembles the look of stainless steel, of which the DeLorean was made, and the rear of the shoes feature designs reminiscent of the rear window covering.  However, the surprise comes on the soles: exact renderings of the taillights.  While these sneakers are not necessarily futuristic themselves, they represent and pay homage to something that was.

Trad, meet the back to the future.

  

D&G RTW S/S 2012 Pink Tuxedo Jacket

Want vs. Need.

One of my favor(u)rite lines from any movie, oddly, is from Love Actually, the rom-com even the fellas can admit to liking.  It goes a little something like this:

Professor Snape: So, erm, what do you need? ...
Secretary in the form of lust-interest: No. I don't want something I need. I want something I want.

If one happens to have the means, or the delusional insanity, to spend on frivolous luxuries, I say one only lives one (or twice, according to Nancy Sinatra) so indulge yourself not with something you need, but with something you want.

Where this wants comes from is another issue, but over-simplistically, the brands I tend to frequent, Prada, Lanvin, Hermes, Chanel do an exceptional job of creating and perpetuating "want".  Maybe the want satisfies my original hypothesis for fashion? Let's review:

Who do you want to be?
Where do you want to go?
How do you want to feel?

Perhaps this want fulfills helping me reach who it is that I want to be, helps me get to wear I want to go, and helps me feel how I want to feel.

I recently made a want vs. need purchase. Because, honestly, who needs a blushed baby pink satin and silk D&G tuxedo blazer.  As background, the Spring/Summer 2012 line would be D&G's last, as the brand would be discontinued.  Releasing a statement that read "For the upcoming seasons, D&G will become part of Dolce & Gabbana, giving even more strength and energy to our collections," Domenico and Stefano said "To us, it's like going back to when we began our adventure; full of ideas."

When I saw this piece, I immediately concluded two things: one, I want this, and; second, I know of approximately zero instances in which I would be able to wear it.  Details, details. Slight problem. I have alluded previously that, for high end fashion, I am considered to be a big guy at 6'2" 205lbs. which makes finding pieces I want both troublesome and also very easy, either my size isn't even made, or it's always available. In this case, I lucked out, a 52 and only a 52 was available.  However, I wear a 52 for my shoulders and chest and for my long torso. The arms however were laughably long, but I did not have time for it to be tailored and bought it as was. Now, here is some customer service. I take the jacket to another country, to a newly-opened Dolce & Gabbana store, where to my chagrin, only women's clothing and accessories are sold. I walk up to the counter not optimistic but explain that since I bought the jacket at another location and it's the same brand, could they send it to be tailored..... Answer: Wow, you have one of the last D&G-branded men's runway items, not only can we tailor it for you, we'll do it in the store, today.

Because of the intricacies of the cuff stitching with the satin buttons with functioning button holes, it was decided to to slightly lift the sleeves from the shoulders. How that was accomplished, I will never know, but the result was a perfectly-tailored jacket which I don't anticipate wearing anytime soon. However, I was wearing some old ripped up Diesels and a tshirt to the store when I picked up and tried on the jacket, which according to the sales associates gathered around for my fitting, commented that the look went great as is.  Hmm...