Friday, September 13, 2013

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.  













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