The shoes make the man, or so they say!
David Lee Scales wrote an insightful first-person tell all about Kelly Slater’s Venice art show Apolitical Process. You must read here but, if in a hurry, his summation was:
The people in attendance were so beautiful and such a diverse bunch. Everyone was very kind and happy. All in all, a great turn out and a great event. The exhibit on the other hand, unfocused and unless you happen to be in Venice, not too exciting.
Tucked one paragraph above, though, was the sentence that got me very hot.
Kelly arrived midway through the evening and was swarmed with fans trying to get iPhone photos. His silly shoes were the highlight of the evening for me, although I don’t think anyone else noticed…
Silly shoes? I raced directly to the dropbox of photos included with the story and feverishly scrolled until I found the image.
There they were, so crisp, so white, with the undeniable green and red motif. Only a fool or asshole would not know they were Gucci**.
And I have been waiting for this moment ever since Kelly left Quiksilver for the pastures of Kering. The company that provides financing for his OuterKnown and also owns Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta and… Gucci.
Now, the more savvy but not super savvy amongst you will throw hands up right now and cry, “Gucci is played out, foo!”
Aha! But that is why not super savvy! The brand is undergoing a design renaissance, turning to a Canadian street artist/snowboarder who creates under the handle Gucci Ghost for the most recent collection launch. You should read about him here.
And all very wonderful. So wonderful that I wandered into the flagship Gucci store in New York and wandered out with a glorious pair of loafers on my hoofs. Like Kelly I used to love designer sneakers but have realized that men belong in leather soles.
In any case, Kelly is famously and notoriously cheap so I can’t imagine he purchased but it made me wonder? Does he get the keys to the vault when he flies private (and depressed) to France?
What would you like to see the world’s greatest surfer sheathed in?
And if you want to look like Kelly Slater buy his shoes here!
*Sneakerhead slang for extremely white shoes.
**Read: Only a fool or asshole would know they were Gucci.
just copped a pair.
do i run the Ace leather low top tonight or the Bordeaux 7’s?
Each to their own I guess, but writing an article and frothing over a blokes sneakers.
Whatever.
That’s Chaz for ya! Like the wart on my foot, his narcissistic fashion ramblings are just an unsightly part of him that I choose to ignore because the rest is awesome.
They look like shit 1990s Adidas shell toes that white trash fools wore while riding 45mm wheels. Brand screams bucks, aesthetic screams ‘Welcome to Lemoore’.
I tend to agree with you on many things, Mariano, however: disparaging the Adidas Superstar is tres harsh. Besides, these are more of a Stan Smith ripoff.
45mm wheels though – fuck that shit.
Would it make you feel better if I told you that I exclusively skate Adidas now? Busenitz vulcs 4 lyfe!
I and the ghost of Jam Master Jay are satisfied.
“Silly” is a charitable way of putting it. Sorry, Kelly… those shoes are gay. I wouldn’t wear them, even if they were free.
Gay is fab!
David lee Fishscales! Jeah!
“Our classic low-top leather sneaker is designed with cut-out details along the side that reveal a shiny lurex Web underneath.” – Only $695, what a fucking bargain!
I actually bought shoes made of cocaine for less.
Don’t ask how much my loafers were!
3 hookers and a half ounce of peruvian?
A whole ounce!
https://www.google.ie/imgre…
Well if the Gucci Jordaan ostrich loafer is anything to go by maybe $2,300 – but looks like money well spent
what the fuck is “lurex”? is that Italian for “coke”? they look like shitty Stan Smiths