Rather than leaning into bright pops or high-contrast white mesh, the Gridiron wraps the complex upper in deep slate gray and muted iron tones. Metallic silver accents hit the Swoosh and overlays, bringing enough flash to transform the retro performance shoe into a sleek, dark-leaning lifestyle anchor.

The upper is built from breathable open-cell mesh reinforced by TecTuff leather overlays and synthetic paneling. Plastic lace cages along the midfoot and the signature geometric ventilation lattice on the heel counter provide authentic 2010s structural framing, while 3M reflective elements wrap the toe and heel for low-light visibility.

The shoe retains its legendary marathon-grade comfort setup. Cushlon foam works alongside snappy Zoom Air units in both the forefoot and heel, offering all-day responsive impact absorption grounded by a durable, multi-surface rubber outsole.

The Nike Zoom Vomero 5 Gridiron is a welcome departure in the standard release calendar of the silhouette. While classic athletic colorways of the design continue to bolster sales, bold iterations like this continue to prove the shoe’s talent as a versatile silhouette.

As appetite continues to lean towards understated, retro colorways and barely-there sole units, this metallic masterpiece is a flash of something new in a market that can feel oppressively samey at times.

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In 2024, we predicted a massive 2025 for Saucony. In 2026, the sneaker brand is indeed smashing expectations. And, more incredibly, it’s winning all on its own. Mostly.

On August 12, 2026, StockX crowned the Michigan sneaker brand the platform’s fastest-growing, a title previously held by ASICS. The resale company attributes Saucony’s success to the ProGrid Omni 9 and ProGrid Triumph 4, the brand’s trendiest retro tech sneakers. It makes sense, considering the models have enjoyed spins from the brand’s coolest collaborators like Jae Tips and Westside Gunn. But what makes Saucony’s hot streak so interesting is that, not only are the collaborative versions burning up the resale charts, but so are regular old general-release colorways. 

Suddenly, the in-line Sauconys are just as huge as the collaborations; several Omni 9 colorways are flourishing. Often, once exclusivity and big-name collaborators leave the equation, so does interest in a new sneaker model. However, exceptions like the ASICS GEL-Kayano 14 and adidas Samba rode buzzy collaborations with JJJJound and Wales Bonner, respectively, to even bigger success with in-line releases.

Saucony hooked and reeled the world in with its limited-edition Jae Tips sneakers. That same excitement has spilled over to its widely available options, which are moving quickly at both retail and resell levels. Brendan Dunne, StockX’s Senior Director of Customer Community & Engagement, sums it up best. “The person who wanted the Jae Tips x Saucony [collab] is now more likely to buy the more available inline styles,” he tells Highsnobiety. “There is a real desire among most collectors for discovery — we want to wear fresh shoes, things that separate us from the masses. I think that desire brings a lot of people to Saucony, where they can discover new (old) models from an archive that’s never been tapped like this for retro styles.”

It helps that the Saucony hype was pretty quiet for a while, so any attention looks like a gold rush by comparison. But, having been in the game for nearly 130 years, Saucony isn’t new at all. The same models thriving in today’s rotations have been around for a long time. The Omni 9 debuted in 2010, and the Triumph 4 entered the game in 2007, although the only thing that has changed about the sneakers is their purpose. Saucony’s runners are abruptly fashionable, much like many other once-strictly performance-focused models on the market.

Tie that in with sneaker shoppers starving for old-school running shoes that feel fresher than big names like Nike and adidas. That’s where niche brands like Saucony come into the picture, breathing fresh-classic air into the sneaker game.

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What makes the Chrome 8 so iconic is its subversion of traditional Chicago Bulls palettes. While the Air Jordan 8 is best known for its vibrant Aqua and red-accented colorways, this release strips away high-contrast colors in favor of a sleek, dark aesthetic punctuated by metallic hardware. 

Drenched in a deep Black/Chrome palette, the shoe trades standard leather panels for a rich, velvety black durabuck upper. Metallic silver details provide sharp contrast against the all-black foundation alongside the optical illusion of the side panels which are delivered in brush-stroke detailing to mimic chrome.

The upper features the signature cross-over midfoot straps equipped with metallic silver strap buckles that lend the pair its Chrome naming. Monochromatic chenille Jumpman tongue patches and embroidered 23 strap branding up the detail score.

The shoe stays faithful to its 1993 origins with a supportive phylon midsole housing encapsulated Air cushioning. The sculpted black, white, and grey rubber outsole maintains the classic geometric tread pattern, echoing the brush strokes of the side panels.

The world of sneakers is founded on the fact that we all love a retro rerelease. While it can become tiring sometimes, the Air Jordan 8 Chrome shows that when it’s done well, and the shoe has been gone for a while, it can still be the right thing to do.

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With this change in the weather comes, at least for me, a creeping sense of dread about what to wear. It's not quite cold enough for a sweater, but it’s definitely not hot enough for the box-cut shirts stockpiled at the start of summer. 

Fortunately, there’s the long-sleeve polo. One article of clothing that feels sewn by the gods specifically for this season. 

There’s a reason the long-sleeve polo (and its gruffer cousin, the rugby shirt) has never fallen completely out of fashion — or left the closets of dads everywhere. It is incredibly practical. All the attributes that make the OG short-sleeve polo a summer staple are still there: sporty-meets-preppy, semi-formal silhouette, goes with everything from cargo shorts to track pants to baggy jeans. But the long-sleeve variety provides just enough warmth to delay digging out your sweaters. 

Both polos and rugbys might be born of sportswear (although, confusingly, the polo comes from tennis star René Lacoste), but the barrier to wearing them has never been lower. Fashion brands have released variations on the style for years.

You can find a rainbow’s worth of 100% heavyweight cotton jersey rugby shirts at J. Press, or be buried under the weight of the options from stalwarts such as Ralph Lauren. A maximalist Supreme number, all bold stripes and embroidered insignia, was a standout from its Fall/Winter 2026 collection, while a far quieter UMBRO x 417 EDIFICE collaboration was recently released in Japan.  

Spend some time on the streets, where the real heads walk, and the odds of catching sight of a polo-clad passerby are high. Even two members of the world’s biggest boy band, BTS, couldn’t resist the effortless steeze of long-sleeve Polo Ralph Lauren shirts on a recent tour stop. This style of shirt has the gravitational pull of a black hole, but, like, complimentary. 

The long-sleeve polo works because it’s uncomplicated, quietly doing the job it is intended to do: make your torso look good while keeping those noodly arms just warm enough. No fall layering gymnastics necessary. 

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Gohar World's surreal storytelling subverts a high-performance 1990s distance runner with surprising ease. 

Rather than opting for a standard colorway update, the sisters completely dismantle the GEL-DS Trainer chassis, carving out the traditional tongue and vamp to mimic the open instep of a classic pointe shoe.

The upper is built from lightweight technical mesh wrapped in sleek synthetic overlays, featuring a scooped open-top layout that exposes the top of the foot. Rope laces thread through the eyelets, standing in contrast to the elegant mary jane silhouette.

The pair stays anchored to its marathon roots with a sculpted EVA midsole equipped with ASICS' signature GEL® technology in the heel for responsive cushioning. 

A durable rubber outsole maintains reliable grip, putting this pair in the ever-growing group of ballet hybrids sweeping the world of sneakers this year. But, we’d say that not every hybrid is made equal. With fun detailing like a piercing to the forefoot, the Gohar World x ASICS GEL-DS Trainer Ballet is a class apart.

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When Eric Avar designed the Nike Air Foamposite One in 1997, it was considered a radical, almost alien experiment. Liquid synthetic foam was poured into a mold. A process so expensive Nike had to partner with car manufacturer Daewoo to execute it. the shoe broke every rule of traditional sneaker construction. 

Famously championed on-court by Penny Hardaway, the model quickly moved beyond basketball to become a cultural icon, particularly in New York City, where its durability and futuristic mold made it a status symbol. 

It takes a lot to stand out within the Foamposite hall of fame, but the Nike Air Foamposite One Phantom/Barely Volt does it by leveraging modern print tech to transform under low light. In broad daylight, the pair presents a clean, muted palette with a safari-like textured pattern subtly mapped across the molded upper. Once the lights go down, the shell and outsole glow in the dark, paying homage to legendary graphic Foams of the past like the iconic 2012 Galaxy drop.

The upper features the signature molded Foamposite shell in a soft Phantom shade which is surprisingly wearable, accented by a subtle tonal safari-style print that glows vibrant green in the dark. 

Light suede wraps the eyestays for a premium touch, while subtle Barely Volt hits highlight the mini Swoosh at the toe, pull tabs, and Penny’s iconic 1 Cent logo on the heel. This is how to modernize a legend.

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Wedge sneaker truthers, please rise. Isabel Marant's Bekett sneaker is back in a big way. The Bekett Reedition is an ode to the Bekett sneaker that started the wedge sneaker wave back in 2011.

To celebrate the house's standard-setting sneaker, Marant is releasing the Bekett Reedition in the three original colorways that started it all: Red/Navy, Navy/Ecru, and Burgunday/Black.

More than just a sneaker trend, Isabel Marant's Bekket wedges defined an era of boho-Americana fashion adopted by all of the, as A$AP Rocky put it, Fashion Killa's of the time, including his sartorial (and literal) paramour, Rihanna, as well as Beyoncé, and most recently, Blue Ivy Carter.

In fact, she actually wore the same pair her mom did years prior. If that's not generational drip, then what is?

If the Bey x Blue co-sign wasn't enough of a hint, Gen Z has taken just as strong of a liking to Isabel Marant's lifted suede sneakers as the millennials that made it popular in the first place. After years of the OG sneaker holding things down, the Parisian label is ready to unleash the Bekett 2.0, AKA the Bekett Reedition.

There's a lot to be said about nostalgia's place in modern fashion, but for its part, Isabel Marant has kept the wedge sneaker's legacy alive without clogging the scene with incessant nods to the past.

In 2021, Isabel Marant released the Balskee sneaker, a chunkier retooling of the shoe that started it all, to celebrate ten years of the iconic Bekett sneaker. Isabel Marant's famed wedges might be a cult classic, but the brand isn't afraid to freak its signature designs when need be.

To this point, the brand has gotten pretty experimental with its wedged pursuits, as seen with its lifted Converse collab that released a few years ago, in 2024. But it's not just sneakers getting this turnt up treatment. In collaboration with Havaianas, Isabel Marant set the summer ablaze with the studded Maxi Puffed flip-flop. Yes, Marant does flats too.

Despite being on-trend for most of its existence, Isabel Marant's wedge sneaker is forever immortalized in the classic sneaker hall of fame and remains a consistent blueprint for the lifted-up sneakers we see today.

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A factory? I thought. What does that mean? Turns it, it means "Jake's favorite store."

After digging up an Eldridge Street address on the store's Instagram page, I raced over. I couldn't believe it. Not only did they sell ANCELLM but other niche favorites, like Barbell Object, INNAT, and Rice Nine Ten. I felt like I'd won the lottery. Not because I'd hit upon an opportunity to spend money — I mean, sure, that too — but because it felt like I'd willed this space into existence.

The endorphin rush from getting exactly what you want when you least expect it? Bliss.

Timing-wise, it's kinda insane that I found this store at all. The AFACTORY team — there are three members with backgrounds in fashion, who preferred to answer questions for this piece as a collective — told me that they'd opened only 10 days earlier. How do you like that? This is the first time I've sniffed out a just-opened local retailer since... hmmm. It's been a while. But that rush, that surprise, is AFACTORY's aim.

It's laced into the belowground entrance and the soft-focus glass panes that line the wall you pass through to enter, both recalling Japanese architecture and gently obscuring the goodness inside. And it informs AFACTORY's unpretentious layout, which emphasizes the clothes as much as it guides you towards the rear of the store, which hosts a roomy changing room and, soon, a backyard. It all feels very old school. Very early-days of menswear, but with the best clothes of today.

This is a store of discovery. The clothes, the location. Everything about AFACTORY is particular but it still imparts the thrill of newness. "We were very happy with the way you found us," the AFACTORY team told me, "because you literally got our intention."

How would you describe the store to someone who hasn't visited?

AFACTORY: Well, everything is secondary to good product. But we still wanted to make a cozy, friendly place in this busy area of Chinatown.

We always put it like, we're introducing brands we believe in. Every brand we work with has great potential. And they're fresh. Even with brands sold at other stores, we make our selections to showcase them in a different way.

How do you choose the brands you carry?

It's hard to put into words but, basically, it's a kind of... compatibility. Like, Ancellm sits nicely with INTĒRIM and they both make sense with The Duffer N Nephews. We're trying to think of it like, could our friends wear these clothes together? Will the products mix well?

We also care about the people behind the brands. We have relationships with them, which is important because we're thinking long-term. For both brands and stores, it really is down to people. If the people behind them are cold, they'll probably fade away.

Speaking of relationships, there are three of you overseeing AFACTORY. How do you balance the decision-making?

We're different people but we're always thinking about cohesion. When we pick our brands, we're thinking about giving AFACTORY a clear identity. And we're focused on quality — not just sewing and finishing but the ideas, the fits. We have a hunger for good garments. Like, when we're buying product, we attempt to be savvy and think of who'd wear each item but, at the end, we're fashion nerds obsessed with clothes. And we 100 percent trust each other.

That ties in with the name of the store. We thought of it like, we're taking all these different elements — the brands' different aspects, our different backgrounds — to create one finished result, like a factory's assembly line. It's about putting together all these different things that resonate.

The location is interesting because it's not an obvious "fashion retail" address.

Yeah. We didn't want to do something on Orchard [Street, near Dimes Square] because there are so many stores and restaurants there. Also, our friends have stores near here, like BLANKMAG, and a nice restaurant is opening around here soon. This area is going to be kinda post-Orchard, but also not crazy.

But if you hang around this street, you'll see many locals. It's very family-and-friends here. We really like that.

Is there a lot of foot traffic from shoppers?

Yes, which surprised us. We haven't done any press or publicity and yet a lot of people have stopped by. Not even "fashion" people! Regular customers who appreciate and are excited by our brands. We haven't really seen the "fashion" customers yet. It's been a lot of people walking through Chinatown or going to the photo gallery across the street.

You know, most of our clothing is not cheap. But we've had many customers purchase clothes from brands they've never heard of before. We're happy about that, because we don't want to only cater to the "fashion" side of things.

What do you want?

This has been a golden experience for us. We dreamed of opening a store for years. And we saw a lot missing in the retail experience. There are so many good brands out there but not enough stores introducing them. A lot of stores focus on just selling stuff. But we were thinking back to our teenage years, our twenties, and how it felt to go to really great stores, hang out with the people who worked there, and learn about new brands. These were really memorable, valuable experiences. No clicks or AI recommendations. Passion and experience.

We just want to be a good store. A good, classic store. We talk about our favorites all the time. The legendary ones. They don't do marketing and people still go visit to look and discover. That happened here a few days ago: some students stopped by here and they were just so excited. They were like, "Can we take photos?" It reminded us of when we were their age, when we were students going to stores and being like, "This is sick."

This place could be a melting pot, of people, of knowledge. We don't feel like we have that kind of community spot at a menswear store, otherwise. Of course, we're not comparing ourselves to other stores. It's just — that's what we want to make. A really good store.

For collectors who remember the original chaos—or missed out when retail pairs vanished instantly—this release feels like an unofficial, accessible tribute to one of the most elusive grails of the past decade. 

At the height of VLONE's explosive rise, the A$AP Mob-backed label represented the pinnacle of music and fashion crossovers. While Nike abruptly canceled future plans with the brand in mid-2017 and VLONE has long since faded from relevance, the pitch-black leather upper accented by vibrant details remains one of the most iconic visual templates of the Air Force 1.

Today, authentic 2017 VLONE Air Force 1s still command staggering four-figure sums on the secondary market, regularly listing on StockX for anywhere between $4,000 and $6,000+ depending on size. This general-release LV8 edition delivers the same aesthetic at a fraction of the cost.

The layout centers on a smooth black leather upper that completely blacks out the toe box, midfoot panels, and overlays. Taking a cue from that legendary high-contrast color blocking, University Red accents frame the outer edges of the Swoosh, tongue branding, and heel embroidery in place of the bold orange of the OG.

The Nike Air Force 1 '07 LV8 Black/University Red is a nostalgic throwback to a pivotal moment in sneaker history. 

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