This time around is different, though. Following the usual patiently made wristpieces that’ve built Naoya Hida & Co.’s status as one of the most exciting new names in horology, the seven-year-old brand unveiled an unexpected hand-engraved collaboration. And now it has another in the works, this time working with 160-year-old Swiss watchmaker Zenith.

Naoya Hida, founder of the fledgling eponymous watch label, is the first person selected by Zenith for its new “double signed” collection. A tradition from the golden age of watchmaking, where manufacturers teamed up and traded expertise, ZENITH is bringing back the collaborative practice of double signing through a long-term program. 

For its debut, the collection focuses on Zenith's Calibre 135, a precision movement from 1949 that holds a record-breaking 230+ chronometry prizes. 

“The idea was to capture the atmosphere and spirit of the Calibre 135 era in a modern way,” Hida said in a statement. “I aimed for something restrained, yet with deep dimensionality.” That translates into a new expression of the G.F.J. collection, a watch debuted by Zenith last year, where all indications, including the Zenith and Naoya Hida & Co. branding, are the handiwork of master engraver Keisuke Kan and filled with blue Japanese Urushi lacquer.

The traditional Japanese craftsmanship continues onto three strap choices, one of which is made from rare Himeji Kurozan leather, also treated with Japanese urushi lacquer before being hand-polished, while the others utilize Wagyu leather from Kyoto and cotton denim from the famed Kaihara Denim mill. 

It may sound like there are only a paltry number of the $75,000 watches to go around, given that only ten numbered units are releasing, but that’s actually quite a deep offering by Naoya Hida & Co.’s standards. Not that it’ll be enough to satisfy the huge demand that always follows.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

The Perfect Sleeve Length Is Counterintuitive

I’ve heard every joke under the sun for rocking my short-sleeve button-ups, ever since I first took a liking to them during that ur-hipster Urban Outfitters era where no hem went unrolled. It’s giving bus driver, Euro sex tourist, the pasty grandpa who’s island-hopping across Hawai’i, a bowling alley regular. 

Upon review of the vast amount of products I scan every day, however, I feel vindicated in telling you now that designers are widely embracing the short-sleeve shirt for men more seriously than ever — especially in combination with long-sleeves (pretend-layered) underneath. And in summer no less, which brings me to my core question: Is our understanding of ideal sleeve lengths due for an overhaul? I mean, the folks over at Uniqlo or Stüssy, at Dries Van Noten and Jacquemus sure seem to think so.

While the long-sleeve-under-short-sleeve combo evokes One Tree Hill a bit more than I can personally stomach, each item's standalone rizz-surrection speaks to hunches I'm very smug to admit I’ve already had. To me, the long-sleeve t-shirt has always been superior to its shortened counterpart. There's a je ne sais quoi about how the extra fabric stretches and widens the outline of arms, helping one's entire silhouette appear both leaner and bulkier at once, regardless if athletically slim-fitted à la Literary Sport, or relaxed and waffley as per District Vision. Last year's henley resurgence reinforces this sentiment too, with the top's placket only adding to that stud-ish, underwear-y appeal, as a subtle-yet-sensual option for cleavage. 

Not all short-sleeve shirts are created equal either: Today's best pieces come modernized and exaggerated, both in how they're tailored and styled — bigger, boxier, bell-shaped. Not that I would've needed anyone's approval to begin with, but if my Auralee-an taste arbiters (and by this point, even COS) are endorsing what's been considered second-best to long sleeve button-ups, then who dare tease me again?

The truth is, neither short-sleeved nor long-sleeved have ever not been around. This new wave of these styles isn't about a reemergence, per se, as much as it is about them receiving attention in unprecedented ways, and appreciation by a new order of coolness. That’s fashion for you. 

But does this mean polos over, too? Is it all J. Press rugbys from here on out instead? And how long, dear Lord, until three-quarter raglans come back?! Oh, wait… 

Open Tabs: Everything We've Got Our Eyes On Right Now

• Now, having made the case for a long-sleeved summer, we may as well quickly assess some of the autumnal wear already hitting stores: Polo Ralph Lauren's wool overshirt and canvas jacket, for instance, both carry a warm-weather color palette into fall.

• Meanwhile, this bright Lady White Co. one is a number you can easily wear now. 

• …And it'll go perfectly with these Stone Island cargo shorts.

• ​For a brand better known for its superb apparel, I didn't realize Ssstein had such a strong accessories game!

• ​Nike x COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS’ Air Max Dolce is… a sight to behold.

• By contrast, this purist Our Legacy shoe keeps things classy and traditional. 

• COS’ just-over-a-hundred-bucks wide-legged cotton pants will serve you all year round, in either color, for the fanciest or grimiest of occasions just the same (and totally flatter your short shirts and long tees by the way).

• The perfect, non-Boston, inexpensive mule does not exi—or wait. Thank you, Dr Martens!

• Had someone mentioned teal-toned sunglasses to me a week ago, I'd have told them to leave me alone. But these Oakleys sure do make a compelling case for themselves.

• ​Setting the sartorial mood for the FIFA 2026 World Cup doesn’t just mean dressing in sticky, stinky soccer jerseys. With Zara's lived-in throwback to 1994's events — also hosted in the US — sportsmanship and fan camaraderie can actually be stylish. 

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.

For anyone not in the know, Patta is the Amsterdam streetwear institution founded by Edson Sabajo and Guillaume ‘Gee’ Schmidt, two guys who turned sneaker hunting into an art form and made “Patta” (Surinamese for “shoe”) a global flex.

This time, they’ve put their stamp on the Mercurial Vapor R9, and it’s pure Dutch heat. The Hyper Crimson and black colorway is a nod to the Netherlands, and Patta’s influence is clear: streetwise and never subtle.

The original synthetic leather design is all there, but the collab adds a removable, fold-over tongue for a hit of vintage attitude.

The real move? Turning a soccer legend into a sneaker you can actually wear anywhere. The Cryoshot encases those iconic R9 studs in a clear outsole, letting you take football nostalgia to the street (without getting side-eyed). 

It’s a collab that honors football culture, sneaker history, and Patta’s knack for making the rare feel everyday.

The Cryoshot Mercurial Vapor R9 x Netherlands x Patta will release on Nike's website for $200 on June 12.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping and subscribe to Shopper for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

The Linen & Global Warming Venn Diagram Is a Circle

As someone who prides himself in knowing a lot about materials, I’ll admit I was well into my 20s before I acknowledged linen as anything other than a bed sheet, beach wedding cliché, or, more abstractly, a scent. A few seasons into owning a baby-blue thrift store Brooks Brothers shirt, I’m now a fan of the fabric — just like the rest of the world recently seems to be.

Look anywhere from Cuccinelli to COS, Zegna to Zara, and you’ll see that linen has retired its stuffy image and moved into the mainstream across the price spectrum. Dedicated sub-sections, deceptively luxe-appearing celebrity capsules, and TikTok-dwelling customers are praising the flax plant textile as the best thing since sliced bread. But do they know it predates sliced bread by roughly 30,000 years?

Perhaps because it’s so ancient, the mass market has had an ambivalent relationship with linen. It probably took the Quiet Luxury reckoning for certain demos to get past the bohemian, woo-woo associations and embrace linen’s deeply useful, organic, and aesthetic properties. But the natural fiber movement is nigh. And linen’s coarse but comfortable texture; its chic wrinkles; its earthy color palette are seen as signals of quality. This is no less thanks to the Lemaires and Studio Nicholsons, the Buck Masons and Arkets out there, who've done much to improve linen’s palatability through modern styling and tailoring. 

Linen’s somewhat sudden ubiquity is as much a trend as a course-correction in times when conservatism, sartorial conservatism, and sustainability are (back) en vogue, and AI makes us crave crafty imperfections. And, even more pressingly, in times of relentlessly hotter summers driven by climate change. Bummer, huh?

Open Tabs: Everything We've Got Our Eyes On Right Now

• Is it just me, or is a long-sleeved T-shirt lowkey sexier than a short-sleeved one? It's that or barely any sleeves at all as far as I’m concerned, both courtesy of Uniqlo.

• ​Or here, how about Wales Bonner x Y-3’s waffley knit base layer for something sportier and higher-brow?

• Mainline-adidas’ neon-colored short-short is the spitting image of the pair that — lore has it — Jürgen Teller was gifted by Phoebe Philo… 

• ​Fresh off the Italian outerwear brand's nautical-themed SS'026 press, this Stone Island short sleeve is an unfussy embodiment of the luxury outfitters’ quiet genius: it's where creativity, concept, and craftsmanship collide.*

• ​The latest round of New Balance x Auralee is, to no one’s surprise, a tasty (and tasteful) feast for minimalist, finer things-type sneakerheads and casual fans of both brands.*

• On minimalism, COS brought back its super purist mules (and might be succeeding at making the v-neck tee cool again).

• Nike gave some of its more eccentric models a clean overhaul, too, leading to pristinely white versions of the Flyknit runner and the tabi-toed Rift sandal. 

• ​From white shoes to white pants, aren’t these A.P.C.s the prettiest white jeans you ever did see?*

• Find Paloma Wool’s navy and lightest-weight “balloon trousers” instead, as something of a crossbreed between barrel cuts and cargos.

• And where there’s a cargo, a camo print can’t be far — isn’t that right, Polo Ralph Lauren? 

• If you haven’t yet been or aren’t going on summer vacation, at least have this beautifully sun-bleached BEAMS jacket to dress the part. 

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.

This is Preston’s lesser-known passion project, founded in 2023 while his eponymous brand was being run by New Guards Group. It’s a place for upcycled goods (L.E.D. stands for Less Environmentally Destructive) like tables made from reclaimed cardboard boxes, turntables repurposing vintage motors, and white tees woven of yarns sourced from waste fibers. Even though Preston’s now busy with his brand again, having bought back the rights to his label last year, L.E.D. is keeping busy. 

L.E.D. Studio’s new collaboration with Rishi Assar, a multi-faceted designer whose projects range from the Marty Supreme table tennis tournament space to techy crossbody bags, sees the project return from a short hiatus to recommence its thrifty practice.

Preston and Assar sourced old aluminum New York road signs, cleaning, chopping,  and then reassembling them together with metal rivets. The final furniture piece is, according to L.E.D. Studio, something between a “chair, step stool, nightstand, and table.”

The duo worked with New York City's Department of Transportation — Preston previously collaborated with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in 2016 to upcycle its discarded uniforms — getting ahold of disused school crossing, speed limit, and stop signs which are collaged together into multi-colored multi-purpose stools. After exhibiting the new work at Lichen NYC’s showroom, the stools are available now online for $1,000.

"Furniture is new [for me], so I wanted what was coming from me to feel new for everyone," Preston explained to Highsnobiety when he launched L.E.D. Studio. Sitting on disused road signs? That’s certainly new.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

The newest Made in U.S.A. dad sneakers feature the usual quality mesh and suede uppers, this time dressed in a rich brown inspired by the German rye bread.

It also features some pink and butter yellow hints, plush classic white accents, which altogether make for a seriously delicious 990.

And it wouldn't be the first. The 990v4 is the king of mouthwatering colorways, having received citrus spins from Aimé Leon Dore. New Balance has also released creamy "Macadamia Nut" versions.

An honorable mention? Those matcha-flavored "Olive Leaf" pairs, which were far from performative.

The "Pumpernickel" 9904vs are but another scrumptious addition to the family. And they're expected to drop on New Balance's website sometime this year. Who knows? Maybe we'll catch them in the fall.

It's something about an oven-baked dad sneaker that feels very appropriate for the cooler season.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

You almost certainly wouldn’t think of knitted sweaters — I mean, "sweat" is in the name — but hey, everyone makes mistakes. The truth is, you really can wear knitwear as temperatures climb and, in fact, you should. Getting into my Bill Nye the Fabric Guy bag for a second here, knits are made by interlocking loose loops of yarn that allow for both stretch and breathability, two words that should absolutely be on your summer survival guide. And if you don't have a summer knit, you may not be looking hard enough.

Of course, when I say "sweater" or "knitwear," I'm not talking about insulating cotton fleece hoodies and chunky cardigans. I'm talking about loose and airflow-friendly knitted garments of all shapes and sizes.

And of all the brands that specialize in this sort of thing, I'm particularly partial to the small Spanish label babaà (and not just because I dream of being buried in one of their massive, perfectly chunky sweaters). Trust a Spaniard to know how to beat the heat and look good doing it: they offer a breezy selection of tank tops, sleeveless vests, and shorts that live up to their homegrown ethos, crafted from yarn that’s been grown, harvested and spun in the Southern Andalucía region. And, surely, there's nothing better for surviving summer than breathable, knitted, soft tanks and shorts.

Though my heart may be set on babaà, my eyes can’t help but stray to a few other options.

Certified friend of Highsnobiety Lauren Manoogian is a master of the multiseason sweater, with recent standouts including a loosely woven short-sleeve and a knitted T-shirt so fine that you can see through it. Yes, even T-shirts can be knitwear.

Don't pigeonhole cashmere, either — everyone assumes cashmere is a winter fabric, because it usually is. But cashmere is supremely breathable and in thinner weaves, it works well as a warm-weather option. Leave it to the experts to demonstrate: Extreme Cashmere’s conveniently named n°483 june and n°484 july v-neck sweaters signal exactly what months are suitable for wearing these styles, while Naadam’s Cabana Collection offers a Lightweight Cashmere Polo in a lightweight weave perfect for a breezy summer night that’ll silence the “cashmere is a winter knit” haters. Even AURALEE, which is good at everything, does its own variation on summertime cashmere.

Elder Statesman may be out of my tax bracket, splurgers set on shopping its wares have options. The summer collection’s Cashmina Sprinter Short, cut in a blend of cashmere and wool that sounds wintery until you see it, and the wool-silk-linen Lenny Knit Tee pair as perfectly as oysters and a cold martini. Sure, the $990 cashmere Beachball may be ridiculous, but you just know someone will buy it as a laugh while they sip a glass of Dom Pérignon on their new Ferrari boat. 

It’s high time you start dreaming bigger than a survival fit of a ratty t-shirt and tiny shorts. There’s a whole world of possibilities out there; all you need to do is take the plunge and become the enlightened summer knitwearer you were meant to be.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit the HS Style Guide for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

It already had the lace-ups, super-thin soles, and even the general essence of a ballet flat (mixed with sporty adidas energy). But its new satin look really makes it look like a fine ballerina shoe.

The adidas Taekwondo Mei Ballet gets decked out in the lustrous material, with leather accents. And it's all realized in this rich burgundy scheme called "Maroon."

And for those looking for an even daintier look, adidas has also thrown in an extra set of ribbon laces in addition to the usual lace-ups.

Who knew a martial arts shoe would be a good ballet sneaker? adidas did. The Taekwondo sneaker was already slim and flat, complete with these barely-there rubber soles. All it needed to do next was ditch its usual lace system for something a little more dance-worthy. And voilà! The Taekwondo Mei Ballet was born.

The Elite version is just as ballerina-coded, but with a soccer twist.

The Taekwondo Mei Ballet has appeared in several cutesy colorways and even in some animal-print designs. But the latest drop looks to be the first satin versions. It's about time it got a proper ballerina makeover.

Speaking of which, the satin "Maroon" sneakers are now available on adidas' website, alongside a grey option.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

But “Silver Lining,” her latest take on the LeBron NXXT Gen, is a different kind of flex.

This isn’t just about performance on the court, though JuJu’s moves are as unpredictable as ever. It’s about the story she’s painting with every detail: embroidered doodles, roses for her roots, quilted florals on the lining, and her motto (“Don’t Move…Improve”) sketched right on the side. It’s JuJu’s vibe, top to bottom.

What sets this one apart is how personal it feels, a true crossover between art and basketball, style and substance. Nike could have played it safe, but instead, they let JuJu steer the ship. 

The best part is, even with all these little motifs and quirks that make this her own beast, the colorway means it can fit into just about any sneaker rotation without so much as a second thought, or a desperate search for a matching fit.

If you’re looking for a silver lining this season, you might as well lace it up.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping and subscribe to Shopper for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

The Big Bubble model recently got a "Burgundy Ash" makeover, resulting in this pretty pink take on the sneaker. It's almost like the famous "Pink Foam" pairs but with extra rosy blush on the cheeks.

Faint purples strike the fuzzy suede stack on the side, while a cutesy pink color hits on the woven eyelets and Air bubbles. Elsewhere, Nike goes burgundy and black, extra-large soles included.

It's simply another good-looking pair for the collection, which grows by the day. Seriously, Nike continues to go all in on the 30-year-old model, bringing back its original colorways and introducing several new flavors. It even got a playful pixelated spin from LEGO recently.

Of course, pink Air Max 95s are always a good thing. We don't get them as often, but when they do come around, they never disappoint.

Retailing for $190, the "Burgundy Ash" Air Max 95 sneaker is now up for grabs on Snipes' website.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

That's right. The Jordan Brand has updated the model, removing the signature out-there tongue. It basically nodded to how Michael Jordan used to, well, stick his tongue when he went up for a dunk.

Even though it referenced a picture-perfect MJ habit, the Jordan 15 looks much cleaner this way. Plus, it keeps all of its other traditional details, like the inner neoprene bootie, woven Kevlar touches, and classic leather. The sneaker even returns in its classic "Black Muslin" colorway.

When it debuted in 1999, the 15th signature model wasn't a smash hit like the Jordan 1. It's honestly one of the most debated models due to its weirdly futuristic design, inspired by the X-15 fighter jet. It felt too luxe for the court, a sentiment also felt with the Jordan 2, which also didn't get to sit at Jumpman's cool-kids table until recently.

Billie Eilish likes the Jordan 15, though. The musician even got her own collaboration in 2021 (the last year we saw the model).

The Air Jordan 15 was just ahead of its time, to be honest. If it came out today, it would fit right in with the other sculptural hoops shoes that look like they came from the year 2088.

Maybe that's why it's flying off the shelves today (that or people like it better without the tongue).

The new and improved Jordan 15 has already sold out at several stores. But it is available on Kith's website for $240. For now, at least.

And for those who are #TeamTongue, don't worry. Public School's keeping the feeling alive with its upcoming collab.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

Today, 24 years later, and in the lead-up to another World Cup, R9’s haircut is still the weirdest in football’s history but Coca-Cola x adidas is very much back.

The American beverage titan and German sportswear giant has a vast new range consisting of everything from co-branded red tracksuits to a full denim set from adidas’ Originals line, all modeled by Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal and available on adidas’ website. 

Four sneakers ground the whole collection, designed to look like different Coca-Cola cans. They even have droplet detailing, creating the full effect.  

There’s the Predator Sala and Megaride F50, two famed football boots (or soccer cleats, depending on where you’re from) turned into everyday sneakers alongside the Adistar Control 5 and Climacool 1, both of which are 2000s-era sporty runners. 

These are all-new takes on OG footwear classics, drawn from legend into reality by Coca-Cola and adidas originals. No wonder this collection's tagline is “Originals are the Real Thing.”

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping and subscribe to Shopper for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

There’s a kind of lived-in energy to these shades, familiar and almost impossible to mess up. This color palette lands so naturally on the Tobacco, it’s no wonder why this is its signature tone.

The Tobacco isn’t a sneaker trying to force nostalgia or chase whatever trend is floating through your feed right now. The vibe has always been straightforward: for those who know what works and see no reason to shout about it. 

There’s a confidence here, the kind that comes from knowing you’ve got a good thing and don’t need to overthink it. The Tobacco is just doing what it’s always done best, holding its own in any lineup. Especially the Samba and Spezial’s.

Every time adidas drops another version, it’s a reminder that sometimes the smartest move is just refining what already works. No wild color experiments, no desperate attempts to reinvent the wheel. Just a shoe that’s found its lane and stays there.

For those who get it, this colorway makes perfect sense. No explanation needed, no nicotine patch required. Thankfully, some sneakers really don’t need to overcompensate.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping and subscribe to Shopper for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

The latest Dunks are quite literally baskets for the feet, featuring two-tone woven underlays. It also has classic leather overlays, as normally seen on the versatile model.

Moreover, Nike reimagined its branding to looker even softer. At the same time, the Dunk also comes with a keychain that reads "Wind down, feet up." Between the accessory and the intertwined uppers, these Dunks are clearly all about relaxation and breezy summer vibes.

Nike has made woven Dunks in the past, including pairs made with Harris Tweed (FYI, the collab briefly returned this year). But the latest woven Dunks are the most chill of them all, dressed in an icy "Hydrogen Blue," at that.

Speaking of which, the blue woven Dunk Low sneakers are now available on Nike Japan's website for around $127. It'll be joined by a second "Light Clear Blue" colorway, which is expected to drop sometime this summer.

Maybe it's just me, but these Dunks scream "don't worry, be happy." More like, don't worry, just do it.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

Though it’s meant for deep space, not someone talking about “desert power,” the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment is suspiciously sandworm-friendly. Its very official name comes from a series of hi-tech tubes knitted into the fabric to keep the astronauts safe and sufficiently ventilated.

The bodysuit is just the latest in an ongoing collaboration between Prada and Houston-based infrastructure developer Axiom Space (the maker of the world’s first commercial space station, for non-extraterrestrial nerds out there), who previously partnered with NASA with the 2023 announcement of a spacesuit intended for the Artemis 4 moon landing, now slated for 2028, NASA's first major spacesuit in over two decades.

The space race isn’t just a battle of billionaires with too much time and access to corny cowboy hats; fashion has also begun to venture beyond the exosphere. Under Armour made space clothes for Virgin Galactic in 2019, and sportswear brand Columbia has worked with space exploration company Intuitive Machines to develop sun deflection and insulation technology for the moon’s extreme temperatures since 2021. 

Brands famous for developing technologically inventive athleticwear drifting into space make sense here but, actually, Prada’s lunar ambitions feel even more fitting. The Italian luxury label has always had a futuristic bent.

Miuccia Prada made waves in 1984 for introducing water-resistant nylon into her Prada collections with the Vela backpack — a response to the “old and bourgeois and boring” clothing she observed around her. “Suddenly, nylon started to look more intriguing to me than couture fabrics,” she told Vogue in 2021. “It challenged, even changed, the traditional and conservative idea of luxury.” 

The Prada Sport (later renamed Linea Rossa) sub-brand became a key incubator for experimentation when it launched in 1997, with its 2018 revival — and the following year’s launch of its sustainable Re-Nylon range, made from discarded sea plastic — reaffirming Prada’s unique ability to make the technical look suave, something no other luxury label of its scale can claim. Do you see any other the other Italian houses dressing astronauts?

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit the HS Style Guide for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.

I noticed this spending the last two weeks back in my hometown of Paris: friends who once absolutely lived in their Jordans or Converse, and then briefly didn't, are now sporting them again. Never the exact same pair though, always with a little twist, in a different hue or some slightly oddball version. Pairs that said: I remember who I was, and I'd do it all again, but a little differently now.

Growing up, I knew the Vans Authentic as a skate shoe and admired it from a distance, my parents having operated under a strict Bensimon-only policy. So, maybe this is me lashing out, in true Gen Z fashion. Or maybe they're just a really good pair of $60 canvas sneakers after all. Either way, they felt long overdue. That and, you know, not having $700 to spare on Phoebe Philo's take, got me to make the purchase.

Color-wise, these particular Authentics sit somewhere between a butter yellow and a faded beige, framed by a blue border between canvas and sole. Nothing about them feels particularly remarkable, yet somehow, in their clean simplicity, they are. They're not starkly white, nor some statement shade or loud pattern. They're subdued but not boring.

What I like most is that there's a natural nostalgia to these Vans that doesn't feel forced, which is becoming increasingly rare these days. Because I'm kinda tired of fashion's obsession with manufactured memories: Every store's overflowing with $150 t-shirts designed to look older than they are — paint-splattered, sun-faded, faux-weathered, purposefully distressed. I wanted the opposite, something that wasn't pretending to have a story yet, but that I would lend a story to by wearing them in myself.

It made the conversation at checkout all the more amusing: The sales associate recommended a product designed to stop the canvas from yellowing over time. I told her I couldn't wait for them to yellow. The prospect of them ageing is part of the appeal.

Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.