My Top 3 Sneaker Silhouettes

     Ever since fourth grade, I've always wanted a pair of Jordans. I loved playing basketball, and Jordan was one of the main reasons I ever picked up a ball. Sadly, owning a pair of Jordans at a young age was never an option, as they were expensive, and we didn’t have much money. It wasn’t until seventh grade that one of my uncles came from Mexico and bought me my first pair of Jordans. I still remember them vividly—they were the Jordan 1 Flight 4 in red, also known as "The Mexican Sneaker" (if you're familiar with its significance in the Hispanic community). He got them from Foot Locker at South Coast Plaza, and luckily, they were on sale for around 100 dollars. I wore them everywhere until they eventually didn’t fit me anymore. After that, I didn’t own another pair of Jordans until I saved up enough money to buy the Jordan 1.5 Bred but then they got stolen cause I miss placed them but that a story for another time. Since then, I’ve started building my collection. At one point, I owned around 30 pairs, but I eventually decided to focus on quality over quantity. Now, I have around 12 sneakers, though I add more if I can get them at retail price but I'm strict on what I want to get. This journey began in fourth grade, and now I’m fortunate to own some of the silhouettes I always dreamed of. Here, I’m going to share my top three sneaker silhouettes (in no particular order). I hope you enjoy it.

    A brief history of the Nike Air Force 1 (AF1) silhouette: First introduced in 1982 as the first basketball shoe to feature Nike's Air cushioning technology, the AF1 was designed by Bruce Kilgore and quickly gained popularity both on and off the court. Although Nike discontinued it in 1984, high demand led to a re-release in 1986. The AF1 has since remained a staple in sneaker culture, especially within hip-hop communities, with countless colorways and collaborations that have made it an iconic and versatile sneaker. Out of my 12 sneakers, I own more AF1s now, though I used to have more Jordan 1s and 4s. This AF1 is my favorite because of the Nike x CPFM collaboration, which I’d always wanted and was lucky to get at retail. For me, the white pair stands out more than the all-black AF1. If you’re looking to buy an AF1, consider sizing down—I’m a true size 12, but I wear an 11.5 in the AF1 Low. 

    A brief history of the Air Jordan 4: Released in 1989 and designed by Tinker Hatfield, the AJ4 featured innovative ankle support and customizable lacing, appealing to both athletes and sneaker fans. Its appearance in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing boosted its cultural status, and it remains iconic through various colorways and collaborations. Personally, I had always wanted the Jordan 4 Bred, but back then, I didn’t have the money, and it was pricey on the secondary market. When the Jordan 4 Bred Reimagined was released, I was thrilled to finally get it at retail—and even more excited that it featured the “Nike Air” logo on the heel tag instead of the Jumpman logo. It’s just a personal preference, but without that detail, I probably wouldn’t have gone for it. I highly recommend a pair of Jordan 4s—they’re comfortable, timeless, and don’t crease as easily as the Jordan 1.

    Lastly, the Air Jordan 1, designed by Peter Moore, debuted in 1985 as Michael Jordan’s first signature sneaker. Its bold black and red colorway famously violated NBA uniform rules, resulting in a fine each time Jordan wore them—an event Nike cleverly used in its marketing, dubbing it the “Banned” shoe. This rebellious image made the sneaker popular both on and off the court. As mentioned, it was Jordan who got me into basketball, and to this day, I still play in a well-worn pair of Jordan 1 Low Reverse Breds. The Jordan 1 and 4 are my favorite silhouettes—alongside the Jordan 5 Off-White Muslin and Jordan 11 Bred, which I’d love to own but probably never will due to their high prices on the secondary market. Those would be the only Jordan 5 and 11 silhouettes I’d add to my collection. Although I used to have several pairs of the Jordan 1, I decided to keep only this pair and the Mocha High. In my opinion, the Jordan 1 High goes with almost everything, making it a versatile, all-around sneaker that I highly recommend.

    As of now, I haven’t picked up any new sneakers since, as I mentioned, I’m more selective about what I buy. Hopefully, next year I’ll be able to add 3-5 new pairs, though I doubt I’ll get them at retail—but it doesn’t hurt to try (I aint hitting a pair).