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Fidan Novruzova transforms the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 16 into elevated luxury

Fidan Novruzova and ASICS revamp the GEL-Cumulus 16 into a sleek new shoe

By Leslie Leon Published November 7, 2025

fidan novruzova asics sneaker — Fidan Novruzova

ASICS’ performance technology and comfort are undisputed, and as of recently, its design is beyond elevated. With the help of Moldovan designer Fidan Novruzova, ASICS has taken its GEL-Cumulus 16 to the next level, featuring premium materials and a sleek color palette. Revamping the classic ASICS look into a contemporary style is no easy task, but with Novruzova’s flair for sophisticated details, the GEL-Cimulus 16 has never looked better. Released in two moody shades, the GEL-Cumulus 16 obtains a new appearance that looks as if it were plucked straight from the runways. Using layered textures and details, this collaboration between Fidan Novruzova and ASICS is a prime example of how art and performance sneakers can fuse into one standout design.

Fidan Novruzova reworks ASICS’ GEL-Cumulus 16 into a sleek standout

Arriving in “Black” and “Dark Cherry,” the moody new version of the GEL-Cumulus 16 is a modern-day statement shoe. Both versions utilize traditional shoemaking techniques in their construction, highlighted by premium leather sourced by the makers behind Novruzova’s own footwear designs. Besides using hand-worked leather, the GEL-Cumulus 16 dons a new tasseled tongue that features the designer’s name in embossed lettering. Each pair is sleek in its design, with no standout branding or mark. Those looking to add the limited-edition sneaker to their rotation can purchase the design via Novruzova’s webstore for €260, or approximately $300 USD. A portion of the proceeds will go to the charity Fondation pour la Recherche sur l’Endométriose. Although ASICS’ recent collaborations have featured various iterations of the brand’s popular designs, this collaboration with Fian Novruzova has resulted in a new, sophisticated, and sleek design for the athletic company.

Leslie is a Los Angeles-based writer and content creator. After attaining a bachelor's degree in journalism from California…

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Fashion & Style

Breitling’s new Top Time is a wearable tribute to the Aston Martin DB5

The new watches rep the iconic Bond car right down to subdials shaped like its dashboard gauges.

Car, Watch, Man

Breitling just released a trio of heaters: the Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5, a three-edition collaboration with the British carmaker. The connection between the Swiss watchmaker and the British car company runs back to 1965, when a Top Time ref. 2002 appeared on Sean Connery's wrist in Thunderball, worn alongside the DB5 — the first Q-modified watch in the Bond series. It's a nice bit of trivia that the DB5 and that Top Time shared the screen in the same film, and both went on to outlive the movie by decades.

The car cues go deeper than the "squircle" gauge-shaped subdials: a wooden inner ring nods to the DB5's steering wheel, and each edition rides on a hand-colored gradient calfskin strap meant to read like automotive upholstery. All three run on Breitling's in-house Manufacture Caliber 01, a COSC-certified automatic chronograph with a 70-hour power reserve, visible through a sapphire caseback and finished with an Aston Martin-engraved rotor. The case measures 41mm. The editions are divvied up by material and rarity. Stainless steel with a silver dial is limited to 1,022 pieces and sticks closest to the original ref. 2002, while steel with a platinum bezel and black lacquered dial drops to 315 pieces.

Fashion & Style

Look to the sky for these space themed watches

These 5 space themed watches will have you seeing stars

Accessories, Strap, Wristwatch

It was the 1960s. We were in the middle of a Cold War with Russia, and instead of escalating to an actual war with bullets and bombs, we took the conflict to the sky. We created a war of economics, science, and morale in a race to the sky to be the first nation to reach the moon. While the race picked up throughout the decade, it came down to the wire before the USA won the race by landing on the moon (if you believe that sort of thing and don't believe Stanley Kubrick directed the greatest ruse of all time). In any case, no race can be run without a good timekeeper. And watches were a must-have for all involved. Ever since, chronophiles like me have been obsessed with space-themed watches and, in particular, moon mission watches.

That is why I happened to have this list in my head. Five watches that bring the space race and the great beyond to the forefront of thinking to build a collection that is out of this world.

Fashion & Style

Legendary designer has a project coming up you may not know about

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Accessories, Formal Wear, Tie

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Now, for the real cinephiles in the room, you may also know that Tom Ford himself is a movie buff and entered the industry as a writer and a director in 2009 by directing A Single Man with Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Then again in 2016 with Nocturnal Animals with Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michael Shannon. Of course, the wardrobe was stellar in both, and we will get a chance to see his talents onscreen again this fall with a new Anne Rice adaptation, Cry to Heaven.