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Footwork: Five of Our Favorite January Shoe Discoveries

By Geoff Nudelman January 24, 2017

men's shoes

With all of our early year travels, we’ve seen plenty of great shoes, boots and more.

Between established names and upstarts ready to make their mark, January has already given us plenty of footwear fodder. Here are five styles & brands we had to share.

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New Balance 247 ($120)

New Balance 247

These slick sneakers are a top pick for spring. They’re built in full-grain leather and inspired by a number of the Boston company’s heritage styles. The 247 comes in three handsome color options: white, orange and black. Each one serving its own purpose and a sure thing for city walks when the sun comes back out.

Liusal NYC Ricky Boot ($300)

Liusal NYC Ricky Boot

While this relatively new streetwear brand is building a following on flashier gear, we’re into their understated boots. The Ricky is built is with all the necessities (waterproofing, GORE-TEX, traction soles), but in a roomier fit. It’s the perfect boot to jump from the office to the bar after work.

Devers Shoes (Price on Request)

Devers

We’re always excited to feature new artisans making top-notch footwear in America. Brandi Devers operates her studio out of Chicago’s historic Printer’s Row district. She’s brought a wealth of global footwear experience to her line of bespoke shoes and accessories, including these stellar sneakers. Every pair is hand-stitched and built based on specific client notes.

OluKai Hualalai ($190)

OluKai Hulalai

With so much to see at winter trade show Outdoor Retailer, we couldn’t include all our favorites. One we wanted to note was OluKai’s new beach-to-trail style. With a washable footbed and an easy fit, this boot is an ideal combination of island spirit and rugged vigor. The Hualalai debuts this August and is a must for fall adventuring.

Nike Flyknit Racer Wolf Grey ($166)

Nike Flyknit Racer Wolf Grey

The great colorways from the Swoosh just keep on coming. We’ve loved past Flyknits and this new grey is one of the classier options to date. This edition keeps most of the same construction and midsole detail that’s made the line so popular as training footwear (and for brunch afterwards). It’s a limited edition piece that will hit select retailers in March and is sure to “fly” off the shelves.

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Seeing Green: Inside Roger Federer’s Off-Court Shoe Collection

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Roger Federer may be tied with Rafa Nadal as the winningest tennis player ever in regard to majors victories, but when it comes to grass, there's no contest. With eight Wimbledon titles to his credit, Federer is a turf master, and thanks to the contest's reputation of refinement, the 39-year-old, seen frequently hoisting its trophy, has come to embody the same. In keeping with his shuffle of sponsors (he announced a reported $300 million contract with Japanese apparel company Uniqlo in 2018), his signature shoes, collectively called the Roger Collection, were released on Wednesday, June 30, through Matchesfashion.

The Roger Collection features three styles, as well as a special edition of one of the styles. All are lifestyle shoes with a classic tennis aesthetic. At first glance, one might be impressed with the color options: The Centre Court features five hues for men, while the Advantage is available in seven. But upon closer inspection, all but the special-edition Clubhouse are distinguished by insignificant accents in various shades, most with a uniform (and predominant) white base. Those expecting the neon pops of professional tennis might, at first, be confused. But the uniform of the day at Wimbledon has always been white, and the shoe's release is obviously coordinated with the 2021 tournament, which is currently underway.
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With Its New Men’s Line, Rothy’s Lets You Finally Live in Your Shoes

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Lavion Gibson, director of product design for Rothy’s, remembers what it was like in those early days of the sneakerhead boom. “I grew up keeping my sneakers as crisp as possible,” the 34-year-old tells The Manual. Walking without creasing one’s shoes is a learned skill, but even more valuable is the DIY triage it takes to care for a scuff: Pull out your toothbrush, soap, and water. Take the laces out, clean the soles, and then let them air-dry. It was a meticulous process only compounded by his habit of buying a new pair every two weeks.

Gibson, from his office in San Francisco and appearing onscreen with Senior Vice President of Men’s Chris Hull, 45, laughs at the memory. Hull laughs, too, as on Monday, May 20, the pair saw the company’s first two men’s shoes launch. The joke is, in part, the intensity that comes with core shoe culture. But the other part is that with its release, Rothy's has allowed the fashion-forward man to have his cake and eat it, too. Phrased another way, the days of meticulous shoe care are a thing of the past, replaced with a regular washing machine and about an hour or two of time.

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Leave It to Todd Snyder To Dream Up a Winning Menswear Collection For Golfers

footjoy todd snyder collaboration cover tsfj

Many people mark the beginning of spring by observing their favorite seasonal event — waiting for Punxsutawney Phil to see his shadow, watching the cherry blossoms bloom, attending baseball's Opening Day.

For golfers, spring starts with the Masters Tournament — the first major championship of the year. Here, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, the world's best golfers come and play for four days in hopes of getting to put on the highly coveted green sports jacket when it's all said and done. The beautiful blooming landscape, combined with the tournament's rich history and tradition, makes the Masters one of golf's most iconic events.
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