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Footwork: Five of Our Favorite January Shoe Discoveries

By Geoff Nudelman Published August 6, 2021

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 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff is a former contributor to The Manual. He's a native Oregonian who’s always up for a good challenge and a great hike…

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Footwear

Fashion & Style

Fellows auction spotlights platinum Rolex Daytona among 464 coveted timepieces

Auction spotlight: Fellows presents platinum rolex daytona with ice blue dial

Fellows rolex daytona spotlight

Fellows offers its latest online watch auction at 10 AM BST on Thursday, June 26. The auction features 464 selected timepieces, and a platinum Rolex Daytona with an ice blue dial stands out. This 40mm watch, listed as Lot 194, is estimated at about $74,000–$101,000. It gives collectors a chance to acquire a highly sought-after watch.
The platinum Daytona has small recorder dials at three, six, and nine o'clock, keeping the classic look that has defined the model since it began. It comes with its original box and papers. This example represents Rolex’s best chronograph watches, combining a precious metal case with the brand’s iconic race-inspired design.
Platinum Daytonas are important to collectors because Rolex produces very few of them, and they feature the special ice blue dial. Rolex uses this color combination only for its platinum watches, making it a unique feature. Along with the Daytona’s fame in car racing and popular culture, this often leads to strong auction results worldwide.
The auction includes much more than just the Daytona. There are watches from Omega, Cartier, Breitling, and other Rolex models, covering a range of styles and periods. Lot 198 is a Rolex "Batman" GMT-Master II, estimated at $8,000–$11,000. Lot 210 is a Rolex Day-Date, with an estimate between $27,000–$41,000.
Modern luxury sports watches are also featured. Lot 116 is an IWC Pilot Top Gun, estimated at $6,700–$11,000, showing the strong market demand for aviation-inspired pieces. Lot 110 is a Hublot Big Bang, estimated at $5,400–$8,000, demonstrating the auction’s reach across both classic and contemporary luxury segments.
Fellows’ online format allows collectors from around the world to participate. People can request online viewings, which has become an important part of luxury watch auctions, allowing collectors to take part even if they cannot attend in person. It also ensures the careful inspection needed for high-value watches.
The June 26 sale comes at a good time in the summer auction calendar, as collector activity often increases before the main international sales in autumn. With prices ranging from accessible luxury watches around $5,000 to six-figure special pieces, the auction appeals to a wide range of collectors.
With 464 lots spanning vintage classics to modern luxury, Fellows’ latest auction highlights the ongoing strength of the pre-owned luxury watch market and offers collectors opportunities at many price points and in various collecting areas.

Fashion & Style

Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces Polaris Chronograph in signature ocean grey lacquer

Lacquer mastery: Jaeger-LeCoultre's polaris chronograph features 35-layer ocean grey dial construction

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph

Jaeger-LeCoultre adds a new chronograph to its Polaris collection, featuring the brand’s Ocean Grey lacquer dial. This dial is built with impressive complexity: 35 layers of lacquer are applied by hand, with three different finishes giving it depth and character. The 42mm sports watch continues the approach the collection began in 2018, redefining what a modern, sporty, and chic timepiece can be.
The Polaris collection pays tribute to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s diving watches from the 1960s, taking their athletic spirit and translating it into a refined, contemporary design. The Ocean Grey version keeps the line’s signature elements—straight lines, curved lugs, a thin bezel, a glass box crystal, and a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The large crown and pushers are inspired by the original 1960s model, making them practical and easy to use.
The Ocean Grey dial itself is a showcase of craftsmanship, with a central disc, a middle ring for the hour markers, and an outer ring displaying a tachymeter scale. Sunray brushing on the central disc subtly contrasts with the polished hour ring, while the gradual color shift from light to dark adds visual depth across the dial.
Creating the dial requires meticulous handwork. It starts with a clear varnish base coat, followed by four layers of color and a black layer to create the gradient. Achieving a consistent gradient across the dial’s two main sections is a challenge, and then 30 more transparent lacquer layers are added to create the final sense of depth and richness.
The chronograph’s layout is designed for clarity. A central seconds hand provides precise measurement, with a 30-minute counter at three o’clock and a running seconds subdial at nine o’clock. Circular graining adds visual texture, contrasting with the polished central disc and the textured hour ring. Orange accents highlight key indicators and add a dynamic touch to the overall look.
Inside, the automatic Caliber 761 is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house chronograph movement, combining technical performance with mechanical elegance. Two barrels power the column wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch, offering a 65-hour power reserve. The movement is finely finished, with blued screws, Côtes de Genève decoration, and an open-worked rotor bearing the ‘JL’ logo.
The entire movement is designed, produced, and assembled in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufactory in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux, making it a true in-house creation. The sapphire crystal case back reveals the movement and maintains 10-bar water resistance, ready for adventure.
The watch offers versatility with two strap options: a blue-grey canvas and a textured black rubber strap. An interchangeable folding buckle system makes it easy to switch straps, allowing the watch to adapt from casual elegance to active sports use.

Fashion & Style

Bremont Supermarine 500m surfs with ripple-effect dial

Ocean inspiration: Bremont's supermarine 500m features ripple-effect dial

Bremont Supermarine 500M

Bremont updates its Supermarine collection for summer 2025, introducing a new model rated for 500 meters of water resistance. The 43mm watch features a wave-patterned dial and highlights the brand’s focus on practical tool watches under CEO Davide Cerrato, moving away from its traditional pilot watch history.
The new Supermarine incorporates changes first seen in 2024, including the use of 904L steel—a metal prized for its corrosion resistance, scratch durability, and bright finish. The dial’s black surface is shaped to mimic ocean waves, while white Super-LumiNova on the hour markers glows blue in the dark for visibility. Sword-shaped hands, inspired by military designs, ensure the time is easy to read in challenging conditions.
Bremont’s partnership with Tom Bridge, a champion freestyle kite surfer, underscores the collection’s adventurous spirit. Bridge, who grew up on the UK’s south coast, gained international attention for kite surfing in Storm Ciara in 2020, with winds reaching 94 mph. His video “Light Work” showcased his skill during a difficult period for the sport, and his family’s legacy in kite racing adds to his credibility as a brand ambassador.
Functional upgrades include a larger crown for use in cold water and a flat-sided guard to prevent accidental adjustments during demanding activities. The unidirectional ceramic bezel and helium escape valve cater to professional divers, even if the latter is more of a conversation piece for most owners.
The Supermarine 500M starts at $4,700 with a rubber strap, reflecting Cerrato’s vision of Bremont as a maker of purpose-built watches. While the Terra Nova and Martin-Baker aviator models maintain ties to aviation, the Supermarine stands out as the brand’s most dedicated tool watch for the sea, rather than the air.
For more details, visit the official Bremont site: https://www.bremont.com