Louboutins & Nikes: Sneaker Love
Updated: Aug 1, 2022
Before I loved art, I loved shoes. Those who know me would say it was more important than water. I remember my 10-year-old self being gifted imitation Nike Air Force One sneakers by my mother (who worked 3 jobs at that time to provide). I remember loving those shoes like they were the real thing. Granted, I was humiliated by my fellow NYC savage middle schoolmates. And Yep, I did attempt to use a sharpie to draw a Nike Check on the imitation shoes. “Crafting” a Nike shoe was a form of Art in my deluded & undeveloped eyes. It felt like a consolation prized project. Nonetheless, I trusted the process. I figured one day I would strive and make a surplus amount of money and be able to purchase any authentic pair of shoes I wanted. My goal came to fruition. I bought it all. Vans, Converse, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Giuseppes, Louboutins. I didn’t discriminate. I also remember discovering Nike ID, which is a service provided by Nike allowing customers to customize clothing purchased from Nike. I lost it. I would now design and craft a real Nike check and so I did.
In 2011 (one of the best years of my life), my ability to afford my sneaker craze was birthed. I had amassed over 300+ pairs of shoes. In 2018, when I moved to LA from NYC, it would come back to bite me in the ass.
I formed a knack for buying many colors of the same sneaker models across the board #subtleflexbutok right? Many who had seen my sneaker collection wondered if I was either opening a sneaker store, a prolific hoarder or insecure about myself. All suggestions were humorous but false. I'm simply a passionate sneaker head. When I buy a pair of shoes, I do more than just wear them. I attempt to understand the design process, along with the mind-frame of the designer. I want to know what motivated them and how they decided which colors and materials would mesh together. Shoot, I want to know what they were eating (Yes, It's real).
Ultimately, you do what you love. You attain what you crave. I am a philanthropist at heart though. Over the years, I've given away more than 80+ pairs of shoes. I call it sharing art. I view sneakers as a culture and an art-form. Like Diddy says, #cantstopwontstop. I'm built for this.
Your post took me right back to the night I tried on a pair of Louboutins for the first time, only to realize I’d left my favorite Nike Air Max at home. I was at a friend’s gallery opening, dressed up in a sleek black dress, and the shoes felt like an instant upgrade—glossy, daring, a little bit intimidating. When I slipped my feet into those heels, I felt the same mix of confidence and vulnerability that I get every time I lace up my Nikes for a morning run. The contrast is striking: the Louboutins elevate a look, while the Nikes keep me grounded and moving. That night, I spent the whole evening balancing on the heels, laughing with…
Reading your take on Louboutins meeting Nikes instantly reminded me of the weekend I spent at my cousin’s birthday party. She’s a designer’s kid, always draped in high‑end heels, but she swapped her stilettos for a fresh pair of chunky Nikes the moment the DJ started spinning old‑school hip‑hop. The room went from polished cocktail chatter to an impromptu dance floor, and everyone’s eyes followed the contrast of sleek leather against bold sneaker colorways. https://haikudeck.com/presentations/CELWdiDWDr It was funny how a single shoe swap changed the vibe—people who normally hovered near the bar suddenly joined in, laughing and trying on the shoes like they were a ticket to a different world. That night proved for me that comfort doesn’t have to…
Your post hit me right in the nostalgia zone. I still remember the day I splurged on my first pair of Louboutins, feeling like I’d stepped onto a runway just by walking to the office. The sleek, glossy heel made me strut a little farther than usual, and I got compliments all morning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razz_poker A few months later, a friend convinced me to try a limited‑edition Nike collaboration, and I was instantly hooked on the comfort‑meets‑style vibe. I wore those Nikes on a weekend hike, and they performed like a dream, yet still looked fresh enough to pair with a casual dress for brunch. That contrast between the glamorous, almost untouchable aura of Louboutins and the everyday versatility of Nikes…