This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

I am ALWAYS excited when two powerhouses, like Supreme and NIKE, come together and do a collaboration. It’s a pleasure to see when two brands, who are at the top of their respective games, creatively and monetarily, collaborate because you know that there is not a real limit on the outcome of their joint venture.

Case in point: The upcoming Supreme x NIKE ACG / Humara 2017 quickstrike release, due to premiere in the States on October 26th (Japan’s release will happen on October 28th). If you are like me, you loved the Mowabb, you loved the Air Moc, you even loved the Air Escape (which I STILL feel like many people slept on, but that’s a whole other story. While I am not a fan of this particular silhouette, I am a fan of the colors that were chosen.

Secondly, take a look at the clothes that are in this capsule:

No lie, I totally had an idea to do a jacket like this: windbreaker style, with a zipper in the small of the back to store things. Now, you may be thinking that I would not be a fan of that, but I am actually GLAD because I can see that it is a possibility and it was well executed by a top-notch brand. The pants are cool as well, complete with a mesh side pocket and nylon belt.

The hats are my favorite piece of the capsule. So sleek, so clean, so breathable. From the picture above, it looks like a strap-back with a buckle and, hopefully, not a Velcro strap.

My favorite thing about this entire collaboration is its affordability. $45 FOR THE CAP? $220 FOR THE OUTFIT?! $170 FOR THE SHOE?!!? If you can get your hands on ANY of these pieces, I would highly suggest so, because not only will it completely sell out, it will be re-sold for 2 -3 times more.

www.SUPREMENEWYORK.com / October 26th for State-side release. October 28th for Japanese release / Cap – $45 // Pants – $90 // Jacket – $130 // Shoes – $170

The post Supreme Strikes Again: Upcoming Collaboration with Nike ACG, Releases Thursday appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

Now, you might be thinking: why is there a screenshot from the “Thong Song” video on this post about sneakers?

Here’s the story: It’s the year 2000 and I am a freshman in high school. Sisqo, the platinum-haired lead singer from Dru Hill is releasing his first solo album, in the midst of their hiatus between their second & third album. Unleash The Dragon, Sisqo’s bajillion platinum certified album, is blowing up and the second single from the album, “Thong Song” is, for lack of a better term, EVERYWHERE! The video was something out of this world and, as a fan, I wanted to dress like Sisqo. From the all-white clothes, to the platinum hair (yes, I painted my hair silver and I am pretty sure there are photos floating around the internet), I wanted to embody the full look of Sisqo the Dragon! As I looked at the video, I noticed something that was keeping me away from the look: a pair of ice-white Nike Air Force 1’s. Quite frankly, at the time, I did not have a job and, thus, I could not afford a pair of the shoes. I ended up buying a pair of white Nike Cortezes, with a black swoosh.

Fast forward to 2001: I end up getting a pair of the NIKE Air Force 1’s, in the mid-top silhouette. I wore them EVERYWHERE and EVERYDAY! I wore the sole down to the ground! I even wore them to cut grass in on Saturdays! These were hot!

Fast forward again to 2017: This year, NIKE is celebrating the 35th anniversary of this classic, iconic shoe. If you, like me, have any crazy stories from school or whatever, that you want to share, feel free to do so! I just thought that I had to bear my soul to you all, because that is just what I do! I’m pretty sure NIKE is going to have a few more things going on, aside from what has been announced thus far here.

The post Happy Birthday To Ya!: NIKE Celebrates The Air Force 1’s 35th Anniversary appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for reading my blogs here. Day & A Dream, has been a great way for me to talk about the stuff that I like, WITH NO LIMITS!

Like this post, it’s all about my love for the color BLUE and 5 pairs of kicks that are coming out that you should be informed about, starting with these:

Nike Air Max 1 OG “Royal”                                                                                                      

This shoe, the Air Max 1, is the first of all the produced Air Max kicks. I say produced, because the recently produced Nike Air Max Zero, was conceptualized before the Air Max 1 was released. These shoes are scheduled to release October 27th, on the NIKE SNKRS app, so if you do not have it, then you will need to download that app to purchase them. $140 will be their retail price.

Supreme x Air Humara 2017                                                                                                       

The next shoe is the Supreme x Air Humara 2017. You cannot go wrong with anything from the NIKE ACG line. You can properly stunt in these shoes, OR you can just take a hike up Hippie Hill in Hermann Park (HOUSTON Stand Up!). Anyway, this shoes is being released on tomorrow, October 26th. I hope that if this is something you are ACTIVELY seeking, that you are able to get it, because, quite frankly, until the bot situation is solved with all online buying EVERYWHERE (not just Supreme), then getting things will be just a dream deferred. Make sure to have $170 for the cost of these, plus $10 for shipping.

   NIKE Air Max 97 OG “Royal”                                                                                           

Hands down, 2017 has been the year of the AM 97. From the “Silver Bullet” & “Metallic Gold” colorways, released a few months ago, to the plethora of other pairs that have been released since, NIKE has shown you that this shoe, once slept on, is now the proverbial “Belle of The Ball”. I love that the colorway is the EXACT same as the AM 1. It shows NIKE’s attention to detail, when it comes to the presentation of their product on the market. While I don’t know the date or price of the release, we do know for certain that it will be a hot one!

FRONTEER Super Gratton Lo 2.0                                                                                          

A brand new (or should I say new brand) favorite of mine is FRONTEER. If you read my article (here), where I talked to the founder and Creative Director of the brand, then you will know my love for this line! Now, they have released their latest shoe, the Super Gratton Lo 2.0, an evolved form of the Gratton Lo. Both shoes are currently on the website, but like Jon said in our interview, they are super-limited and once they are gone, the shoes are GONE! $140 is the price.

Fear Of God Basketball Sneakers                                                                                                                  

Last, but most certainly not least, the founder and designer of Fear of God, Jerry Lorenzo, gives the people a sneak peek of his new sneaker. Reminiscent of a baseball team that shall remain nameless, due to the current World Series (Go ‘stros!), nonetheless, the shoes are STILL clean! From the sharktooth sole, to the white detail, a la Converse Weapon, these shoes will make any person’s outfit look more stunning. As this picture just released today, we don’t have much information; however, I am sure as time passes, we will get that information down the pipe line.

The post Don’t Step On My Blue [Suede] Shoes: 5 Pairs You Must Have appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Photo by D3 The Concrete

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street!

The next 2 – 3 articles are going to be pretty special because I will be sharing my experience of, what has to be, the best streetwear/sneaker convention going on right now: COMPLEXCON!

For those of you, who have been hiding under a rock, atop a mountain, beneath the sea, COMPLEXCON is a  2 – day extravaganza of sensory overload, packed within the Long Beach Convention Center! It is filled with the best, biggest, and boldest of streetwear in not just the United States, but also the WORLD (Japan, France, Denmark (what?), etc). To put it plainly, if you put South By Southwest, Agenda Tradeshow, and Comic Con in a blender for 30 seconds, you would get COMPLEXCON.

For now, let’s discuss Day 1 (Writer’s Note: All photos are by COMPLEXCON, unless otherwise stated):

Photo by Dara Landry

So, my wife and I purchased these 2 Day passes and then WON some VIP upgrades! That was fun.

Photo by D3 The Concrete

This person is “Allah’s Apprentice”, an MC that was in the courtyard of the venue. His setup was simple, but his bars and trumpet playing were very complex.

Photo by Dara Landry

Red “U” cap by Ebbets Field Flannels x Undefeated 

Red Ralph Lauren Polo shirt 

Multicolored The North Face jacket 

Blue denim jeans 

Black Supreme Fanny Pack 

Red New Balance x St. Alfred CM1500

After we waited for 2 1/2 hours(!), we finally made it inside of the venue… to wait in another line.

Photo by D3 The Concrete
Photo by D3 The Concrete

I waited 4 hours in this line, for shoes that I did not plan to get before I went to Cali and I SUFFERED for it. I had great conversations in the line, so it was dope. Plus, I did not get the shoes either, which were the UNION x Nike Air Jordan OG 1 HI (GOLD Top 3s)!

After I got out of the line though, the whole day turned around for the BETTER… Look out below at all the people I saw and met and tell me what you think:

Me with Anwar Carrots! (Photo by D3 The Concrete)

Me with Allen Onyia of Upscale Hype! (Photo by D3 The Concrete)

Me with Elijah of Brooklyn Projects (check out the Voltron!!) (Photo by D3 The Concrete)

Here is the end of my first day at COMPLEXCON! Now, that you have read the entire article, here are some pics from the conference, all taken by PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS!

The post ComplexCon 2017 Recap (PART 1) appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street!

Without any further adieu, here is the Facebook Live video that I shot, revealing all of the good things I got while at #COMPLEXCON2017.

The post Complexcon 2017 Haul (VIDEO) appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the streets!

So, if you have spent any amount of time in the sneaker game, you will hear about certain “famous” colorways: Breds, Grapes, Aqua, etc. One of those colorways that has stood the test of time, not to mention transcended the scope of footwear across the board, is the brown and hunter green colorway, known affectionately as “Beef & Broccoli”

The following pictures are 5 pairs of kicks that you can cop, that represent the food inspired colorway in the best way:

1. The Timberland Field Boot – The shoe that started it all. After the initial success of the Original 6 – Inch Yellow (“Wheat”) Boot, Timberland decided to create another shoe for hiking and urban wear, a hybrid shoe of sorts between the classic work boot and the modern hiker boot. The Beef & Broccoli colorway was made famous by many artists such as the Boot Camp Clik & even boot aficionados, such as Dallas Penn (#SHOUTOUT to the “GODDBOOTGOD” himself). Cost: $160 // Buy Here

2. The EWING 33s Hi – Anyone remember the EWING 33s from the 90s? Kris Kross ring any bells? A direct, albeit much smaller, competitor of the Jordan juggernaut, EWING (named after All-Star center, Patrick Ewing) has managed to maintain a cult following, with their resurgence in the mid-2000’s. Cost: Varies // Buy Here

3. The Asics Gel Saga – Who likes their beef and broccoli with a few carrots in the mix? If you do, then you may want these runners. Asics, also the makers of Onitsuka Tiger, have made quality running shoes since 1949. This colorway dropped in 2013, so you MAY be able to find them, but for now, they have proven to be elusive on the internet.

4. The Shoe Surgeon x APT. 4B “Uptown Beef N Broc” – This shoe was the inspiration for the article. When I saw them, I got excited because The Shoe Surgeon is one of top shoe customizers in the business today. From what I can see, it appears that they took the Nike Air Force 1 low and modified the heel of the shoe with a leather field boot heel, a la Timberland. Looks cool and it is DEFINITELY a solid investment for die-hard collectors. Cost: $1100 // Buy Here

5. Nike Air Trainer Max ’91 – Bo Jackson knew a lot of stuff about sports. He definitely knew what a good shoe was as well. Check these out! The whole idea of this shoe was to be able to play both baseball and football, very much like the man himself. It made me mad when I found out that this colorway never released because it was so clean and fresh, but I had to add it to the article. I’m pretty sure someone has them somewhere, but for now, I will gaze upon them from afar. Cost: n/a 

The post Everybody Eats B : 5 Pairs of Beef & Broccoli Kicks appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

In walking my streetwear path, I have been fortunate to have met individuals in real life, as well as on the internet. This gentleman, Joerilla Drums, is one that I have met online. This was a fun interview, simply because I can tell two things: 1) he is a FAN about streetwear (specifically STAPLE Clothing) and 2) he is passionate about the culture of streetwear.

This was a fun interview and I am very happy to share it with you now. As always, please feel free to put it in the comments below!

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(All photos provided by Joerilla Drums.)

Tell us who you are and where you are from?

My name is Joerilla. I was born and raised in Pontiac, Michigan, but moved to Tennessee, around 1990-91, to a country ass town, one red light town, with no streetwear culture at all: Spring Hill. When I first moved, I knew it was gonna be a challenge for me. I tried to continue to play sports, like basketball, but that ended quickly. One time, the day before the [basketball] team picture,  I got a pair of the Jordan 5 OG Metallics. When I wore them in the picture, I had to run laps after that because we were supposed to wear school colors. So, from day one, I was [viewed as] an outsider who didn’t belong because of my outfit choices. I always dressed differently than everyone in school as a “fuck you, I will not conform to the role of our little society!” My style became my stance.

What made you get into streetwear?

All of my influences were my older cousins from Pontiac, Michigan. When I was growing up, street culture was a way to just express myself through clothes and to make people understand that I wasn’t a part of their average culture. From there, it took a life of its own, following on to Tennessee. When I moved [to Spring Hill], all the kids’ fashion was based on the Dr. Dre “Chronic” style. A lot of tight, Dickies outfits. But, to answer your question of what made me get into the street culture, I was researching [while on] visits to Michigan, magazines and finding out about what and what not to wear. Then, from that, I would make my own collaboration to stick out and be me, while staying in my comfort zone of what I was raised on.

I think that you are a fan of STAPLE Clothing, as much, if not MORE than I am a fan of

UNDEFEATED. Please share with us how you came into collecting STAPLE pieces and what inspired you to do so?

I had a couple pieces of the brand and Staple just landed in Nashville in 2012. That same year, I was asked to do an interview with both Jeff Staple (of STAPLE Clothing) and Bun B (one half of UGK, seminal Southern rap group from Port Arthur, TX). On some downtime, during shooting, I would sit and talk with Jeff about anything I could to get to know him better and the ideas of his vision. Fortunately, he dropped some jewels on me about the streetwear game and what I should do and what I wanted to do, and it just clicked. So, I stayed in contact with him over the years and built a good relationship with him. From then on, anytime I saw a piece, I had to have it. I would get old Staple [clothing], feeling like I needed to catch up, new Staple [clothing] anything, but it had to match my style, which is a challenge in itself because not all Staple is made for my taste.

While doing my due diligence, I noticed that you have about 2 – 3 different websites:

JOERILLA.COM // FLOCKWITHUS.COM // WHYSOLESERIOUS.COM – Please inform the audience as to what content they can expect when viewing each site.

Ok, so www.joerilla.com is where I post events I record or that I am apart of, as well as my opinion on those events or things I like in the culture of hip-hop, art, and streetwear. www.flockwithus.com is strictly for the Flock (Staple Clothing’s brand ambassadors’ group): anything that has to do with Staple which means artists, designers or just enthusiasts who share my love for the brand. www.whysoleserious.com was a shoe-only blog, where I would post on only shoes I like or look forward to having myself. I need to spend more time on all three sites a little more but basically, they are just blogs to keep me entertained. [LOL]

The post Flock With Us: A Conversation With Joerilla Drums appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

When you get an email from one of the big-wigs about an article, then you GOTTA do a piece on it! Haha! Fortunately, its on a topic, about which I have a strong opinion.

First off, one must understand that FASHION operates in cycles. STYLE lasts FOREVER.

The chunky shoe phenomenon is one that is starting to resurface as many other things do:

1. to make an ironic statement
2. to make something mundane “cool” (remember “normcore”?)
3. to make one part of society feel more disconnected and marginalized because, even if it looks like something they have, they cannot afford THIS version of it (i.e. – Payless brand shoes like “Pro-Wings” or “Attack Forces”).

I will say this: there are some shoes that, IF I had the money, I would buy and wear in a HEARTBEAT! Here are my picks:

adidas Yeezy Desert Rat 500 – REASON(s): I’m a fan of Kanye. You can’t go wrong with an all-Black shoe. It looks cool!

adidas x Raf Simons Ozweego 3 – REASON(s): A clean shoe, for a person with NO desire to walk anywhere.

Spaulding Hakeem Olajuwon – Reason: Because, Houston.

Gucci Rhyton Sneaker – Reason: This is the classiest $820 sneaker that I have seen (You can also get this shoe for $740, sans the GG logo).

But y’all don’t hear me though…

I guess I’ll just have to cop some of these:

Post your comments below.

The post My Thoughts On The Chunky Shoe Trend (Opinion) appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Errolson Hugh. John Mayer. ACRONYM x NIKE. ‘Nuff said.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

Earlier today, I waxed poetically on our favorite old-school fabric, corduroy.

This is NOT that. This shoe is probably, the most diametrically opposed to the Air Max 1/97 hybrid.

First reason: More AIR Technology in the shoe. Bubbles on bubbles on bubbles.

Second reason: No laces. Goes with the Ninja (jika-tabi) & Cowboy (Western boots) look.

Third reason: This.

The shoes come out on Nike Air Max Day (3.26.18). Price is probably going to be > $200, so be sure you’ve paid your bills before you buy these! (BTW, CLICK THE ABOVE PHOTO for a cool video commercial for the shoes.)

The post Ninja vs. Cowboy: ACRONYM Strikes Gold With Their Latest Nike Collaboration appeared first on Day & A Dream.

A piece of advice: don’t just look for clothing to wear one day! These are things you can celebrate in year round!

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

Coming from a person that has not, nor will ever, smoke weed, I DO; however, appreciate the effort and time that goes into designing clothing that celebrates the lifestyle of cannabis.

I don’t want to blow your high, so I am going to stop writing and show you the classic pieces of streetwear and sneakers that exemplify the best and baddest in the world of weed.

Hat: Snoop Dogg’s Chronic Cap

1992: The cap that started it all. The Chronic, by Dr. Dre, was the mainstream album debut of a rapper named Snoop Doggy Dogg. In the video for the lead off single, “Nuthin’ But A G Thang”, he wore a cap with a simple design. A simple white cap, complete with a weed leaf embroidered on the front. While I could not find the OG cap for sale online, I did manage to find a close second at the link below, on ETSY of all places.

CHRONIC HAT

Clothing: HUF Worldwide

Keith Hufnagel and the boys out in Cali have ALWAYS had an affinity towards the Devil’s Cabbage. So much and so, they have become a master of sorts in the art of what they have chosen to brand as “PlantLife”. Case in point:

These are EVERYWHERE. Search through those pieces at will. They also drop a new collection EVERY YEAR. You can buy the 2018 joints (no pun intented) here.

Sneakers: NIKE (FTW!!)

Starting in 2010, Nike SB has been dropping 4/20 themed sneakers intermittently to cater to their consumers that like to get high. They also like to make shoes for collectors. All of these sneakers are dope (no pun intended again…), but the ones that I like the most are the ones that I own:

Good luck getting these, because they are available on Flight Club for a outrageous price, IMHO.

The post Happy 4/20 : Streetwear Pieces You Have To Have (From A Dude Who Doesn’t Smoke) appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Nike’s Best Running Shoe (IMHO) Is Coming Back… Maybe.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

You would think, judging from this ridiculous picture of me above, that my favorite Nike running shoe is the “dad-core/normcore” Nike Air Monarch (by the way, you do know that the Air Monarch is their best selling shoe , right?) .

It’s not. My favorite Nike running shoe is this:

What? Is this a shoe that you have yet to hear of, see on a website, or (gasp) worn?

You know what? It probably is, but that’s OK. Allow me to introduce to you my favorite Nike runner EVER: the Air Skylon II.

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I came upon this shoe, looking through the ENDLESS sneaker pages on Tumblr. I want to say that the picture that I first saw was the one above.

The colors, the silhouette, everything about this shoe was simply glorious!

Fast forward a few years and, just before I lost all hope about this shoe ever being released again, I saw this:

A collaboration of NIKE with FEAR OF GOD? I starting thinking to myself, “I thought that Jerry and the Fear Of God brand were Vans for life?”. Glad to know that I was wrong.

Then, there was silence. After time passed, I saw ANOTHER photo online:

I was, for lack of a better word, FLABBERGASTED! Not only is Fear of God doing a collaboration with Nike, BUT it is going to be three different colorways!

Finally, the coup de grâce was a post made by Sean Wotherspoon, owner of Round Two and sneaker connoisseur, which showed this:

I am DEAD y’all! I need this shoe and YOU DO, TOO!

When I get more information, I will let you know about it ASAP!

The post Nike Announces Return of Rare Model, Skylon II… Sorta. | @NIKESPORTSWEAR appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Do you want to represent for your country by being a walking flag post? Say no more, fam.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

I am so excited to show you this piece, because one of the things that I really like in streetwear fashion is the “World Flags” trend on clothes.

Now, global juggernaut, Nike, seems to be throwing their hat in the race by producing the above sneaker, the Nike Air Zoom Spiridon, set to release with a Air Max 90 and Air Max Plus on June 14th.

With an iridescent “swoosh” and other detailing, it is a sneaker that is sure to turn heads, if you wear it with the right thing.

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Speaking of “wear it with the right thing”, I want to share with you 4 pieces that I will empower you to wear with these shoes, whenever they decide to drop.

Piece #1: Cap from Urban Outfitters

If you only decided to have the shoes and this cap to coordinate and tie your “outfit” together, then it would be cool, as long as your shirt and pants were not busy as well. Unfortunately, it may no longer be available at Urban Outfitters, but you may be able to find it here.

Piece #2: Supreme Flag Hoodie

This piece was one of the immediately sold-out pieces from the 2012 F/W season. It is something that can definitely stand on its own, with a pair of cool black jeans. Grailed is the place where you will want to grab this hoodie now, as it is long gone from all other retailers online.

Piece #3: 10 Deep Flag Shirt

This shirt is fire. If you are serious about representing world-wide cultures, then look no further. I want to say that I googled “10 Deep World Flag shirt” and this popped up.

Piece #4: Steezy World Cup Shorts

I only have one thing to say about these shorts: wear these as often as you can because they are cool! Unfortunately, you will not be able to purchase these as they are currently sold out on Amazon (whomp whomp!).

The post Wave Your [World] Flag: 4 Garments & 1 Pair Of Shoes To Rep Your Nation appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Learn how a gaming console company became one of the great collaborators with the powerhouse of sneakers.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

Nintendo. Sega. Neo-Geo (I’m telling my age with that one! Haha!).

These three gaming systems are all legendary for their own reasons, but one system that came out in 1995 stood out among all the rest: the Sony Playstation. Stats like being the first affordable system that had CD-ROM games as opposed to cartridges, along with being the first system to ship 100 million units, poised Sony to be the perfect company to have a long lasting relationship with the sneaker juggernaut that is Nike.

The shoe above released at the E3 Convention on yesterday and if you were lucky enough to be there, then you got a pair.

Below are 6 shoes that have been released by Nike to celebrate the continued relationship between the two brands. Tell us below which one you like in the comments!

NIKE Air Force 1 x Playstation “Leather” SAMPLE (Year Released: n/a)

On June 6th, Nike released some archival photos of a shoe that looks very similar to a previously released shoe (mentioned below). Notice the difference? The ones above have traditional leather. The ones below? Patent leather.

NIKE Air Force 1 x Playstation “Patent Leather” (Year Released: 2006)

I remember the Air Forces wave of the early 2000s. Nelly dropped this track. Then, in mid-late 2000s, Nike took full advantage of the wave that the St. Lunatics created and made a gang of colorways and customized versions of the “Uptowns”. The version above is one that was not only very limited in the market, but also Nike knew that they had a legendary shoe on their hands. If you don’t believe me, check out the prices on StockX.

NIKE Air Max 360/90 x Playstation (Year Released: 2006)

This shoe is probably one of the rarest of the rare: only 24 pairs of this shoe exist. This shoe is also one of the first hybrid Nike shoes in existence, but it makes sense in a collaboration with two forward thinking, creative brands such as these. While I would not personally wear this shoe, I wouldn’t mind just having a pair of these shoes in my personal vaulted collection on permanent ice.

NIKE Air Max 97 x Playstation “Playstation 2” (Year Released: 2008)

Last year was the year of the Nike AM97 (Silver Bullet, Gold Bullet, Undefeated Pack, etc.). Before I wrote this article, I did not know that this shoe even existed. Patent leather seems to be one of the common threads of the Playstation x Nike collaborations, along with a hint of iridescence. There is a subtle color detail, reminiscent of the four colored buttons on the controller of the Playstation console.

NIKE Blazer High Premium x Playstation  (Year Released: 2008)

This shoe is one of my favorite Nike silhouettes. The Blazer is a shoe that you can dress down or up. Plus, with the noted iridescence, it is guaranteed to draw the attention of all onlookers. Fun fact: you can actually shine the leather on these shoes with shoe polish. I know when I owned a pair of black leather Blazers, I would definitely shine them up.

NIKE PG2 x Playstation  (Year Released: 2018)

This shoe probably has the most detailing work of all of the Playstation shoes. From the paint speckled midsoles, to the colored eyelets to match the button colors on the controller, and finally the LED-lit PG x PS logos on the tongue, this shoe is tough!

These shoes released through the Nike SNKRS app and you had to submit to the randomized raffle. I tried for it and unfortunately, I did not win. If you want a pair, prepare to pay a pretty penny for them.

The post Square, Circle, X, Triangle: The History of Playstation & Nike Collabs | @Playstation @nike appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Shining a spotlight on one of the great visual artists in the streetwear world: Kevin Lyons.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

I wanted to start this off by saying thank you to everyone who have been reading my passionate articles. You make this entire experience worth it.

Now, on to the subject: Kevin Lyons. I can’t remember exactly when I began to follow him and his work. I want to say it was around maybe 3 – 4 years ago. The “Jolly Rancher” campaign had to be the one that got me started.

I dig his artwork because it is always fun, colorful, and downright hilarious. The characters, with their varied expressions and campy phrases, bring joy and laughter at all times.

While out in Long Beach, CA with the wife, we managed to find one of his pieces a few blocks away from the apartment where we were staying. Needless to say, I had to get a picture with it.

Recently, Kevin Lyons has had a few outstanding collaborations that I wanted to share and, hopefully inspire you to look out for his art in other places:

Nike

Colette

Uniqlo

The Uniqlo collaboration is coming to the US on June 25th. // www.uniqlo.com

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For more information on this and other collaborations/artshows and the like, follow Kevin on social media:

Instagram: @klyonsnatborn

Twitter: @natbornklyons

The post Artist Spotlight: Kevin Lyons | @klyonsnatborn appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Alan Wright talks about his origins in streetwear, his love for Carhartt, and brand loyalty.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street!

Alan Wright is one of my favorite guys on the internet. The first time I cyber-met (I gotta copyright that…) Alan was through a post that I made of some Carhartt duck-cloth pants that I found while thrift store shopping in Houston. He liked my picture and from then on, we kept following each other.

While I do consider Carhartt as one of my Top 3 brands (Polo/Ralph Lauren & Undefeated being the other two), I think that Alan has always taken to another level in a great way! When I started writing for Day & A Dream, I had a short list of people that I knew I wanted to interview. Alan was on that list.

Check out the interview and, as always, comment below and tell us what you think about Carhartt: How long have your pieces lasted? Is Carhartt > Dickies? Will Carhartt WIP open a store in the States (besides the one in New York)?

(Writer’s Note: All Photos Provided Courtesy of Alan Wright)

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Tell us who you are and where you are from.

My name is Alan Wright and I am originally from a small town south west of Glasgow in Scotland, called Kilmarnock. Now I live in Orlando, Florida, with my wife and her dog, as I take no responsibility for him. He’s a Boston Terrier and a pain in the ass. I am a retail manager for Converse and I have been with the brand for 5 years – 2 years in Scotland with Nike and 3 years in Florida with Converse. I have worked in retail for almost 20 years now!

How did you get into streetwear?

Growing up I was a sports mad child. I was always active, playing basketball, soccer, doing martial arts like karate and aikido, playing table tennis and really any sport that I came across. When I got into my late teens, I got into skating, but had no ability for it whatsoever so I only lasted a week or two. I loved the style of clothes and it introduced me to more than just athletic wear or what is termed “sportswear” now.

My day to day style did change around my late teens from Nike and Jordan apparel to all the 90’s skate brands; Blind, Think, World Industries and my personal favorite at the time Alien Workshop. That influence of skate style was combined with Army/Navy store finds and then I graduated to my first introduction to streetwear and vintage stores when I was 18 and 19. The iconic Glasgow retailer, Dr. Jives, was at the heart of this initial education. I had no idea really at the time but so many of the brands which they carried would become legends in the streetwear scene: Stussy, X-Large and Hysteric Glamour.

What were some of your favorite brands growing up?

Stussy was the biggest brand for me growing up. The graphics and skate/surfer aesthetic was huge. X-Large was another one which I wore often, in part due to the Beastie Boys connection. Nike and Converse footwear played a key role too and my love for basketball made Nike and Jordan very important to me, now more in the style than the performance aspect.

Around the same time, I started my retail career at a vintage spot called Flip, which imported an array of American vintage clothing to the store in Scotland. The mixture of skate styles, vintage pieces, military inspired items and those key streetwear brands really set the tone for my style and the way I expressed myself to this day.

Why Carhartt?

I came across INC jackets during the first year or so working at Flip. The branding was simple, the fabric was so rugged and durable and perfect for the Scottish weather. I was always fascinated by the USA; from the hip hop, jazz and blues music that I listened to, my love of basketball and the movies I watched. The fact it was from America just made it even better.

As I moved from the vintage store to streetwear boutiques and skate stores, I came across WIP, when it was still developing its identity in the U.K and Europe, and I just liked it from day one. The price point was always affordable and it just wears so well and last so long. I have a camo backpack from around 2001 which has traveled all over the world and still looks brand new.

WIP was carried in many stores but was just another brand back in early 2000, not like the streetwear juggernaut that it is now. The more it developed, the more I admired and enjoyed the clothes and accessories (I love accessories, especially bags and hats). Their relationship with music and art and skateboarding only cemented my love for WIP.

My IG handle is CarharttAL23, which really stems from a nickname which friends and colleagues gave me. When new deliveries would come in, I would open the boxes and gaze at the product, as if discovering some mythical and marvelous object. WIP became a trademark and it really became the only brand I would be shopping for when I stopped by local stores – hence the name Carhartt Al!

Another reason I was attracted to Carhartt, especially INC, was that it was very masculine and rugged. I am small and though I have worn a beard for most of my life, much to my mother’s annoyance (all of the men in her life wore beards – my brother and I and my father, but she never really cared for beards), I am not the stereotypical, masculine man. It doesn’t bother me now specifically, but when you are a young man finding your way, being more masculine, or stronger or more rugged was perhaps something I striven for. I’ve struggled with depression and clothing has always played a huge role in my life and in many ways it was my armor.

Carhartt’s heavy duck canvas and rigid denim styles really fit the bill. If it is good enough for the hip hop icons the Beastie Boys and the WU TANG, who I listened to as a kid and so admired and still listen to in my car now, to the American drug dealers who also made Carhartt jackets famous, for all the wrong reasons – it is good enough for me. I truly love that the brands connect so many people from all over the world and from all different races, cultures and styles: American men working on railway lines and farms to skate kids and geeks to hipsters. Both INC and WIP are so important to so many people. It is a community – it is the duck canvas that brings us all together!

How much of a challenge is it to blend Carhartt with other pieces in your wardrobe?

To be honest I wear very few brands now, especially when it comes to apparel. Carhartt INC and WIP makes up 90-95% of my day to day wardrobe. Through the years, Carhartt sat well next to other brands, but in the last 5 to 10 years, I rarely buy anything else. A social media friend has a brand called COS/Children of the Sun with fantastic styling and branding focused around Native American heritage which I love and I have a handful of his tees. I still have a few Stussy tees hanging around and then I have some other tees, mostly gifts from family members. I am very loyal, as a friend and as a consumer.

I pretty much just wear Converse or Nike sneakers and Carhartt apparel. I even got married in Carhartt WIP – Dark green Sid pants. WIP really fits along any other brand and style very comfortable. INC can be more challenging without just looking like you just came off the night shift at the power plant. I like to blend WIP and INC together and most of the pieces I am drawn to are the classic items, like pocket tees/K87s and graphic tees, double knee pants, ripstop cotton over shirts – mission shirts being a personal fave of mine, with 4 different camo options in regular rotation. I wear camo pretty much every day and it has become almost as much of a trademark as Carhartt is.

What rare / hard to find pieces do you have in your Carhartt / WIP collection?

This week I just picked up INC overalls in white, from the 100 Year Anniversary collection, which if you know your Carhartt history, means it came out around 1989! Lot of paint and some stains but virtually no damage or signs of wear and they fit perfectly. I have 2 tees from the Zurich store opening exclusive drop which was gifted to me by the store manager. I also have the store exclusive tee from the recent Madrid store, which I got through a friend of a friend on social media, which was an amazing surprise.

About 5 years ago, I was able to grab the Important from INC Detroit Chore coat from the old downtown store in Chicago – it is a classic black duck canvas with black buttons and black branding and the liner is a street map of Detroit city. They only made 200 and it is crazy and I also have 2 of the watch beanies to match! It was sent from the store in Chicago to my lady at the time in Boston to my home in Scotland. I got a comment one day after posting it proudly on IG, asking me where I got it and when I explained the story, the guy said “that was me, I sent it!!!” He is a fireman now but it such a funny coincidence.

I love social media for connecting people from all over the globe. One of my prized WIP pieces is from the collaboration with Burton, the well-known Vermont snowboarding company. It is beautiful. Amazing chestnut coloured fully Gore-tex shell with lined pockets, cord collar and detachable hood. It is not super rare but I have only seen one or two people ever wearing it. I remember my dad being a little upset when splitting the purchase as my Christmas gift, but when he saw my face when I opened it, he knew it was worth it. I was in my early 30’s at the time and it was like getting a red BMX as a 10 year old. So excited! During my second trip to the USA when I was working in Vermont, I went with the family I was staying with, who were huge snowboard fans, to the Burton HQ and flagship store. It was a great experience.

Most of the rarest items in my collection are custom 1 of 1 accessories which I have had made by Eric Patton, who is a phenomenal guy based out of Ohio. I have one tote, one sample hip pack and I am waiting on a custom backpack made out of vintage overalls which just didn’t fit me. I saw a couple of clips on his IG story and I can’t wait to have it in person. One of the weirdest items I have in my collection is Carharttopoly/Carhartt Monopoly, which I picked up in Dedham, Massachusetts around 2012, when I was living and working north of Boston. I wished I had bought a couple of the game. One to play and one for the vault. The final honorable mention goes to my pair of Chuck Taylor 70s from the collaboration with WIP. They were a gift from the owners of WIP and working for Converse and being such an avid fan of Carhartt, these are just a perfect sneaker. Chuck 70s are my personal fav style from Converse and then it being wrapped in the iconic Hamilton Brown, just makes it the perfect pair.

Throughout the years, especially with the reach of social media, I have been very fortunate to receive gifts from both edges of the Carhartt sword. It still blows my mind when I connect with people from the brand and when pieces arrive, it is still is so unbelievable to me. Another reason I am so passionate about the brand is the people; the staff and managers in London where I used to buy most of my stuff, when I was living in Scotland; the owners of WIP Edwin and Salomee; the designers that I have connected with online and retail managers for INC; the customer service people at INC; other collectors and fans of the brand. All of these people play a huge part in why I love the brand, why I wear the brand and why both brands have such a key role in their marketplaces and in my wardrobe.

What practical advice do you have for young people who are seeking to be collectors?

Buy what you like. Don’t go on trends or fashion or what others like or what big collaborations are getting buzz on social media. If you like it, but it. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. The pieces and collections which I have bought over the years are because they have a connection to me and what I love: from fabric and colour to graphics and prints. I love camo and basketball and music and simple branding. So I have a collection which reflects that and reflects me as a person.

The current climate of buying the latest collaboration with Patta, or PACCBET or Converse, then to resell it for your own profit is not something I like or appreciate. My advice would be to be honest in your love of a brand or style or designer, whomever or whatever that might be. Be genuine in your collecting. Collect Carhartt because it means something to you as an individual. Never expect anything and be a positive influence in the community.

Humanity is quick to criticize or chastise and try and look better by putting others down. You may not agree with how someone has styled a piece but that is the point, that is the joy and that is why it is loved by so many different people, as they are connected to it for their own reasons and they wear in a style which means something to them. The people I have met and the key pieces which I own, go hand in hand. Without making friends with some incredible vintage people in Orlando, I wouldn’t own 30 year old overalls. It is the relationships which I have developed with people connected directly and those not connected to the brand which have helped me find and create certain pieces, which mean just as much, if not more than the pieces themselves.

The post A Carhartt Conversation With Alan Wright | @carharttal23 @carhartt @carharttwip appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Check out how our Sneaker Summit experience went at Minute Maid Park!

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

I had the opportunity to attend the latest H-Town Sneaker Summit this past Sunday.

The event was held at Minute Maid Park, the home field of the World Champion, Houston Astros.

As always, I felt obligated to talk to as many tables as I could, especially checking in with the vendors that I knew from past Summits. Here are some pictures of my meetings with those individuals.

(Sorry for my sweaty face in all of the pictures! The heat was on people’s feet and in the air!)

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I had a chance to discover new brands as well, such as female-owned and operated “Marry The Right Shorty” & “Team Jemini Designs”.

I also noticed that there were many more shoe collectors and vendors from outside of Houston that came into town to show off their wares.

Finally, I had a chance to check out the DJs, who give this big party the energy to last through 5 hours!

Aside from the heat and the congested traffic, I think that it was a good event for vendors and buyers. If you were at the Summit, feel free to comment below and tell us about your experience!

The post Summer 2018 H-Town Sneaker Summit Recap! appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Lesson Learned: If you use bots, there’s always a risk.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

On yesterday, as I was perusing the Internet, looking for inspiration to write, I noticed the following article on HYPEBEAST.

This is a win for us humans: a clearly evident showing that the brands truly care about their product being equally disbursed among the masses.

KITH, one of the top streetwear brands and sneaker retailers in the country, is making their position known about how they feel, as it relates to the bot epidemic.

For those that have been under a rock, a bot is a piece of software that is used to “automate the online checkout process“. It is a way for you to be able to smoothly go through the process, without getting caught in the “sold out” line. People usually purchase bots, so that they can guarantee a pair of their shoes, clothes, or any other drop that releases online.

Many companies have found their own way to prevent bots from being used on their online retail sites: Nike’s SNKRS, adidas with the Confirmed app, even Foot Locker has the “Launch Reservation” app. Many mom & pop retailers have done raffles, limited the number of purchased pairs, and even forced strongly suggested that they wear the shoes out of the store, so as to not be in deadstock condition.

All that being said, I wished that bots did NOT exist. I wished that people could have a legit chance on buying whatever shoes that are released; however, this may not be likely.

Tell us what you think about bots in the comments below!

The post A Win For Humans: KITH Allegedly Dupes Bot Users With Fake Link appeared first on Day & A Dream.

This is a beautiful shoe. Why has it not sold out yet?

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

For those that remember, I wrote an article about the announcement of this particular shoe, called the Nike Air Skylon II. I think it is the best shoe ever (for runners, anyway). From the ultra-bold colors, to the sleek & simple design of the shoe itself, the Skylon II is built to win.

But when the shoes released a couple of weeks ago, they did not sell out immediately (as I anticipated). As a consumer, this is good, because I may be able to grab a pair; however, this is not a good sign, due to the massive amount of hype surrounding the pre-release of the shoe.

I do think that what is going to happen is that it is going to take a high profile brand to collaborate with Nike to make this shoe become a more present and viable contender in the market of sneakers. Enter Fear of God. The shoes above is the collaboration with Nike on the Skylon II that is scheduled to release in the fall of 2018. This release is what will help to propel the Skylon II into the spotlight. Then, all it will take is to release more and more colorways and hues to keep the party going.

But for now, let’s enjoy the ones we have and get them now, because once the rest of the population comes to the party, we won’t have a chance to get to them any longer.

Nike Air Skylon II, $100. www.nike.com/snkrs

The post The Nike Air Skylon II: Why Is It Still On The Shelf? appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Check out this lookbook, shot in H-Town, by the wunderkind photographer, Cary Fagan.

[Writer’s Note: All photos are by Cary Fagan.]

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

If you are a frequent walker of the Galleria Mall in Houston, TX, then you know that sneaker retailing giant Footaction has opened a new shopping experience there as of a month ago.

To celebrate their comeback, Footaction has decided to partner with a locally raised and internationally known photographer, Cary Fagan. A University of Houston alumnus, Fagan has captured images with the likes of A$AP Rocky, Red Bull, and the Houston Ballet.

Check out some photographs from the lookbook that he shot around the H here and make yourself present at the event happening on Friday, 8/24 at Memorial City Mall from 4p – 7p.

The post No One Way: An Interactive Experience With Footaction X Cary Fagan appeared first on Day & A Dream.

Gains and losses were made at NIKE in the past two weeks.

This is D3 The Concrete, bringing you fashion from the street.

If you are anyone who knows about sneakers, you know NIKE is the TOP of the hill, per this chart.

Let’s start off with the good part of the news: Nike’s founder and Chairman Emeritus Phil Knight, just donated close to $1B in NIKE stock to a charitable organization. I hope to know what that organization is in the near future, but for now, it shows that Phil Knight is all about being philanthropic. You should check out the book, Shoe Dog, which is his memoirs of how he started Blue Ribbon Sports, which eventually evolved into NIKE.

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Now, let’s get to the sad news: Sandy Bodecker, the man who organized what we know of today as Nike SB, passed away on October 3rd. It was very interesting to see this because I JUST read an interview with him. He seemed like a very humble dude. If you like SB’s, then this is the man that is responsible for all of those wonderful collaborations and colorways. Requiescat in pace. 

The post Swoosh Up & Swoosh Down : News About Nike appeared first on Day & A Dream.