The rise of streetwear culture in fashion has been somewhat of a phenomenon over the last five years or so. Gone are the Sex and the City days, where girls night out meant little black cocktail dresses or slinky tops with sky high heels and sparkly evening bags. These days, fashion lovers are trading their height-boosting shoes for a flatter, more functional—but just as fashionable—option: sneakers. There was a time in my life where I wouldn’t dream of wearing sneakers unless I was getting a workout in. I started college ten years ago this month (scary!), and it was the era of Gossip Girl, which inspired many of my fashion choices—hello headbands, ballet flats, and plaid skirts. And while I wasn’t a very big fan of high heels back then, sneakers weren’t something that were exactly on my wishlist, either.
Though I majored in fashion studies in college and am well aware of the ebbs and flows of trends, it’s still almost mind-boggling to me how the sneaker movement has taken off and basically surpassed the trend stage to become a staple in every fashion lover’s wardrobe. If 18-year-old me were to take a glimpse inside the closet of 28-year-old me, she would probably wonder where the heck are the Saint Laurent heels she swore she would one day own! I can’t put a number on how many sneakers I own, but I will say that on a given week, I’m wearing sneakers a majority of the days. I’m constantly on the lookout for a new pair, but at the same time I want something new and different that not everyone else has. I snagged a pair of Nike Air Force 1 high top sneakers in a limited edition Flyknit version a couple of years ago and have wanted a new pair ever since, but I’ve been seeing the all-white leather version on everyone and wanted to wait until I found something unique. Enter: the Nike Air Force 1 ’07 PRM LX Sneaker.
I saw this upgraded pair of AF1s and knew I needed them. I was obsessed with the little gold swoosh and the gold hardware edging on the laces. These sneakers are effortlessly cool, and I’ve been wearing them so often since I first got them—the color goes with pretty much everything, and they can be styled so many ways. My favorite way to wear them has been either with a dress (like this basic knit dress, which is a favorite of mine), or with jeans and a bodysuit. Truly, you can’t go wrong with these.
Though I’ve styled them so many ways already and worn them with a ton of different bags, I’ve got my eye on one bag in particular to pair with these cool kicks. The Gucci Printed Leather Belt Bag would make quite the dynamic duo alongside my newest sneaker crush. I’ve been eyeing so many belt bags lately, and though I’ve yet to pull the trigger on one, they keep catching my eye and finding their way onto my wish list. I love the vintage vibe of this belt bag, and I dream of how cool it would look paired with my new favorite kicks! Pick up one for yourself via Gucci for $790, and if you want to make it a duo, snag the Nike Air Force 1 ’07 PRM LX Sneakers for $135 via Nordstrom.
