Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Studded Flag Well-Worn Hi, $64

You may have heard that the theme of this year’s Met Gala is Punk. Which seems a bit odd at first, considering the event is organized by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, whose standard look of sheath dresses and Chanel glasses  is way more prim & proper than punk.

Then you have the fact that Kanye West is rumored to be the performer, and Beyonce (she of the sparkly bodysuit nipples) one of the celebrity organizers. Both musicians have their rebellious moments; West, on multiple occasions, Beyonce’s “I’m not bubblegum pop” attitude of late telling other singers to Bow Down to her NSFW tromp l’oeil costumes. Still, even the risk takers are more fashion punk than OP (original punk).

We’ll bite though – while Wintour’s type of fashion doesn’t seem like the most likely pairing, movements have to evolve to stay alive. The fact that punk has lived long enough to become a point of inspiration for the unlikeliest of editors, to break into the unlikeliest places says something for the strength of the original idea.

The Nike Foamposite One Paranorman (pictured) have a low asking price of $1500, and go as high as $4500. At retail they sold for $220.

While women frequently take the rap for shoe obsessions, anyone who’s known a sneakerhead knows shoe worship regularly crosses gender lines. The Cut takes a look at teen sneakerheads who are finding the sneaker market more lucrative than the street market.

“Fueled by testosterone and a few lone moms handing out bagels and Capri Suns, attendees stormed a Best Western ballroom, dragging around trashbags full of shoes as dubstep blared from a D.J. booth. Wallets stuffed with fat rolls of $20 bills were taken out; shoes were swapped. It was Rick Ross–style hustling, only the PG-13 version.” {NYMag}

One 15-year-old seller, who also trades in flavored electronic cigarettes (at a much lower price) says mastering the sneaker market is “better money than selling weed.”

Indeed the Nike Foamposite One Paranorman Galaxy can be currently found on eBay for $2800, with asking prices on other sites as high as $4500. While the sneakers may be street, the nature of the trade borders on luxury, and not just for price. Originally retailing for $220, the markup is primarily based on limited original supply. Unlike Birkin bags and similar products that can generate waitlists to buy from brand controlled scarcity, the majority of the markups for sneakers take place in the secondary market.

Teens and under-25s may control the sell side of the market, but the guys who shell out  thousands for a pair of sneakers are likely the 30 and 40-somethings who once learned the art of the trade themselves 10 or 20 years ago. While some worry about the fad dying out, the men who redefine well-heeled tomorrow are more than likely the same boys selling to that crowd today.

They’re not really designed for cycling, but we’d like to think that somewhere out there, a shoe designer was pacing back and forth looking at his shoe collection, then his bike, lamenting the fact that his beloved casual shoes just weren’t cut out for late night bike rides, where it really is important to make cars aware of your presence through bright colors or reflective strips.

3M reflectivity might make more sense on a cycling shoe than a dress shoe, but that hasnâ€t stopped footwear label Del Toro from creating this uniquely reflective series of casual footwear. Available in an EVA-equipped wingtip, or a classic rubber-soled sneaker, each shoe appears unassuming enough at first glance, but comes to life at night under any concentrated light source. {Hypebeast}

We’re still not sure of the backstory behind the shoes, but completely reflective footwear does sound like a cool (and yes, a little out there) concept, and surely there will be nothing but glowing reviews – pun intended.

According to a press release from Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which acquired the Ugg brand in 1995, Brady adores Uggs and wears them all the time (doubtful), and company Chairman and CEO Angela Martinez said Mr. Giseleâ€s status as a highly noted football player and “style icon” makes him their ideal spokesman.

We were going to say that what that likely means is Brady is meant to make Uggs seem more masculine and thus more appealing to a wider population of men, but actually Uggs are already pretty masculine-looking and have somehow become associated with women and girls. The Uggs will probably, therefore, have the opposite effect on Brady. In other words, heâ€s liable to find his Ugg boots wearing him, not the other way around. The score for now: Ugg-1, Brady-0.

At Rendez-Vous Paris, Slam Jam‘s Forfex brand studded sneakers and blue suede shoes immediately grabbed our attention.  The Milan based company sells a variety of mainstay urban brands like Nike and Adidas through their online store, but the colors and details of their own creations will easily establish them as the go to sneaker in any connoisseur’s closet.

For their Fall/Winter collection, Killers Zip Boots take cues from the sneaker style with back studding and an added zipper, while the popular Killers sneakers get refreshed with a geometric inner ankle portion. For the ladies who remember the pom pom socks that used to peek over the heel of your sneakers, the Knight’s layered back detail will bring back memories of shoe styles past.

Like any true studs, the Kick It (pictured) and Killers are enough to make guys want to walk in your shoes, and girls want to walk with you.

Click the thumbnails to view larger images from Slam Jam’s forthcoming Fall/Winter collection. Current collection is available at the SlamJam store.

We’re jealous of all our Japanese readers after taking a look at the latest Jack Purcells for the exclusive Converse Japan collection.

The newest drop includes leather kicks in the classic Purcell shape fabricated in solid red or black, as well as — our favorite — a black-and-white wingtip/saddle shoe-inspired look called the Dresscode 1/2.

What we love most about these new Purcells is that they’re clean enough to wear with more grown-up ensembles, yet they still pack a fun, youthful punch — factors which translate the shoes into something sporty-chic that makes them easy to dress either up or down.

Read the full story {High Snobiety}

This seems to be the year for killer sneaker releases, with the latest drop from Vans being no exception.  The new Half Cab LX model is a slick shoe completely stripped of frou-frou gimmicks or crazy patterns (Nike, we’re talking to you!), which will satisfy the guy in your life who’s more into laid-back cool than flashing lights.

We love the solid black panel behind the all-black laces, and the sleek shape is a refreshing SoCal skater take on the mid-height basketball shoe silhouette.

Half Cabs will be available at Vault stockists by March/April 2010.

Read the full story {Hypebeast}

It’s time to make some friends in Paris, pronto, because we’ve just taken a look at the new collaboration between Nike and Parisian dye house 180g, and our verdict is Absolutely 100% Droolworthy.

We love how much of a new look the colors give to the classic Nike models, with the slightly lived-in (yet still super-color-saturated) look of the sneakers being a huge plus.

The collection drops 5 November at 180g store on rue de Tournelles in Paris and we’re crossing our fingers that they will also be available online as soon as possible so our American boyfriends don’t feel so left out.

Read the full story {High Snobiety}

We love a good, simple, sturdy Oxford shoe for both men and women, and shoemaker The Generic Man has plenty to offer.

The Buckminster fringed oxford, shown above, is classic enough to pair with your weekday work wear, but the leather trim and unexpected fringe detailing add something special to an otherwise ordinary shoe.  The Generic Man is mainly tailored toward the gents, but the ladies can have in on the fun as well: a few models are also made in women’s shoe sizes.

Available at various boutiques throughout the US, Canada, and Japan, or online at TheGenericMan.com.

We especially love the Wing Highs (shown left) in both black and silver (the silver is so kicky, but the all-black version is more versatile), and the wing detail on the shoes would add a great finishing touch to any casual look.

Both models are available for $180 at UNDFTD stores in LA, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, and Japan or online at UNDFTD.com.

Read the full story {High Snobiety}