Mariana Mandanas: My Top 10 of 2013

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Big things happened in 2013 and it was almost impossible to keep track of all the heat shoe companies put out week after week. Whether it was a retro, general release, or collab, most drops were pretty hard to say no to, making my Top 10 pretty difficult to finalize. I could go on for days talking about what else I would put on this list, but these are the pairs I’ll definitely remember even after the year ends.

 

Honorable Mention – Nike Free Inneva Woven SP 

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Beautiful looking and fitting shoe with lots of great tech behind it, but Nike definitely could’ve pushed the envelope a bit more on these especially in terms of colors. I know they’ll come up with bigger things for the Inneva in 2014, so I’ll keep watching.

 

10. Ronnie Fieg x Asics Gel Lyte III “New York City”

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You’ve got my attention with any shoe sporting a NYC Orange/Blue colorway. I know Ronnie is from Queens and this is the Mets colorway too, but I’m seeing nothing but Knicks here. I appreciate little details like the perforated toe box and the thick cord laces on these, and those are things you can only find in RF designs. I also really love how he went all in-monotone on the orange and blue upper, and the fact that this is in that Action Bronson video.

 

9. Neckface x Nike SB Dunk Hi Pro “Chronicles 2”

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These just dropped, but they are mean as hell. I have a feeling people are going to sleep on these. The shoe is black on black, but the textures really come out on this one.

 

8. Lebon X EXT “Black Suede/Mint” 

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I know, Vince used this in his Top 10 post, but it’s just a great shoe. Out of all the basketball shoes out there, I feel like the Lebron X is the perfect canvas to go hard on with different colors and combinations. A lot of really unforgettable colorways came out with the Ten and I miss it already now that the Eleven is out. Nike did a great job at making this look like a true lifestyle shoe rather than something for the court.

 

7. Reebok x Palace Classic Leather “White/Reebok Royal/Red”

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Red, white, and blue colorways are another instacop for me, and I love this version from Palace and Reebok. I’m a big fan of how the Palace logo is designed, so it’s dope to have it extremely visible on the tongue and the laces. I wore my pair to death over the summer, and it looks perfect.

 

6. Nike Air Max 1 Hometurf Milan QS

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These are the ones that got away. I’m drawn to anything with gum soles and I love Timbs, and this shoe is a striking resemblance to all that.

 

5. Nike x APC Air Max 1 Spring 2013

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I wouldn’t mind owning all the shoes from this collection, but the white Air Max 1’s have to be my favorite. Too clean.

 

4. WTAPS x Vans Vault Sk8-Hi

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Great colors, great materials. Goes with everything.

 

3. Nike “What The Kobe 8”

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Performance and design-wise, the Kobe 8 is my favorite shoe of the Kobe System. It has elements from some of my all-time favorite shoes like the bright yellow from the Area 72’s, the 3M from the Mambacurial, and the Kobe 8 Spark insole on one of the feet. A lot of people might say that the colors this pair are on the verge of looking a little too “out there,” but it looks damn good against the hardwood floor. Kobe’s also my favorite baller, so this was a no brainer.

 

2. Nike Air Maxim 1 SP ” Black Leather”

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The leather on this is just ridiculous.

 

1. PUMA x Hypebeast Blaze of Glory “Siu Mai” OG

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I hope Puma brings these shoes back in 2014 because the design is amazing. The yellow really gives off that “siu mai” look and the laces are insane–they look so much like noodles. I loved the packaging that came along with this pack. It’s an OG shoe, but could easily be mistaken for something more recent.

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