[click on image to enlarge]

It’s impossible for me to get enough sneakers. Every year I use three out of the four seasons as an excuse to upgrade my alabaster kicks. A bit much, I know.

Enter Original Penguin’s new sneakers, The Jingle. I chose the Midnight/Blue and Highrise/Tango combinations (shown) and dig the modern look with a perfect touch of retro 50’s. My only qualm? They don’t make more color combinations. I’d pick up a bakers dozen if I could.

Editor’s Tip: Pair with a pair of chinos, fitted cargo shorts, or medium wash jeans. Avoid temptation to wear bowling shirts.

Cost: $40-$90 @ Original Penguin

If you haven’t sacrificed years of your life to training and you’re not already in Beijing, chances are slim that you’ll be at the Olympics this year. Like most Americans, including myself, you’ll probably spend part of your August 8th week gazing at a jumbotron scoreboard (your HDTV) with an athletic beverage (cold beer) in one hand and the javelin (remote) in the other. But as realistic as the pictures on your plasma are, they can’t compete with the real thing. So, if you’re dying for a piece of the Olympics, grab a pair of the Made for Beijing Collection by adidas. [Additional images after the jump]
Read the rest of this entry »

[ Part 1: Attire | Part 2: Shoes | Part 3: Accessories ]

Look at the clothes you’re wearing. Are you put together well? Yes, you are. Now look at those shoes. Notice how they’re the same pair you wear whether it’s Saturday or Monday? That’s not a good thing. Take your work ensemble to the next level with a decent pair of work shoes. Proper shoes. Read on to find out what suits fit your job.
Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for a sharp pair of sneakers that will follow you from the gym to a night out then the Puma Cell Meio may be one of your better bets out there. The Cell Meio blends a dress shoe style upper in leather and faux croc and a duo-CELL forefoot and heel. Comfort and style.

Also available in a silver/orange or black/neon-green. See images after the jump.

Cost: $130 @ PUMA
Read the rest of this entry »

It’s time to upgrade those old Birkenstocks you’ve had since college. Nothing against Birkenstock of course. These Tommy Bahama Palermo Sandals are soft, durable and the padded leather footbed is contoured to cradle the foot. Perfect for those of you looking for a slightly dress-up sandal option this summer.

Cost: $145 @ Zappos

Also See:
Steve Madden Salvtore Sandals | $40
Rainbow Sandals | $42

We’ve reviewed a couple of running shoes at Gear Patrol; mostly trail runners, but like many guys I live in a concrete jungle. The closest I’ll get to trail running is a dirt path in Central Park. That’s one reason I run in a pair of mi adidas shoes. The other reasons are even better, but I’ll get to that in a second.

First lets go down the running credentials to lend some credibility. I ran my first 5k at age 15 and the rest is history. I’ve run on three different continents in climates that range from hot and steamy to dry and bitter cold. Seemingly impossible hills motivate me, not deter. Sounds of the ten thousandth stride exhilarate. I love running.

That said, let me tell you why mi adidas are the only running shoes I’ll ever recommend. Read why after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Rucky Chucky is a high-perforance long-distance mountain/trail running shoe that excels in all the areas most important to a trail running shoe. Support, traction, and stability. Not unlike a good set of off road tires (Ed: Full disclosure: Brian’s SUV wears BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A’s)

The Rucky Chucky’s uppers are made of abriasion-resistant bomber synthetic nubuck, a highly breathable sandwich mesh and supported via North Face’s X-Frame. Your contact with the ground is through a dual-density lightweight midsole and North Face’s thrust chassis and X-Dome, all of which sound a but sexual, but result in fantastic foot support on rough terrain. North Face also includes the forefoot Snake Plate that protect your feet from stone bruises and Tenacious Grip outsole outer sole traction.

Cost: $110 @ Altrec

Also See: Salomon XA Pro 3D SCR ($112) three-season trail running shoe.

Summer is officially here and if you are looking for a nice pair of sandals to rock with your linen pants and board shorts, look no further. Established in 1974 Rainbow is generally regarded as a high-end flip-flop (as opposed to ordinary foam rubber ones) due to their construction with a leather thong and foot bed. Once sold exclusively in California, Rainbow has grown to become one of the top three best-selling brands of sandals in the United States, along with competitors Reef and Teva.

Unlike most consumer sandals, rainbows have built-in arch support and mold to the wearer’s individual foot shape. Rainbow even recommends a number of “break in” procedures, to give your pair of sandals a custom feel.

I own 2 pairs of Rainbows and they’re the best quality sandals I’ve ever owned. Their low profile makes them perfect for stuffing in any type of bag and they have the comfort without all the bulk.

What this means to you: The official look you should be sporting when you’re talking to the babes and somehow utter the word “tubular”.

Cost: $42.50 @ Rainbow Sandals

Summertime is best enjoyed sockless. If you can’t wear sandals, the next best option is a pair of boat shoes. There’s plenty of high-end fashion options out there, but no one does boat shoes better than Sperry Top-Sider. Look sharp this summer days with Sperry Top-Siders paired with a polo shirt and a pair of khaki shorts.

What this means to you: One Word: Classic

Cost: $69 @ Zappos

You spend well over $100 on a pair of nice leather shoes and some of you pay even more than that. Sure, your local polish shop may do a fine job but take five minutes to upgrade yourself - get a polish kit and learn how to shine your damn shoes.

This shoe cleaning kit from Aspinal of London will set you back well over one Benjamin, but it will last you the lives of multiple shoes and if you buy quality shoes then you’ll know that’s a long time. There’s no reason why a good set of wingtips, leather dress shoes or boots won’t last you a a decade with proper care. Proper care being the operative word here.

How to: Follow this 5-minute Shoeshine Method on Slacker Manager.

Cost: $127 @ Aspinal of London