This video is pretty awesome – wouldn’t expect any less from Nike. Their commercials always kill it.

Be Free Nike WMNS Spring/Summer 2011 from Lady Sneakerhead on Vimeo.

I’ve already come out on the record and said that I intensely dislike the concept and look of sneaker heels.  What I dislike more? Fake sneaker heels.  These images have been floating around the web for the last week and every time I look at them I vomit a little in my mouth.  Don’t buy fakes and don’t wear sneaker heels.  Ok, thanks.

Autumn is here and now that I’m within a few pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight I’m ready to update my closet.  Also, my birthday is coming up in a few months so Ali, please take note…

1.  Cartier Tank Solo Watch – this watch is classy.  Designed in 1917 and inspired by Renault Tanks used in WWI, the fact that this watch is still elegant is a testament to its timeless style.

2.  Cole Haan Air Penny Loafer – this shoe is two for the price of one.  It’s a classic burgandy penny loafer but has Nike Air technology.  You can look put together and be comfortable at the same time.

3.  Chanel 2.55 Black Lambskin Bag – this bag is perpetually on my list and will remain there until I get one.  Though it would be nice if it were gifted, I’ve decided this bag means so much to me that I need to be able to gift it to myself as a reward for a job well done.  Let the saving begin!

4.  Classic Double-Breasted Trench Coat – I’ve been on the search for the perfect trench for a long time.  I’ve come across some good ones but since I’m petite the proportions are always a bit off.  I’ve decided that if I find a good one and the only thing that’s off is the length, I’m going to get it hemmed.

5.  Les Exclusifs de Chanel Beige Petits Flacon – Beige is one of my favorite scents and its my current daily scent.  Chanel just released my favorite scent in a petite bottle – perfect for travel.  Since the bottle I have is gigantic I would love to get the petits flacons so I can take my favorite scent with me wherever I go.

The internet’s been abuzz with opinions flying about whether people love or hate the new Nike Tiger Woods ad.  The ad features a pensive Tiger Woods with his late father, Earl Wood’s voice in the background.  If you haven’t seen it, check it out:

I’ve read many opinions online and it seems many people don’t like the ad.  I’ve even seen some people say they’ll never buy Nike again.

I actually like the ad. I think Nike did the best they could do under the uncomfortable circumstances. Rather than create an ad that glossed over the scandal, or simply ignored it, they faced it head on.

Tiger Woods got his deal with Nike because he is an exceptional athlete, not a model husband. Do I think what he did is ok? Of course not. But I really don’t care what athletes, politicians, celebrities do in their personal lives.

Anyone who says they won’t buy a Nike product because of this really needs to dig deep and explore what that means. They may as well stop buying anything because I would bet money that executives, or someone along the company chain, of everything that person buys, is probably not the most morally, upright person.

The new ad is short, simple and to the point.  I applaud Nike for taking a stance that is a bit risky and had the potential for (and is having)a backlash.  At the end of the day there’s no such thing as good press, right?  People are talking and Nike is on their lips – good or bad.

The last issue of Business Week had an interesting article about Nike’s eco-friendly practices, but their decision to keep their “green-ness” quiet. A few years ago, Nike made a big effort to go green with the Considered Collection. The line was not as successful as hoped, and public efforts to go green were dropped.

Nike’s efforts to be eco-conscious did not end with the Considered Collection – they just stopped making those efforts public. “We want to do more and say less says Lorrie Vogel, who is responsible for Nike’s green business practices. For example, the Air Jordan XX3 released last year was designed so all of the pieces fit together like a puzzle, thereby cutting down on the amount of plastic used to produce the shoes. Not only that, the sole is made of recycled bits of old sneakers. Nike is also introducing green manufacturing: They even invented a sewing machine that speeds up production time as a way to cut down on electricity. So why are they keeping this quiet? Isn’t green the new black?

Since the Nike Considered line didn’t do well at retail, it seems that Nike has assumed that its customers don’t care about responsible business practices.  I disagree.  I think the Nike Considered line didn’t do well at retail because the shoes were just plain ugly.  Nike was ahead of the curve with the concept of the Considered line and I commend them for that. Where they went wrong is where many companies go wrong:  There seems to be a misconception that to be “green” a product has to look very crunch, granola, hippy-esque – you know, something someone would wear and douse themselves in patchouli.

More and more, we’re seeing companies take a “green” approach without sacrificing style and design.  Ultimately, when it comes to purchasing things we wear, we have to like the way they look.  The Considered collection didn’t look like a Nike – so why did Nike think that Nike customers would buy them? I think that if the Considered collection were revisited with an eye toward staying true to the Nike aesthetic we’ve come to know and love, the results would be entirely different.  It’s a shame that they are keeping quiet about all the good they are doing because their Considered shoes were called “Air Hobbits” at one point.  I think Nike should give their customers more credit for being conscious and responsible – and stay true to the look that their customers expect and want.

Left: Eddie Van Halen with Frankenstein Guitar; Right: Nike Dunk Lo

Eddie Van Halen is suing Nike for copyright infringement because of the pattern on the midsole of a Nike Dunk Lo.  Eddie Van Halen copyrighted the design made famous on his “Frankenstein” guitar in 2001.  Lawyers for Eddie Van Halen wouldn’t comment to the press stating that they prefer to “to try cases in court.”  On the flip side, lawyers for Nike stated, “Nike’s Dunk shoe design is not substantially similar to any of the Van Halen designs, and Nike has not referenced the ‘Van Halen’ name or image as part of any marketing campaign or promotional material associated with the shoe.”

I have to say up front that I have a hallway full of Nike boxes (over 100) and I love Van Halen (*only the David Lee Roth kind).  In fact, my ring tone is Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love.”  That said, I’m not sure Van Halen has a very strong case.  Sure, Nike is “inspired” by lots of copyrighted materials – from comic books, video games and movies – but they’re always very smart about how it’s marketed.  The shoes are never given special names – they leave that to the kids on the interweb.  But even still, I think Van Halen’s case is weak.  Sure the midsole is red with white and black lines.  But the area is so small, that to me, it doesn’t really translate to Eddie Van Halen’s infamous Frankenstein guitar pattern.  And it’s been a few years since I read a copyright case, but I think Van Halen’s legal team is going to have to show more than just similar colors.

Eddie Van Halen in his own Sneaker with the Frankenstein Print

Here’s the real deal… earlier this year Eddie Van Halen released licensed footwear featuring the Frankenstein guitar pattern and he probably saw the Nike Dunk Lo and thought it was interfering with his sales.  That’s a legitimate concern, but he inadvertently made what was a pretty plain dunk into something much more desirable.  But even better, he just got a bunch of free publicity for his own shoes.  Before this lawsuit, I had no idea about his shoe deal, but now, I know.  Not only that, but as a true Van Halen fan, I like Eddie’s shoe better – it’s truer to the guitar pattern.  But that leads me to the next question…Should Nike counter-claim, on behalf of Converse, for Eddie Van Halen ripping off the Chuck Taylor??? That remains to be seen, but if I had to bet any money this case will get settled before it sees the light of day in court.

Source

Any one that knows me knows that I am a fan of Mead notebooks and have several at all times for different projects, tasks, etc.  Not sure if it’s the nostalgia of grade school and learning, the amazing black and white marble print or the grammar/punctuations rules and conversion tables in the back, but Mead marble notebooks are my notebook of choice.  Last year, Nike released a men’s Dunk High with the marble notebook pattern and I was really bummed because I couldn’t find my size anywhere.  When I found out that Nike was releasing a grade school version this year I was excited and got both the Dunk Low and the Air Max 90 at The Darkside Initiative.

Check out the rest of the pics after the jump!

Read more…

M.I.S.S. Nike Editorial

Project: M.I.S.S. Editorial of Nike Tees for Urban Outfitters
Role: Co-Art Direction & Photographer
Notes: Nike sold these tees exclusively at Urban Outfitters and M.I.S.S. produced an editorial that fused Nike’s athletic roots with M.I.S.S’s signature sass.