LA Gear: Tech Lights

One of my favorite things from my childhood; LA Gear sneakers.  Good thing they are back in full effect with the highly anticipated re-release of the Tech Lights pack.  I am pretty sure I can guess what you are going to ask now. The answer is yes, there are lights in the heels! These are on PRE-ORDER NOW online at Sportie LA.  The sneakers ship mid-December which means they will arrive just before Hanukkah ends and  Kwanzaa and Christmas starts.

LA Gear: Tech Lights

LA Gear is back thanks to Club Zonder Filter!

The year was 1992. I was almost 7. Sandboxes and snow-cones were part of my daily vocabulary. Clinton had just won the Whitehouse, and it was the holidays. Life was good. But it got even better when I unwrapped a Hanukkah gift box and found a pair of LA Lights, the light-up LA Gears so fly that I truly believe they’ve never been matched to this day! I strapped them on my little size 4 feet (ah, some things never change… literally, I still wear about the same size today!) and ran around terrorizing my little brothers with my infinitely superior ability to “light up”.

For some reason, the popularity of these shoes didn’t last till the end of the century and we all know that other ’90s brands, such as the dreaded Airwalks, took over the sneaker market. But I’ve always held a burning torch in my heart for the original LA Gears, waiting for them to make a comeback. Earlier this year, my prayers were answered when the sneaker brand teamed up with the ladies of Club Zonder Filter to release a revamped version of the “Stardust” model. The shoe was beyond beautiful and was soon selling big in stores across Europe, including the world-famous Patta and Colette. Since then, Club Zonder Filter was flooded with requests to retro other famous LA Gear models, but the ladies decided to go with a lesser known model–the Border Flower.

The Club Zonder Filter x LA Gear Collabo: The Border Flower

Getting its namesake from the perforated floral designs that are featured on the shoe’s side panel, the updated version will feature woven leather and studs, and will be released in white, red and black colorways.  Former LA Gear celebrity endorsers Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul inspired the retro-release’s look and feel, as did current kick-ass chicks M.I.A and Rye Rye.

Set to drop in stores across Europe in December, the shoe will retail for around 90 Euros. Even though it’s not the LA Lights of my childhood, I’m secretly hoping that when I unwrap my Hanukkah present this holiday season, the Club Zonder Filter Border Flower is inside!

MAFIA's Top 5 Female Sneaker Collabs on The Vine

A couple months back we told you about Sneaker Freaker’s First Lady MAFIA’s new gig blogging over at The Vine. She’s been informing and entertaining us for a minute now, especially when it comes to giving the ladies as much of the spotlight as the guys.

This week she’s compiled a list of her fave female sneaker collabs so far – and you know if MAFIA’s a fan of these they gotta be the goods! The list names none other than the Pro Mama along with some of the best in the game – LA Gear X Club Zonder Filter, MOB X Colette X Reebok, Fafi X Adidas Adicolor W2 and the Nike Blazer X Claw Money.

Do yourself a favour and check the full article here.

Images from The Vine.

MAFIA's Top 5 Female Sneaker Collabs on The Vine

Costume Dept. presents Autumn/Winter 2009 lookbook

Costume Dept. has a new Autumn/Winter ’09 Look Book for that a$$ and they are definitely bringing the drama on this one. Like a true stage production, this line definitely involves playing dress-up. Each “costume” tells the audience a little bit about the character’s role, but in a true “show, don’t tell” fashion, the looks also rely heavily on the use of illusion. The sheer fabrics don’t give away the ending because they are in such dark colors (like the Women’s black Trench Top) while the nude, skin color fabrics are done in a thicker, t-shirt-like material, (shown with the Bustier Top and the Cuff Leggings). For most of the looks there are only subtle references to bare skin, but then they go and throw some real nudity in at the end to showcase the fabulous printed leggings. How theatrical of them!

Costume Dept. Autumn/Winter 2009 lookbook

The visual trickery continues in the line with a fancy Fringe Hoodie mimicking a burka, Good and Evil Leggings which channel Ms. Cruella Deville, and a men’s Mickey Tee which features the famous mouse’s widow’s peak as opposed to showing his ears (Note: good way to get out of obtaining a licensing agreement from Disney). The men’s Lapel Tee presents a new vision for formal wear, and we hope Costume Dept.’s version takes the place of the ubiquitous “tuxedo shirt” that has been the go-to for slackers for ages. The women’s Global Currency Tee is a twist on the typical logo t-shirt, because what looks just like another YSL joint is really a tee depicting currency symbols for the Yen, American dollar sign, and pound. Costume Dept. continuously manages to make you question what you are REALLY seeing – even right down to the models – who are all dressed in a non-gender-specific way.

Continue reading to see the entire Fall collection.

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Ever see kicks laced up all pro style and wonder how to do it? Ever try to recreate your 2-3 color lace mash ups from your L.A. Gear days? Well, Sneaker Freaker has hooked you up with Knuts About Knots, a guide by Professor Shoelace (Ian Fieggen) himself on some of the most popular styles.  The guide even includes an index of aglets (the tips of your shoelaces).  I’m a simple girl at heart and my favorite lacing styles are the hidden knot and display.  You can check out the full guide here – what’s your favorite lacing style?? Comment below and let us know!

The ladies of M.I.S.S. wish you the happiest of holidays!

2008 brought in the first-ever annual M.I.S.S. Playmate calendar where we featured our favorite sneaks with matching manicures. Every month was an adventure and it was fun living the year through nails did and kicks. Check out 2008 in review and let us know your favorite!
M.I.S.S. January

M.I.S.S. February

M.I.S.S. March

M.I.S.S. April

M.I.S.S. May

M.I.S.S. June

M.I.S.S. July

M.I.S.S. August

M.I.S.S. September

M.I.S.S. October

M.I.S.S. November

M.I.S.S. December

Vote and let us know which you liked best!

“Walking in a winter wonderland” . . . Ok, well maybe not in these deadstock L.A. Gears. And, as much as we love snow covered streets, snow is most certainly not a friend to your precious kicks. We like the cold that comes with these winter months as long as we are snuggled up by a cozy fire where we can keep ourselves, and our kicks, dry and warm. Perhaps with a cup of hot cocoa with tiny marshmallows, like M.I.S.S. December’s thumbnail perhaps? However you do it this holiday season, do it with your nail kit tiiiiiight! We wish you, yours and your kicks the happiest and healthiest of holidays, and much love and new sneakers in the coming year!

A Smoke & Mirrors Creative Production
Shoes: L.A. Gear

Links to previous month’s calendars and desktops after the jump . . .

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OMG! If you know me, you know I love the L.A. Gear. A while back we posted a sneak peak of the European Release of the L.A. Gear x Club Zonder Filter and Sneaker Freaker broke the story today with insane pictures of the Fireball, as well as an interview with the ladies of Club Zonder Filter that are reppin’ the L.A. Gear on the other side of the pond. For those of us stateside, we’ll have to count on friends in Europe to pick these up for us. Luckily, L.A. Gear is relaunching a new collection called L.A. Gear Retro. No word yet on when the stuff will release but the Retro collection will have a limited distribution at exclusive sneaker stores. I can’t wait for this!! L.A. Gear did an amazing job of capturing the California surf, sun and aerobics vibe back in the 1980s and I think it’s a perfect time to reintroduce the retros to a new generation of street wear ladies who I think can tryly appreciate them. We’ll keep you updated with news as we get it. For now, to fulfill your L.A. Gear needs, check out the Sneaker Freaker exclusive with Club Zonder Filter, Sneaker Freaker’s exclusive interview with moi on my vintage L.A. Gear collection (republished from Issue 12), and check out more nostalgic pictures and videos after the jump!

All images: Sneaker Freaker
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