One Friday night in 2019, I went out with a girl I was dating at the time to The Standard in Downtown Los Angeles. While we were at the rooftop bar, I saw people wearing all kinds of dope sneakers, as you normally would in Los Angeles. But what I also saw was something that has run rampant and been a really big issue since 2014.
I’m talking about fake Yeezys. Well, fakes in general.
Now, this was not the first time that I have seen fake sneakers. I see them often and anywhere, basically everywhere. But there was something different about this particular instance on this particular Friday night. Most of the time, when I see someone wearing fake sneakers, said person is usually real quiet about it. They aren’t doing the most, they aren’t dressed real flashy, and depending on the situation, may or may not be in a real popping scene. This is usually because said individual does not want to attract attention to their fakes. This could all be conjecture or speculation, but again, this is just from what I have noticed over time.
The person in question Friday night was doing the exact opposite of all those points. He looked to be entertaining his homies, showing off, talking loud, drink and cigar in hand, and dressed like your typical Los Angeles f*ckboy. And this is where he went wrong. As I was enjoying the night with my company, I directed my eyes towards this guy, and naturally, as a sneakerhead, I looked to see what was on his feet. What I saw was a dark, space grey 350 v2 with a light blue strip going across the upper, and an even, flat, grey “boost” outsole. Now, most sneakerheads know right away that colorway doesn’t exist, and the Boost sole comes at a slight incline. Dude was faking the funk.
I share this brief story to say don’t wear fakes. You don’t need to, and they really aren’t worth it. Buying/wearing fakes says a couple of things about you: they say that you probably can’t afford or are too cheap to cop the real thing (which isn’t really a bad thing), and/or that you are projecting a lifestyle or standard that you are not actually living (which is a bad thing). In the sneakerhead community, people are not (and should not) be judging you for not being able to afford grails. Everyone’s situation is different, and there are so many sneakers for every kind of situation. So many different kinds of sneakers, different brands, different collaborations, and all at different price points. There is a sneaker for everyone. So you don’t need the hottest, most sought after sneakers. And, really appreciating sneakers means you aren’t disrespecting them or the culture with fakes. In this day and age, we are so consumed with portraying ourselves in such a manner outside of our normal means, buying things to impress people we don’t even like, and sometimes even to fill a void within ourselves. But are buying fakes really worth it? Is it really necessary to buy fakes to perpetuate something about yourself that isn’t true? The answer is no. You don’t need to buy fakes. I firmly believe you can pull off any kind of sneaker with any kind of look, almost effortlessly. It really isn’t that hard with sneakers. Don’t fake the funk.
Homie had on a strictly decent outfit, except for the sneakers. Had he put on some New Balances or regular GR Nikes, he still would’ve had a decent outfit for the night, and I wouldn’t have thought anything of his pomp and circumstance. But the fact that he wore the fakes didn’t make him look good. At all. And wearing fakes won’t make you look good either. They’ll make you look corny. Pretending to be something you aren’t, pretending to have something you don’t is all corny. We call that posing in some places. So do yourself a favor: if you’re contemplating buying those fakes, use that money instead to go to your local sneaker store and pick up some sneakers off the sale rack.
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