All posts by Chris Nesti

Author of Popdiatry.com

Sun, Moon and Hammock

This July 20th marks the 45th anniversary of man’s first walk on the moon. General Electric is celebrating by collaborating with sneaker maker Android Homme on these Missions astronaut-styled boots, which go on sale Sunday at 4:18pm (time the Apollo 11 arrived on the moon) via JackThreads.com .

GEMissionsMoonBootsG.E. was involved with development of the original space boots in 1969. The new reboots are partially made of the same carbon fiber used for jet engine parts, and are coated with the type of stuff that keeps wind turbine blades ice-free.

Back on planet Earth, more than a third of men and half of women are walking around with shoes that don’t fit right. This has been gleaned from a study done by The College of Podiatry (U.K.). Their data shows that average shoe sizes have risen by two measurements since 1970. Shoe makers and retailers are noticing more bigger sizes, and consumers are not necessarily making better buying decisions in this still new millenium. Flats aren’t great alternatives to high-heels, narrow toe boxes are causing discomfort, and folks have been slacking on having their feet properly measured by a device such as a Brannock. Check out this awesome graphic. <-click.

What’s your take on this under-the-desk foot hammock?

FuutFootHammock
Connect Design Fuut compact hammock

It’s a real thing created by Korea’s Connect Design. It comes in six different colors and costs 30 bucks.  I bet a cat would have a blast on this too. 

Wolverine Worldwide is discontinuing Patagonia shoes. Patagonia clothing is still cranking, but this will be the last year you’ll see their branded shoes as such on the shelves. LaCrosse Footwear has purchased the venerable White’s Boots brand. Serious boot-wearers know White’s as the bomb-proof work boots that are made in the USA. White’s president seems confident that that legacy will continue under the new owner. Canadian hiking & climbing gear company Arc’teryx is coming out with a line of new-school high performance footwear that feature ultra-modern two part designs incorporating an inner bootie, and tongueless outer shells.

 

 

Off The Path: FRIGO Revolution Underwear

At a Manhattan pop-up last December, the friendly folks at Frigo were kind enough to flow me a pair of FRIGO 2 boxer briefs. We agreed that along with footwear, good underwear is a key ingredient for great walking. The Frigo 2s are 92% polyamide & 8% elastane (feels like spandex). The revolutionary feature on these drawers is the netted pouch with a patented “soft lock” adjustment system. I’ve been wearing them every couple of weeks for six months, and now that hot temperatures and high humidity are upon thee in the northeast, I’m happiest to have them in my rotation.

FrigoRevolutionwearBlack2

There’s an inner line of fabric that is adjustable by a button on each out side of the hip. These small buttons are unnoticeable while wearing. Guys! you put them on carefully and find the right adjustment so that your family jewels are comfortably supported, then you keep the adjustment as is with the buttons. There is some counting involved. The design thoughtfully and structurally acknowledges male anatomy, and is light years ahead of some pitiful dollar store endcap tighty whiteys. Imagine a time when you experienced chafing of the thighs while walking, or underwear discomfort while exercising… chances are underwear like this may offer an antidote for that. You’ve got a smartphone now, why are you still wearing dumb underwear? I like the way they provide a little lift, and are in no way time consuming to put on or take off.

Inside-out Frigos
REVOLUTIONWEAR Inside-Out

In my experiences, most boxer briefs are too short and/or without properly elasticized leg bottoms- they tend to inch up the thigh, leading to wedgie conditions. Longer legged boxers help against wedgies. The FRIGOs feature a 6″ inseam.  Along with elasticized leg openings, they also have a strip of silicone material going around the inner thigh that successfully serves to keep the boxer legs from creeping toward the crotch during long wear. The strap-pouch gets all the attention, but these “stay4sure” hem stabilizers are just as cool of a feature- a good step in the war against wedgies.

FrigoStay4SureHem
No ride-up hem

 

FrigoRevolutionwearBox
Comes in a VHS style box

Many underwear companies now incorporate some sort of pouch for the male package. How are things in the FRIGO Zone? Keep in mind that these are the entry-level FRIGO “2s”. Their top of the line product has similar construction, but uses pricier fabric. I’m intrigued enough by the design to where I’d invest in a pair of the “1s”. The company is still new, so has an open horizon to grow the line and dream up more innovations. My bros and I are definitely starting to be more accepting of newer underpant designs. Some Joe Sixpacks may balk at the $100 price tag on the FRIGO 1s, but a little math containing X amount of lousy underwear the average dude has probably bought or been gifted, it’s freaking worth it for the long haul. MLB star Derek Jeter, a big investor in the company, is retiring from baseball after this season and- who knows- might devote more energy to Revolutionwear. More visibility and more adoption lead to higher chances that your family or loved ones may buy you some as a gift. Good luck. 

Image from Freshpair.com
Image from Freshpair.com

I washed them a bunch, air-drying each time on a wooden rack. Aside from a few very small fabric pulls, and a stray thread or two, the sewing has kept together fine. I envision these lasting for years. They are a great choice for walking. Once you put on your favorite overwear, and everything starts to settle, they offer a pleasant machine-like feeling that promotes healthy completion of one’s day.

Popdiatry occasionally writes about other wearable gear in this feature called “Off The Path”

July Pop Gallery

NYC
New Balance has a neat window display created from raw sneaker parts at their 5th Ave store, and this is my attempt at a picture of it.
A Reebok is taken to the next, next, next, next, next, next level on the operating table at East Village Shoe Repair in Brooklyn.
A Reebok is taken to the next, next, next, next, next, next level on the operating table at East Village Shoe Repair in Brooklyn.
My neighbor has a couple pairs of huaraches that were handmade in Mexico
My neighbor has a couple pairs of huaraches that were handmade in Mexico
This is the sole on the other pair of huaraches. The leather upper is sewn to a reused piece of a Michelin car tire.
This is the sole on the other pair of huaraches. The leather upper is sewn to a re-used piece of a Michelin car tire.
This is a photoshop thing on a promotional poster I saw on a Manhattan Subway Stop
This was on a subway station advertisement for the (I think) Runyon 5K (Marathon held at Yankees stadium). Cool Photoshop work!
When I told my friend Adam from Boston that I was doing a shoe blog, he sent me a pic of these A-Dogs he got at Boomerangs
When I told Commodore Vic from Boston that I was doing a shoe blog, he sent me a pic of these A-Dogs he got at Boomerangs

 

 

Comedy Kicks #2

PopdiatryComedyKicksInterviewPOPDIATRY TALKS SHOES WITH COMEDIAN TJ YOUNG
P. Adidas is launching an app soon that will allow users to print custom photographs on sneakers. What could go wrong with that?

TJ: I can’t see a problem with that… actually I see one problem so far- it’s the very first picture I saw- nobody should be wearing hamburger shoes.

P. Especially with some of these rats in New York City-you know, since I started doing this shoe blog I’ve been asked questions about vegan and vegetarian options for shoes- not to eat- just to wear!

TJ: I don’t think that’s possible because even if you go with no footwear at all, your feet are made of meat, so you’re screwed either way.

P. Do you have a position on flip-flops?

TJ: Good question- usually on top of them- that’s my usual position if I wear them. . .  that’s a tricky one- flip-flops in general- one, growing up, we used to call them thongs, have you heard that before?

P. Yep

TJ: Yeah, then obviously as a teenager I found out a thong is a very different thing- not nearly as comfortable to wear on your feet.. flip-flops- I know some people have very strong opinions on them, and I feel like I fall somewhere in the middle. I know that I’ve made some terrible flip-flop mistakes in my past, things like wearing flip-flops with jeans for instance- I believe that to be a no-no. I have some friends who are like “flip-flops are never acceptable footwear”, except I think those people would probably say “in the shower”, because you’re protecting your feet from something. I know I would certainly judge someone, no matter what other clothes they were wearing, if they were wearing flip-flops in the winter. At that point you’re just showing off.

P. Do you remember velcro shoes?

TJ: Absolutely, I had some as a kid. I just feel like your shoes shouldn’t make that much noise going on or off- especially off. Any time you’re about to do something where you need to take your shoes off it’s usually a pretty chill activity; you’re going to sit down and watch a movie, you’re going to bed, you’re winding down at that point- it shouldn’t be a moment where you’re startled awake by the noise of ripping plastic.

P. We know when it comes to personal fashion, that there are no rules- but there are, and they come into play when you notice someone breaking them badly. Have you noticed any blatant rule-breakers in New York City lately? 

TJ: I think it’s ballsy to wear any kind of open footwear in New York City, and I think it specifically means Manhattan for some reason… on a really nice summer day I’ll walk in my (Brooklyn) neighborhood in shorts and flip-flops to go the Bodega, or the park, as long as it’s close by, but if I have to take public transportation and go underground I need coverage on my feet. I knew that before, but I just learned from my mother, who’s been doing some essential oils therapy- this woman told her that your biggest pores are on the bottom of your feet- a lot of these essential oils that this lady uses- they rub them on their feet because that’s how it gets into your bloodstream the quickest…

Laird/Eastman
Laird/Eastman
P. Fascinating.

TJ: Instinctually I have been doing that, but now it’s even more important that if you are going anywhere underground in New York City, cover up your feet! Not just the bottoms because things can seep down. I never know what’s in the subway. The station near my home is so dank and drippy- there’s so much standing water and dripping water that I just go there to spot ninja turtles. I don’t want to be caught anywhere near there with my feet exposed.

Check out TJ Young in real life at ThatTJ.com

Rip-Offs

RipOffsGang1

RipOffs2

RipOffs3I came across this ad on the back of an old Marvel G.I. Joe comic book (#40 “Hydrofoil”, 1986) while looking for images of the Soft Master to use with my review of the Soft Star Portlanders. The Soft Master was of course the guy who taught Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow how to be Ninjas. I have never seen these kicks in real life, but a quick search reveals that the brand was re-launched by an Italian company in 2008. They have morphed into pre-distressed high-tops costing almost $400- perhaps to better live up to the company name.

Vintage Dirty Effect Rip-Offs
Vintage Dirty Effect Rip-Offs

Anybody out there own some Rip-Offs?

 

Coating Insoles With Reused Leather

Replacing your factory footwear insoles with third-party products can be hit or miss. Insoles are often built around a native piece of material that goes perfectly with that particular shoe.  I have a great pair of Zamberlan Trekker boots. After a year or so, the insole fabric started to separate from the insole mold. I brought them to East Village Shoe Repair, where Boris replaced the fabric with soft leather cut from an old jacket.

Fabric is ripped off the insole to get ready for replacement @ EVSR

ZamberlanInsoleRepair
Fabric is ripped off the insole to get ready for replacement @ EVSR
ZamberlanInsolesREadyToBeCustomized
Insoles stripped and ready for a new coat An old soft leather jacket is about to have the arm material become replacement insoles An old soft leather jacket is about to have the arm material become replacement insoles
Cut piece from jacket on the EVSR operating table
Cut piece from jacket on the EVSR operating table
RubberCementontoInsole
Rubber cement gets applied to the stripped insole
Rubber cement applied to the piece of leather
Rubber cement applied to the piece of leather
The leather is pressed onto the insole mold
The leather is pressed onto the insole mold
EVSR cuts around the dnow dried leather to fit to the insole
After a quick dry, EVSR cuts around the leather to fit
Blam- new and improved
Blam- new and improved

ZamberlandInsolesWithCustomLeather

ZamberlanCustomizedInsoleThis operation took about as long as it takes to boil a pot of water. Now I have better insoles than I could have ever bought off the racks. Nothing beats a leather insole, but many of our favorite kicks don’t come with them. I treated them with a very small amount of Obenauf’s leather preservative- now I’m ready to go on a trek. Big shout out to East Village  Shoe Repair (now located in Brooklyn, NY).  You might want to have this procedure done on some of your kicks.

East Village Shoe Repair is located on 1083 Broadway in Brooklyn, New York attached to the Brandhunters fashion complex.

Bound: Then and Now

Hong Kong based documentary photographer Jo Farrell launched and landed a successful Kickstarter campaign to create a book showing some of the last remaining women in China with bound feet.

image: Jo Farrell
image: Jo Farrell

In the early 1900s, having bound feet was a mark of beauty and status for some women in China. Developing pre-teen girls would have their toes pressed and squeezed into the bottom of the foot until they broke. Their arches were also broken, then the feet were wrapped tightly with bandages, and cultivated by soaking and rewrapping tighter and tighter as they developed into women who would be considered good, subservient wives.

Zhao Hua Hong photographed by Jo Farrell in 2010
Zhao Hua Hong photographed by Jo Farrell in 2010

Check out more pictures on Jo Farrell’s site

Footbinding was phased out around 75 years ago, but are westernized women doing a milder version of it by wearing impractical decorative footwear that may lead to deformed toes and sore knees over time? What about the mainstreaming of so-called Cinderella procedures, where elective surgeries are done so women can better slide into “sexy” shoes?

A modern American women having a toe-shortening procedure at Evo Advanced Foot Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA. She can now wear "designer" shoes with less discomfort.
A modern American women having a toe-shortening procedure at Evo Advanced Foot Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA. She can now wear “designer” shoes with less discomfort.
Podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zang of NYC Footcare explains his concept of "designer feet for designer shoes"
Podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zang of NYC Footcare, the self-proclaimed originator of the foot facelift and toe-tuck, explains his concept of “designer feet for designer shoes”

 

Almost Shoe Religion and Horseshoes

Have you tried Atheist brand shoes yet?

AtheistShoes
atheistberlin.com
atheistberlin.com
atheistberlin.com

 Probably not, as they’re brand new. This Berlin company Kickstarted itself into existence with a classic concept (quality materials, handcrafting) and an authentic open kitchen approach (check out their site) to why they deserve to be purchased by you (me), in a world where consumers become converts to global sneaker gods.

Atheist doesn't believe in any shoe
Atheist doesn’t believe in any shoe

The Atheists are made in Guimarães Portugal, using high grade Nubuk, calfskin, and other leathers. 

An Atheist shoe begins with 3 pieces of natural, unprocessed leather
An Atheist shoe begins with 3 pieces of natural, unprocessed leather

They even make a vegan imitation leather option for your vegan friends (you’re still friends right?). Their website is a great read in itself. As an American barraged by the billboards of Broadway daily, I find Atheist’s campaign to be refreshing in its honesty, and entertaining with its info.

Skechers has made an endorsement deal with a horse.

Mr. S
Image from photo by Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports

Skechers, a marketing company that just happens to be in the footwear business, has draped California Chrome with this blue training blanket and a big sponsorship deal for the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York this weekend. Of course Mr. S will not be wearing two pairs of Skechers on the track. The crew will don the sneakers, and if Chrome wins, expect to see all Skechers everything everywhere. For information on the actual horseshoes attached to California Chrome’s hooves by an equine footwear blacksmith click here.

 This popdiatribe is going, going, done! Check back soon~ C

Still image from the Young Liars "Night Window" video directed by Nathan Boey
Still image from the Young Liars “Night Window” video directed by Nathan Boey

Say Nikey! New Navy? No Tickle

To squash any debate about how exactly to pronounce the brand with the swoosh, chairman of Nike’s board, Phil Knight confirmed via letter sent with a self-addressed-stamped-envelope that it is definitely pronounced “Nikey”.

Screenshot of letter sent by Ben Martin and Kendal Peters to Nike's Phil Knight
Screenshot of letter sent by Ben Martin and Kendal Peters to Nike’s Phil Knight

Adidas is involved in a little marketing battle with international competitor Nike on who can out-sponsor each other in the glow of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Puma is playing the ‘come get me’ strategy by waiting until after the big match to promote their kicks, hoping that kids will see teams playing in Pumas and then press ma and pa for a ‘back to school’ pair. Does Skechers make cleats?

Meanwhile, the US Navy is wearing boots that they do not love. In an article in the Navy Times called “Building Better Boots”, writer Lance M. Bacon identifies the problem plaguing today’s Navy-issued footwear, and offers up solutions based on feedback from hundreds of current and former sailors. Sentiment says the things are too heavy, uncomfortable, and way out-of-date.

Navy Uniform Inspection
Image cut from photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Ian W. Anderson (via Wikipedia)

I wonder if ideas provided by these suggestions, along with increased commitment to the Berry Amendment can create a solution. Could we see New Balance and Wolverine footprints on aircraft carriers some day? Could another maker meet this need?

Clothing designers dropping shoes:

Thakoon Panichgul is releasing Thakoon Addition shoes this summer for the ladies (made in Portugal).

Tom Ford has line of Italian-made sneakers now.

Hi, I'm Tom and I'm $700 pr.
Hi Stan, this is Tom…

Stories that Boston College was being bothered by a serial foot tickler look to be unfounded according to Boston police on an update on Boston.com . Of course the story has been shared thousands of times by now, but can you blame folks? Serial tickler?

Thanks social media.

Sensor Sandals in Space

This week a spacecraft carrying three earthlings launched out of Kazakhstan bound for the International Space Station. While doing their daily workouts on the space station’s ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device), a couple of the spacemen will be wearing these sensor-laden sandals made by Xsens called Force shoes.

XSENS sandalThese sensors will transmit measurements of ground reaction force and load bearing data as the feet torque and twist during ARED workouts. NASA researchers will use the info to further study exercise strategy designed to reduce the loss of bone and muscle strength that travellers experience during long space flights.

XSENSforceShoeSensorFootwearI can’t see any buckles or buttons, so I assume the straps must be velcro.  What must it be like to pull velcro in space?  Presumably, in the name of science, the space station crew gets a pass from the fashion police to wear socks with sandals