[last man standing x nike AAE]: a j.xyz editorial.

fyi: this is a sponsored post in partnership with nike.

this year, i made a decision to change how i walk and work in the world. from the way i approach my projects to the thought i put into getting dressed, i want to get back to a phrase that i used to define my life by:

live editorially.

so when i got a first look at the new nike AAE line, the wheels in my head immediately started spinning. one of these days, i plan on creating a capsule collection that perfectly embodies my core style and i found so many parallels with this new assortment. first, the aesthetic is simple and clean, while at the same time feels totally edgy and even futuristic. and the sportiness is very present but expertly balanced with such a level of fashion that makes it something i'm truly excited to add to my wardrobe—i’ve honestly never been more impressed by fashion pieces from a traditionally more sportswear-focused brand partner.

from a creative standpoint, i wanted to lean into that futuristic edge i mentioned before as i worked on this partnership, and it got me thinking of a world far different from the one we’re in today…

something familiar but foreign, a place that felt like home but desolate in nature.

looking at the head-to-toe look, i felt like an explorer, dropped into a new environment—not sure if he’s lost or on the brink of discovery. i instantly knew the perfect location: noho, on the periphery of nyu, a secret little spot that’s been one of my favorite places to shoot for years. from there, i had some fun.

check out more of the shots below…

getting back to the collection, there’s nothing like pieces that offer an elevated sense of fashion with functionality to match. to start, each piece is extremely comfortable, from the fit to the quality of the materials. additionally, i’ve shared before how much i LOVE pockets, and the line offers more than enough storage space, be it through removable back pouches that echo fanny packs or permanent fixtures on the front of the vest.

and finally, my underlayer up top is not only finished with a unique three-finger sleeve, but there’s a break at the wrists to keep you connected to your smartwatch or fitness tracker at all times, and the shorts offer an awesome double layer that minimizes the chill, adds comfort, and looks really nice. without question, a lot of care and attention to detail were put into the design process and it shows.

while the concept and creative were relatively easy to bring to life, it was so exciting getting back to this sort of storytelling. it makes the whole game fun again, a feeling that i felt was absent for a large part of 2019. i’m pumped to start living editorially again, and can’t wait to share more style stories with you guys in the months ahead.

if you love what you’ve seen of the nike AAE line as much as i do, click here to shop these pieces and more. -j

brand spotlight: nike air max 270 reacts.

fyi: this is a sponsored post in partnership with nike.

with summer in effect, my primary color palette has changed pretty drastically—softer hues, neutrals, lighter denim, and way more whites—but that doesn’t mean that my black staples are taking the season off. i linked up with my buddies at nike to try out the new air max 270 reacts, and the project presented an awesome opportunity to play around with a warm-weather take on all-black.

wearing: nike air max 270 reacts in black, vast-grey, off-noir, asos mesh t-shirt,
3.1 phillip lim belted bermuda shorts, axcexx “jet set” chest rig, forever21 men cap.

first impressions.

when i talked to the team about the shoe we’d be working with this time around, i got a sneak peek at all of the new colorways dropping, but I had no clue which pair i was getting (gotta love a good surprise). when the box arrived, i was so pumped to receive the black/grey style, as it was one of the two pairs I was crossing my fingers for.

the other pair was the white/coral/turquoise style. look out for it—it’s such a unique combo.

out of the box.

once i unboxed them, i immediately noticed that the body was a bit bigger than i’d expected; however, when i slipped them on, they were really light. and because of the larger frame, the overall silhouette was slightly raised, which helps make my longer-than-average foot look less like a clown’s. another favorite feature of mine is the white rim of the sole, which i always love on black sneakers. there’s something about the contrast that i really appreciate, so i was definitely happy with the colorway and the product. next, the important part: it was time to style them out…

breaking down the look.

a lot of people get scared of black in the summertime, and i don’t blame them. the heat can get brutal in a city like new york, but coming from texas, i can deal with it, so i went ahead and went for it, head-to-toe, here. still staying mindful of the weather, i pulled out this breezy mesh tee from asos and my favorite pair of shorts from phillip lim (check out the belt) to keep things as cool as possible. together, they work pretty well, but the look felt a little simple, so i turned up the street factor and threw on this chest rig from axcexx. zooming in on the lower half, i went with high socks to anchor the look—a fixed style choice for me when i’m wearing shorts with sneakers. it’s just a personal preference for me i suppose—i think it looks cooler and even reminds me of a sock trainer feel, which is easily one of my favorite footwear trends.

if you’re a fan of the air max 270 react silhouette, there are a number of colorways dropping in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned. click here to shop this style now. -j

Shop Nike.com For Air Max 270 React Optical Men’s

look 30: break em' off blue.

i’m so happy with the way that my suit game has been coming along over the past few months, and i owe a large portion of the styles that i have to express. this month marked the start of our 2019 partnership, and as soon as i saw this blue beauty on the site, i fell in love.

wearing: express men slim light blue cotton-blend stretch suit, asos sleeveless mesh
sweater vest, boohooman x quavo clear belt bag, nike react element 55s.

💎 “i call this color break-em-off blue.” 💎

at the start of the year, wearing more suits was a key style resolution for me, and i think i’ve been doing a solid job so far. of course, i have to do it my own way, so i kept things cool with a mesh sweater (gotta love that spring breeze) and some sneakers. and for a little touch of street edge, i threw on this clear belt bag from the boohoo x quavo collaboration earlier this year. i think i like how it came together.

breaking down the look.

by now, you guys know how important a strong color combination is to me, so for this outfit, i wanted to find the perfect hue to work with this fun pastel suit. i played around with a denim shirt and other shades of blue, but in the end, nothing worked better than this tan match-up. the lighter tones blend together nicely, and i think they’re so right for the season (those blue skies, ya know?). plus, i got to rock my new nike reacts—which is perfect, because i’m really trying to get back to my sportier roots.

brand spotlight: nike react element 55s x rabid panda.

fyi: this is a sponsored post in partnership with nike.

a new season is the perfect excuse to stock up on some new kicks, and to be completely honest: my entire shoe game could use an update. with that said, when nike reached out about their new react element 55 collection, i was totally down to try out a pair.

wearing: nike react element 55 rabid panda sneakers, american apparel denim jacket,
diesel limited edition “deisel” counterfeit hoodie, forever21 men jeans.

first impressions.

before i even received the sneakers, i was super impressed with the assortment. the line has a ton of colorways—they sent me the rabid panda edition (seen here), but i actually bought a second pair, too, because the options were so good. once they landed at my doorstep, i couldn’t wait to try them out.

out of the box.

when i pulled them out of the box, the first thing i noticed is how light they are. the body is super thin, and in turn, they don’t weigh you down at all—i’m wearing them now as i type this: maximum comfort. and when i took a second to really get into the details, i was even more impressed. from the contrast stitching to the unique sole design, there’s a lot to be captivated by.

breaking down the look.

for some reason, red + blue has always been a tricky color combo for me to rock, so i went with a favorite styling trick of mine and wore a head-to-toe white ensemble and let the sneakers have all the glory. the good thing about this move is that all-white will always draw attention and when you have a strong contrast, be it fresh kicks down below or a standout tee or hoodie layered under a jacket, it’s sure to pop among the “blank” canvas.

like i said above, there are so many awesome colorways in this collection, so if you’re a fan of the silhouette, you’re sure to find a pair that’s perfect for you. click here to shop now. -j