Men’s footwear: More than that rack in the back of Marshalls?

Sophomore Jason Pisa owns a lot of shoes—so many that he’s not sure of the number. “I don’t know, I’ve never counted,” he says. “Twenty?” But after thinking, Pisa says that 20 is not even the total number—20 is just the number of shoes he wears regularly.

“I actually own around 30. My shoes are mainly athletic shoes,” he says. “I’d say I have 24 [pairs] of them. I guess I have so many because I play football and volleyball at school, and soccer on the side. I have two pairs of converse, but other than that, my shoe wardrobe is mainly athletic. I have a bunch of Jordans and Lebrons.”

When it comes to men’s footwear, Jordans and Lebrons are in high demand. Named for famous players, they are basketball shoes that come in wide release. However, a selection only comes in limited edition. The limited editions sell out quickly. On eBay [they go] for three to four hundred dollars.

Senior Joe Constantino’s shoe collection is also extensive, but portrays a different style. In contrast to Pisa’s colorful collection, Constantino shoots for a neutral theme among his shoes: tans, off -whites, soft blues and natural hues. His collection also leans toward a casual feel, with boat shoes and casual sneakers being the main theme in his wardrobe.

“I have around 20 pairs,” says Constantino. “I have a bunch of Sperry Top-Siders. I like them because they look nice. They’re versatile, and it matters that I can pick my shoes to match with what I wear on top.”

Junior Curran Brandt says, “I think I have around 12 pairs of shoes. Two of them are Sperrys, but I got a couple of athletic shoes, like Jordans and New Balances.”

Brandt’s friend, junior Scott Becker, owns four pairs of day-to-day shoes. “I have a pair of Uggs as my slippers,” he says, “They’re really comfortable.”

Both Constantino and Pisa get their shoes primarily online. “I get my shoes everywhere online,” says Pisa. “Competition to buy the limited release Jordans and Lebrons is tight. I’ve bought a few pairs from Instagram and Facebook, actually. I’ve even sold some of the shoes I’ve bought on eBay for more than I got them for. Some of these shoes will sell out in minutes.”

At Foot Locker, a footwear store that markets athletic shoes, sales associate Edwardo Rodriguez pitches the way Foot Locker sells their limited edition Jordans: “You can’t obtain them [Jordans] just by coming into the store, you have to go through a process. Some people go through raffles, others go through sign-ups, so it basically isn’t an easy buy.”

Constantino buys his shoes from both department stores and online. “Sometimes I’ll get my shoes from Nordstrom, but I actually like buying shoes online better. It’s pretty convenient. If I do go online, I’ll go on eBay or something.”

eBay is not the only source for online shoe sales. Many stores offer a buy-online option. Apparently, Foot Locker online sales comprise a significant percentage of shoes sold. “I’d estimate that roughly a fifth of our customers buy our shoes from our online store,” says Rodriguez.
Along with Constantino, both Brandt and freshman Ty Gallegos buy their shoes from Nordstrom.

“I own a few pairs of Sperrys and Toms,” says Gallegos. “I buy them from Nordstrom. It’s pretty convenient, and they come in all sorts of neutral colors that look nice. They’re slip-ons—easy, comfortable, and simple.”

Gallegos, Brandt, and Constantino all own Sperrys. Sperrys are boat shoes that are typically made of canvas, have a strong rubber sole, and are meant to be worn without socks. At Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), sales associate Nilse Velado also sees a trend among Sperry Top-Siders at her store: “A lot of guys have been coming in for the Sperrys. It’s definitely in season, even in the spring. It just goes well with a lot of different outfits, and it pairs well with almost any bottom.”

Finally, Jason Pisa owns a wide collection of Jordans, which he’s already established as his go-to shoe. “A lot of my friends also have Jordans,” he says.

It’s a big hype: “A lot of athletic guys come in buying Jordans because they come in a bunch of colors and fits and they look really cool,” says Rodriguez.

Shoe collecting is more than just fashion: it is a hobby.

“I get my shoes because I like them,” Pisa says. “I’m making money, and I’m also getting a bunch of limited release Nikes. It’s pretty neat.”