JFK Jr was a massive sneakerhead – here are his best trainers
His high-low uniform consisted of sharp tailoring and loads of killer trainers
JFK JR WAS the it boy of a classic ’90s style and most guys are aware of how well he dressed. The politician-cum-journalist-cum-socialite found the perfect balance of dressing like a Wall Street high flyer who likes to get his steps in after work. He wore perfectly-pressed suits from Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani, before switching things up with sweatpants, wool knits and Kangol berets.
What people might not know is that JFK Jnr was a massive sneakerhead. He would be photographed in everything from Nike Huaraches and discontinued Air Zoom Streaks to Reebok Kamikazes and Asics Gel 120s, and they played into his style book of wearing whatever the hell he felt like. A sharply-tailored suit from Madison Avenue and a pair of Sauconys? He was down for it.
Below are some of the best trainer hits in the late JFK Jnr’s collection.
Nike Air Huarache Triax
Originally released in 1991 and named after a Native American sandal, Nike’s Huarache has a long history. While you might think of another shoe today (one that features side straps and took the late 2010s by storm), the Triax was a 1990s era shoe that has a definitively retro feel thanks to colour-blocked panelling, embroidered Swooshes and chunky eyelet holders.
ASICS Gel 120
While walking with his dog along the beach in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, JFK Jnr was photographed in one of his most recognisable fits. On his feet he wore a pair of Asics Gel 120s in a grey and green colourway. Designed for running, but just as good for any other walk of life, the trainers were a hero product in Asics’ design catalogue in the 1990s, but soon fell to the wayside as other styles (the Gel Kayano series) became more popular. The good news? The shoe is sort of still around today, with Asics still producing styles that riff on the OG design.
Air Jordan 6 Retro
There’s this one famous image of JFK Jnr taking a call at a phone booth in New York City, in which he’s wearing a pair of orange and green shorts and a black tee. On his feet he has a pair of 1991 Air Jordan 6 OG “Black/Infrared,” trainers, which were designed by Tinker Hatfield. Now these are a pretty special pair of kicks as the black and red sneaks were worn by Michael Jordan during his first NBA Championship run, debuting at the 1991 All-Star Game.
Nike Air Max 93 OG
The original Nike Air Max looks pretty different to the ones you can buy down at JD Sports. Chunkier and more playful, the OG ones JFK Jnr wore look to be then “citrus” colourway and come with sunshine hits on the Swoosh and tongue, while the heel bubble is an eye-catching lucid orange. Sadly, the Nike Air Max 93 OG is considered a discontinued, archived model, with its original retail run ending by early 1994.
Reebok Kamikaze I
During one of his famous Central Park football games, JFK Jnr was sighted wearing red and black pair of Reebok Kamikaze Is. The punchy pair of trainers was the debut sneaker shoe for the NBA titan Shawn “the Rainman” Kemp, and were designed to match his explosive play style. It utilised Reebok’s signature Hexalite cushioning in the heel for comfort, rather than the Pump technology that was seen on other shoe designs.
Saucony GRID Courageous
In 1993 JFK Jnr was photographed wearing a pair of Saucony’s GRID Courageous trainers. The GRID (Ground Reaction Inertia Device) was released in 1993 and became a key design on the trainer landscape in the decade. Designed for running it used woven Hytrel filaments in the heel for cushioning. JFK Jnr’s were grey, white and blue in colour and took him all over New York City.
This story first appeared on Esquire UK
Related:
All of the JFK Jr outfits from the set of Ryan Murphy’s ‘American Love Story’
