The Alexander McQueen Oversized Sneaker is simple, basic and clean. Combine that with the weight of the late British fashion designer’s name and it’s bound to appeal to a lot of sneakerheads. However, the shoes are not THAT different from the cheaper kicks like Adidas Stan Smiths or Nike Air Force 1s, which many buyers still opt for instead. And then you have the fashionistas and hypebeasts who'd rather go for the flashier Gucci Rhytons or the flamboyant Balenciaga Triple S.
Despite this, the McQueens have carved their own niche and have become the go-to sneaker for many. Why so? Let’s take a closer look.
Materials
Open the box and you immediately smell that leather, which you can imagine came fresh from the tannery. It smells that good. This particular model follows the traditional style, so the materials except for the heel tab are all original to the Oversized. That being said, instead of leather heel tabs, you have suede done to look a bit like croc or snakeskin. The suede isn't the nappiest, but it'll do. It's the leather that shines for me—a bit old school, hardened, but that's not a bad thing for this style. The rest of the shoe, from the eyelets, laces, and rubber mid- and outsoles are all done with quality materials as can be expected from a luxury brand. Also, the stitching is impeccable. Rating: A-
Design
A true classic. I imagine you could wear this style in ten years and it wouldn't look out of place. Conversely, you can imagine your dad wearing these during his heyday and looking good as well. The McQueen Fashion house definitely hit it out of the park with this design. For this model, the colors on the laces and the play on the heel tabs give it enough oomph to be just a bit funky, and set it apart from the usual. Those wanting a basic sneaker in their rotation with a bit of head-turning power (and who wouldn’t want that?) wouldn't pass these up.
Rating: A-
Wearability
They’re not the most comfortable sneakers. Granted I’ve only worn mine a handful of times, but they're really a bit stiff—though they supposedly get softer with time. The thick midsoles give you a bit of a platform feel but not enough to alter your walking, although you do feel the considerable weight with every step. They fit true to size although I like my sneakers a bit roomy. I personally feel they look fabulous on the feet but they aren’t meant to be worn shooting hoops or when hitting the gym. They're a fashion sneaker and should serve as such.
Rating: A-
Price
They cost over PHP 30,000 or 600 USD nowadays, so they’re out of reach for many. But you could get similar looking sneaks for much less.
Rating: B
Final Rating:
On the @rhobeelicious scale, these would be Grade A Wagyu (I won’t go into the specific numbers, just know it’s in the top tier). The uninitiated would say it looks just as good as a New York Prime Rib—but while I do love Prime Rib, pop a slice of each into your mouth and you’d be able to taste the difference.
[An old school sneaker enthusiast, Rhobee Pilares enjoys street fashion, toys, cars, food and the excitement of busy, bustling cities. You can often catch him at coffee shops reading on the latest media trends. IG @rhobeelicious.]
Photos by Rhobee Pilares