Riddles aside, Vans is expanding its textile experimentation with its OG Authentic sneaker, this time with a terry-like suede upper that gives the shredder some material intrigue to balance out the sneaker's otherwise plain parts. That's plain, complementary, by the way.

As Vans' debut product, the Authentic sneaker has earned its established simplicity.

Underneath, the toweled-off Vans Authentic wears its signature board-ready waffle outsole, a vulcanized sidewall and simple white foxing tape, classic Vans things for a classic Vans sneaker.

There's also a sweet contradiction in the fall-ready brown upper, which also resembles the ultimate beach accessory. A transition piece if ever there was one.

On the whole, Vans is quite partial to a bit of chocolate excellence. The thrash house is a lot like Forrest Gump in that way. And much like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get with a cocoa-coated Vans sneaker. One day Vans might whip up a corporate-ready brown leather Loafer 53, the next a checkered-up Vans leather slip-on. When it comes to chocolate, Vans, unironically, has flavors.

As they say, variety is the...cocoa bean of life.

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That was the perfect backdrop for Eccentrica, the Italian marque founded by entrepreneur and collector Emanuel Colombini. The company has carved out its own lane in the world of high-end restomods, starting with the Lamborghini Diablo, one of the defining supercars of the ’90s. For Colombini, the connection is personal. The Diablo was his childhood dream car, remembered from the pages of Quattroruote as an icon of speed, attitude and pure excess. Years later, seeing one again sparked the idea of giving it a modern mechanical upgrade without losing what made it special.

Eccentrica’s Diablo keeps the original 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V12 while rethinking almost everything around it. The chassis has been reinforced, the suspension re-engineered with active double wishbones and the body redesigned using composite materials. Modern braking technology developed with Brembo, an exhaust system created with Capristo, power-assisted steering and traction control bring the car into the modern era while keeping the analogue experience front and center. In short, it is the Diablo, just seriously dialed up.

That same energy carried through Eccentrica’s Monterey program, where the company unveiled its newest Roadster. Things kicked off at Villa Eccentrica in Pebble Beach with an Italian aperitivo for collectors arriving with the Supercar Owners Circle. Champagne was flowing, rare cars filled the driveway and conversations stretched into the evening. The next day, the Roadster was privately shown to press before a second presentation for clients and selected guests.

Then came The Quail. The Roadster made its official public debut among some of the world’s most desirable collector cars. That evening, Eccentrica hosted an Italian gathering focused on the restomod movement, bringing together names including Totem and Nardone. DJs played, champagne circulated and collectors, press and enthusiasts gathered around some seriously rare machinery. The vibe was basically Italian nightlife meets serious car culture.

The next day, the Roadster got to do what it was actually built for: drive. Press and prospective clients took the car through the landscapes surrounding Monterey, experiencing the naturally aspirated power, mechanical feedback and analogue character at the heart of Eccentrica’s philosophy. Because, honestly, a car like this should not spend its whole life parked under a spotlight.

The week wrapped with the Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, while Eccentrica also hosted a DJ set at Carmel Coffee. It was another snapshot of how Monterey has evolved. Cars are still the main event, but fashion, music, design, food and social culture are fully part of the mix.

Eccentrica fits naturally into that world. Its limited production, deep customization and obsession with driving make its cars feel closer to collectible design objects than traditional performance cars. While the rest of the industry races toward electrification and automation, Eccentrica is doubling down on what still hits differently: a naturally aspirated V12, a manual gearbox, physical feedback and a car that actually asks you to drive it.

By the end of the week, Eccentrica had taken its Roadster through private collector events, champagne-fueled previews, The Quail, California roads and Pebble Beach. The restomod scene is having a serious moment, and Eccentrica is making a pretty convincing case for keeping things loud, physical and just a little bit unhinged.

Discover more about Eccentrica's universe here.

Some of the coolest moments came from throwbacks like V12 engines and manual transmissions, the latter of which are becoming increasingly hard to come by as the automotive industry leans into ease of use (and automatics). V12 are similarly uncommon in light of emission regulations and a desire for smaller (and more manageable cars).

But the shadow of yesterday was cast over much of Monterey, and I mean that in a good way. Yesterday's biggest hits were played loud and proud.

Eccentrica unveiled an open-top version of its comprehensively reworked Lamborghini Diablo, while Porsche showed the Flachbau RS, a road-legal GT2 RS inspired by the 935 Moby Dick.

Hennessey went in a more old-school direction with the Blackbird, pairing a naturally aspirated V8 with a six-speed manual gearbox, while Gordon Murray followed a similar formula with the S1, which gets a 12,100rpm Cosworth V12, a manual gearbox and a central driving position.

And Louis Vuitton debuted two bespoke Porsche 911 restorations remastered with Singer to include custom leather, luggage and removable mechanical dashboard clocks. This feels like the single most car of the now: a contemporary reclamation of an all-time automotive classic, tastefully updated to the first-come sensibilities of the present.

Even the emphasis on manual transmissions felt like a real throwback, even if they did come on all-new rides.

McLaren previewed the V8-powered McL 6GT, its first manual road car since the F1, while Spyker returned with the 800hp C8 Preliator XXV. RUF also introduced the EHRA, a 650bhp all-wheel-drive model with a seven-speed manual. Ferrari revealed the one-off SF90-based CZ26, while Lanzante confirmed a new high-downforce package for its three-seat 95-59 supercar.

But one of the biggest debuts was clearly Jaguar putting forth its latest and greatest electric innovation. Its Type 01 showcases a four-seat interior that uses a central spine, minimalist controls and technology designed to stay hidden until needed. Now, this is the car of the future.

So, you really can give Monterey credit for walking the line between of both sides of the modern car world: futuristic luxury on one hand, and lightweight, analogue performance on the other, all in the name of classic motifs made modern.

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While $400 is undeniably eye-watering for a general-release sneaker, New Balance’s flagship 2000 line has always operated in its own luxury orbit. When the original M2040 debuted in the early 2010s, it blew past industry norms as the peak of domestic craftsmanship and technical engineering. 

Rather than cutting corners to fit mass-market price brackets, the v5 iteration justifies every dollar by doubling down on uncompromising, domestic manufacturing, ultra-luxurious Horween-tier material selection, and state-of-the-art stability tech.

At a time when mainstream lifestyle footwear often sacrifices material density for scale, the 2040v5 stands as a flex of pure, unadulterated American shoe-making prowess. It treats sneaker production like bespoke horology or high-end luggage, delivering an indestructible, heritage-rich statement piece for collectors who value true craftsmanship over trends.

Dressed in the brand's iconic Castlerock gray palette, the upper is built from supple, top-grade pigskin suede and premium nubuck overlays layered over a high-gauge, breathable mesh base. Intricate stitching, molded composite heel counters, and 3M reflective accents wrap the mid foot logo, exuding a tactile quality that feels noticeably superior to mass-produced runners.

What this really boils down to is that true quality comes at a cost. While the $400 price tag will certainly filter out the casual crowd, purists who demand the pinnacle of American-made footwear will hold this as a worthy investment.

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And its top-tier Ai Shokunin collection puts even those impressive MSRPs to shame. And yet, this stuff is meant to be worn like any other garment. That's what makes it transcendent.

45rpm is a Japanese clothing institution that's been making clothes the hard way for nearly 50 years. Its ethos hasn't really changed much over the past half-century: create the world's finest workwear-ish garments using the world's finest fabrics and craft. Much of its processes are handled in-house, from fabric sourcing to dyeing to stitching. Nearly every other fashion label outsources at least some aspect of production. Not 45rpm.

Worshipped by good-taste guys in the know — I've talked to a lot of fashion insiders, designers and pattern-makers and store owners, who happily posit 45rpm as their gold-standard brand — 45rpm creates enormous collections of exquisite clothes each season. And they'll cost ya: a pretty normal pair of indigo jeans can start around $500 and special editions can reach upwards of $2,000.

That's normal 45rpm. 45rpm Ai Shokunin is another level.

Whereas 45rpm's mainline collections are innately limited by virtue of their intensive make, Ai Shokunin is even scarcer. It utilizes specially devised exclusive fabrics, for one: Fall/Winter 2026 includes a selvedge indigo-dipped corduroy and a resist-dyed patchwork cotton created in India exclusively for Ai Shokunin by Japanese-Indian clothing label 11.11 (a factor only revealed by a hand-stitched logo).

All of these clothes are finished by hand from start to finish and limited to single-digit editions. It's, to evoke a timeworn cliche, wearable art. (Appropriately, the Ai Shokunin collection enjoys its own dedicated storefront in New York, where the clothes are displayed like in an art gallery.) And it's priced as such, with an elbow-patched jacket weighing in at $6,160 and beautiful patchwork shirts commanding $2,800.

But, still, the idea is that you wear it. None of this is crazy for crazy's sake. All of the shapes are classic, borrowed from the sort of utilitarian stuff that laborers would wear a couple century's back. Is it gauche to evoke blue-collar field work in the name of this sort of ultra-luxury? Perhaps. But it doesn't change the fact that these are time-tested silhouettes that simply work.

What makes 45rpm's oeuvre special is that it doesn't design stuff for stuff's sake. Its ridiculously lovely clothing is nevertheless intended to be enjoyed as, yes, clothing. As much human effort went into these items, they only come alive in action. Those gorgeous reversible linings and indigo tweed knits should be put on and worn. Assuming you can afford it.

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Accessible Is The New Aspirational

By all accounts, America's middle class is vanishing, and the country's political landscape is more polarized than ever. Amid these extreme contrasts between rich versus poor, left versus right, the fact that an American “middle class” of fashion appears to be at its healthiest feels bizarre, yet hopeful. 

The “middle” in question here is less defined by a literal price bracket or target audience as it is by a broader position in culture. I'm talking about brands that are recognizable, uncomplicated, and largely attainable. They're where consumers are nestling as both the rising cost of luxury becomes increasingly alienating and the cheap tricks of fast fashion wear off. 

While they were once hailed as merely dependable before, the brands that can straddle this middle now feel downright hot in 2026. Take, for starters, GAP as it is currently in the throes of a flawlessly staged comeback: The brand has been consistently pulling in the very best talent to shepherd us into its new era of Victoria Beckham / Miu Miu-muse Hailey Bieber collabs and fresh-faced campaigns with Malcolm Todd and Inde Navarrette. Meanwhile, Coach has crowned Charli xcx and PinkPantheress as its latest ambassadors, and Kate Spade has tapped Tyla. Elsewhere, Spain's Ferran Torres is doing post World-Cup promo in Under Armour, and Champion recently declared BTS’ V as its new spokesperson. 

These brand alignments are no longer obviously lop-sided cash grabs. They're emblematic of a bigger ecosystem that is capitalizing on economic and aesthetic accessibility — something that’s desirable to customers in times when reliability and consistency feel critical, if not also totally rare. And whether we’re looking at the old guard of mall brands — the J. Crews, the Banana Republics, the Madewells of the world — or observing the younger wave of mainly DTC names à la Alex Mill, Los Angeles Apparel, or the Uniqlo-esque “manufacturer-to-consumer” venture Quince, it's evident that US labels are particularly well equipped for this sea change. 

What constitutes the American dress code, after all, is familiar, simple, and rooted in a mix of casual/sporty (plus maybe occasionally fancy, but still ultimately function-based) wares. It's not traditionally known as fashion with a capital F, nor is it by default patriotic, save for Ralph Lauren's star-spangled banner knits (though the brand, of course, is an overall pioneer of that accessible American vibe). The look itself more so centers on classic high-low staples that only improve in value based on how skilled the owner is at wielding them (rather than, say, how much said owner spent): sweaters, chinos, denim; oxfords, polos, rugbys. It's a weathered cotton tee atop a perfect cut of blue jeans — a look that hardly ever feels out of reach for anyone. 

The pragmatic optimism of this “American middle class” can be seen in lexicons as far-ranging as J. Press and Vuori, where it invites participation in a way that's distinctly sociologically American. Not to get too heartland rock about it all, but there's a mentality inherent to this category that reaches as far left-field even as an Emily Dawn Long tee. The common thread is a shared sensibility of ease, freedom, and warmth that's decidedly un-exclusive, unlike most of what's been historically drilled into many European competitors. 

How interesting then, that just as the uniform of this imagined middle class becomes so highly coveted by shoppers, the Vogue US September issue is fronted by Chanel-drenched nepo babies. Talented as the models are, and fun as the styling may be, what emanates from the imagery is a coldness, frankly, that reads out of sync with the  moment. Though that gray studio background certainly does give it a certain mail-order catalog feel, does it not?

Open Tabs: Everything We've Got Our Eyes On Right Now

• Still, if you’re looking for something not quite so GAP-like right now, a colleague dubbed Les Tien as “the sophisticated older cousin who studied abroad” to the aforementioned brands. We like this white long-sleeve, for example, for a staple that’s just a touch more. 

• Ask any stylish man for advice on a lightweight jacket that’s both dinner- and daylight-appropriate, and they’ll probably refer you to a Harrington, as in Burberry’s. As reliable on humid maritime eves in late August as it is against the first nippy city nights of fall.

• For the plane en route to my vacay, I've personally got this green suede Métier weekender stacked to the brim…
  … with this ultra practical L.L. Bean toiletry case, among other things.

• Inside, you’ll want deodorant and body wash from Salt & Stone x Cherry LA's “leather and desert grass” collection. 

• HAY's giant, comfortable quilt belongs in every car trunk or beach bag, for all the impromptu picnics and sandy coastal hangouts that are still to be had.

• I'm sure you’ve seen plenty of flip-flops and rope sandals this summer. But how many of them had VIBRAM soles like these from Bedrock?

• I'm a real sucker for brown trail sneakers, of which Norda carries an especially scrumptious pair.

• Loop makes sound-muffling earbuds to help mute noise in open offices, subways, shared hotel rooms, or whenever you might end up longing for some peace and quiet.

• From loops to Mateo hoops, it's about time you got on the slutty little earring bandwagon. How many Paul Mescals and Cooper Hoffmans are you gonna let pass you by before giving in? 

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You might know Russell Westbrook as the nine-time NBA All-Star. The one with a record-breaking streak of triple-doubles — ask a basketball friend what that means. But real ones know there’s more to the freshly-retired baller than his on-court stats. 

See, this athlete is also an artist. Not in the conventional paint-on-canvas sense, but in the way he throws together outfits. Clothes are his tool; his body, the fresco. His approach to personal style has become an art form unto itself, reflecting a trained eye honed not only on the finer threads in life but on how they can be arranged, organized, and still-life’d onto himself. 

Just look to his many “tunnel walk” fits as proof. During his nearly 20-year career, the stretch of inconspicuous arena hallway going from the locker room to the court became Westbrook’s runway. 

But while his outfit virtuosity may have quickly endeared him to a world outside the NBA — he’s attended many Fashion Weeks and Met Galas (mostly shirtless); he’s even collaborated on an Acne Studios collection — there’s no extricating Westbrook’s love for dressing from his athleticism. As he noted in a 2013 interview, he always chose each piece on his own because, as with his position as a point guard, he likes being in control.

Few sports have proven as fertile a space to flex your fashion sense as basketball. 

From Dennis Rodman’s maximalist, controversially gender-bending style in the 1990s to the sharp, colorful suits of Walt "Clyde" Frazier in the 70s, swagger has been just as important a skill to some players as their dribble and three-pointers. What set Westbrook apart isn’t just that he was more stylish than his forebears; it’s that his ascent to Fashion King status has coincided with the rise of image-focused social media. 

Two years after the launch of Instagram (and, interestingly, two months after Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion), Westbrook notched his first major fashion moment: His June 2012 post-game press conference saw him pair bright red frames, sans lenses, with a loud print Prada button-up shirt “that was busier than his third quarter against the Miami Heat,” per a snarky NYT write-up.

Though that look has been pinned as the origin point for a career’s worth of extravagant looks, it also marked the end of a childhood dream. Westbrook was always fashion-curious as a kid growing up in a gritty, working-class neighborhood in South Central LA; it was his career, and the income it provided, that finally let him explore that curiosity. “Basketball is the axis that allows me to do the things that I do,” he told Time in 2017. “[It's] one way to express yourself, as is what you wear.”

When Westbrook started in the NBA in 2008, its players were stylistically muzzled by an archaic and arguably regressive dress code instituted in 2005 that favored tailored suits, sweaters, and stale button-ups. Now, as he leaves the league, his run of eccentric fits hasn’t just shattered norms; it’s reshaped the sport, full stop. 

Westbrook’s own style may be divisive (to be expected when you pair, say, a porkpie hat with a poncho), but his use of clothing as a tool to shape his image made him the most modern baller in the game and an artist in his own right.

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In this iteration of our our weekly lineup of Nike releases, find proof that Nike offers great design week by week. From a CDG-Inspired Goadome Low, to a Dalmatian inspired Tennis Classic, and most elusive Jordan 3. This week shows off the best that Nike has to offer, from archival classics to the next steps in sport.

Please note: Some sneakers may sell out at speed.

Shop this week's best Nike sneaker releases below

Air Max Goadome Low

Release Date: August 20

Editor's Notes: Potentially the best Commes des Garcon collab that never was, the return of this trail classic oozes runway appeal. Originally releasing in 2000, the Goadome was an allumni of the long beloved All Conditions Gear sublabel, giving these derby-turned-sneaker hard-wearing DNA. The all-black version is particularly understated, even with polka-dot cut-out exterior, harking back to Karasu-zoku influences of Rei and Yohji.

Jordan Heir Series 2 "Queen Phee"

Release Date: Available now

Editor's Notes: This ice-y Jordan Heir was designed with Minnesota Royalty in mind. Back to claim her crown, the WNBA Superstar Napheesa Collier teams up with Air Jordan for an ice blue and cobalt on the court killer. Crucially, whether you're defending the All-Star title, or looking for a true-blue street classic, the Air Jordan Series 2 'Queen Phee' is only heir to the coldest Jordan throne.

Giannis Freak 8 LX

Release Date: August 21

Editor's Notes: This oil-slick inspired Giannis Freak 8 LX is uniquely equipped for spilling threes from anywhere on the court. Known as one of the hardest working players in the league, it was designed to last long training sessions, and steady improvement. But with a monochromatic colorway, and gold accents, the Freak 8 is built with trophy-run in mind.

Air Jordan 3 "Laser"

Release Date: August 22

Editor's Notes: The most elusive pair of Jordan's returns after 23 years, just in time to celebrate the career of the G.O.A.T with streetwear's newest generation. The iconic Jordan 3 leather upper is embossed with icons that each tell a story from the icons life and career. When Nike is an adoring fan, like the rest of us, you get the Air Jordan 3 Laser. Don't wait another two decades for this piece of history.

Tennis Classic CS PRM

Release Date: Available now

Editor's Notes: Truly a Crufts showstopper, the new Dalmatian-inspired Nike Tennis Classic is not for the faint of heart. Quickly becoming Nike's understated staple both on and off the court, the versatility of the low-profile sneaker is both comfortable and quality. But sometimes subtle can be boring, so turn some heads with these best-in-show sneakers.

Nike Air More Uptempo '96

Release Date: August 21

Editor's Notes: No shoe embodies the late 90s better than the Uptempo. Spotted on everyone from New Yorks uptown graffiti writers, to NBA Champions, this unmistakable AIR MAX side logos was designed to be seen. Once again, Nike reaches into the archive to rebuild this 90s icon with diligent attention. If this is closest you will get to the hey-day of New York in the mid-90s, then its worth knowing.

Rejuven8 Run 'Black'

Release Date: Available now

Editor's Notes: Nike truly has shaped the way the world looks at running shoes, but with the Rejuven8 Run, it set its sights on the off-days. Built for recovery, comfort is, of course, the first priority, but with a tortoise shell upper and sleek sock design, comfort and creative design are back in lock-step.

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Miu Miu is introducing the fall footwear season with its blocky and bouncy Bubble sneaker.

Straight from Miu Miu's aughts archive, the reimagined Bubble sneaker ditches conventions with its angular toe-box that gives the retro-leaning sneaker a futuristic edge.

What is a good sneaker if not a bit of a contradiction? Gray nylon and suede work together to give the Bubble sneaker some of that retro charm that sent the sneaker into the stylistic stratosphere 30-some-odd-years ago.

As nice as that square-toe is, the real magic of this shoe takes place at the outsole. Instead of your traditional flush rubber outsole, Miu Miu's Bubble sneaker wears a, you guessed it, Bubble outsole.

This textured bubble tread adds some visual volume to the shoe, which presents quite the contrast to the routinely flat sneakers Miu Miu has been dishing out in the last few years. As far as branding, Miu Miu abides by its established simplicity clause with a soft embroidered logo near the toe and a screen-printed logo applied to the insoles and side counter.

As it pertains to spherical rubber balls, Miu Miu's Bubble sneaker more than meets its quota. But it is lacking in the lace department. For any other sneaker, one set of laces is more than enough. But for Miu Miu, double laces have become something of the unofficial standard. So much so that Miu Miu has inspired an entire ecosystem of double-laced sneakers like adidas' cherry red Whisper Glide or Nike's "Sport Renaissance" Jordan 3.

But now it seems like double laces might be going the way of the dodo. But only time (and Miu Miu) will tell.

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Without fail, the first of September has a funny way of making you feel like you’ve got something to prove. A new season brings with it a new routine and, naturally, a wardrobe that suggests you’ve been preparing for this moment all summer long, spritz in hand. There’s nothing quite like swapping out the linen pants and slip-ons for the kind of attire that’ll not only withstand the elements of a gloomy morning commute, but remind you that getting dressed properly has its perks.

Few brands have mastered the fall wardrobe quite like Burberry. At 170 years old, the heritage house has spent generations perfecting the art of classic dressing, particularly when the weather starts doing its worst. So, when it came to getting back to urban life, we knew exactly where to turn. After all, someone's gotta make the daily grind look effortless.

The One to Beat

The trenches of all trenches. Burberry practically wrote the rulebook, so naturally, its latest crop knows a thing or two about seeing you through the rest of the year. There’s a reason the silhouette has become so synonymous with the brand, it manages to feel instantly recognizable without ever feeling stuck in the past. Seriously, a trench will always have a place in a fall rotation. Existentially British, eternally relevant.

If the classic beige color isn’t calling your name, the beautifully brown Gabardine Leadenham one makes a damn convincing case for switching things up. Plus, slightly more forgiving when a cramped train and your morning coffee inevitably collide.

Back to Business

Trenches and Burberry may go hand in hand, but there’s a world beyond the signature coat. Once the laptop comes back out and the OOO gets switched off, something as crisp as a white polo (a summer tan's best friend) or Harrington jacket makes easing back into the working week feel a whole lot less painful. Polished enough for the office, but relaxed enough to keep the Monday blues at bay. 

The Power Players

And then there are the finishing touches. The things that tend to get thrown on at the last minute are, arguably, the things that can make or break the whole look. A solid messenger bag or even a sexy leather tote has the ability to catapult you into C-suite territory, while the right pair of tonal slim-sneakers can keep things from getting too serious. Because if you’re going clock back in, you might as well give the office something to talk about.

Consider your return to reality officially dressed.

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Founded in 2020 by Texas rapper Le$ and creative director Jorgey, DIOS has quickly built a devout following by translating Houston's core subcultures—slab car custom culture, hip-hop, and an uncompromising hustle—into high-tier apparel. 

With the DIOS x adidas Megaride 01, DIOS bridges two seemingly opposite Texan identity pillars: the chrome-laden, low-slung slab car culture of downtown Houston and the rugged heritage of the modern Texas cowboy. 

Rather than treating the 2000s Megaride runner as just another retro silhouette, DIOS transforms it into a mobile piece of Southern storytelling. The result is a dark, industrial hybrid that feels equal parts automotive modification and artisanal Western leatherwork.

By replacing standard mesh layers with rich, heavily textured leathers and a sleek zippered shroud, DIOS elevates the runner’s technical frame into luxury territory. It gives the Megaride a rugged presence that’s balanced by the silver-tone detailing throughout.

The upper is wrapped in a blacked-out, premium tumbled leather accented by embossed mudguards and deep boot-inspired embossing along the lace bed. A functional, metallic zippered shroud conceals the laces, topped off with a custom DIOS-branded toe cap and silver hardware that pays homage to custom chrome rims and exhaust manifolds.

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