The Admiral is a new model that comes under the umbrella of the DC Life Collection, which whether you know it or not, has been around for seven seasons now. Higher than Joe Cocker, this slimline flopper would seem to fit into the ‘skater at leisure’ category. Inoffensive it might be in its simplicity, but the Admiral’s general neatness also grows on you after a while, and we can kinda dig it for what it is, even if our favorite is what appears to be the lowtop version known for some reason as the Sector 7. It’s also another sign of a dressy step-up in direction from DC and might be just a small hint as the brand tries to reestablish a new identity in the wake of the brand’s founding father moving on to greener pastures.

Perhaps it’s fashion’s obsession with the perennial military theme, but this Admiral seems to evoke a dormant memory of cadets, epilettes, gold buttons and marching bands. Maybe it shoulda been called the Major? Either way, it’s made from full grain leather, has neat canvas panels, sticky rubber and steers clear of the usual chunky skate styles we have seen from DC.

The Life Collection at DC is on offer to a small group of retailers globally... check your local store.