Sneakers to Complete Your Halloween Costume
Contrary to the historical origins of the festival, the celebration of Halloween seems to have boiled down to a retail event – bookmarked by inedible pumpkins, bulk-buy candy, and excuses to dress up as miscellaneous characters from pop culture. While some partygoers go all-out with their costumes, others fall flat. For every Heidi Klum, there are just as many that are plain dumb. Sadly, many of those failed outfits end up looking terrible because they don’t have the correct sneakers to match. Here are some special picks to get you looking more treat than trick.
Nike Air Mag (2015 ‘Retro’)
Character/Film: Marty McFly, Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Almost every Halloween, you’re certain to hear recitals of Marty McFly’s amazed utterance, ‘All right, power laces!’ – but has anyone actually worn real Air Mags? Be one of the first! Marty’s 2015 fit is not complete without the Nike Air Mag, because no other sneaker would work. You can get away with wearing any old red and black varsity jacket, red t-shirt, and washed denim jeans, plus there are plenty of imitation iridescent caps on the Internet. However, the 2015, pre-Adapt tech, Air Mag ‘retro’ is an absolute must. Considering the going rate for these Grails, you won’t just be flipping your pockets inside out to complete the period-correct look!
If the Air Mags sit just a little beyond your budget, buy some white and red Nike Bruins for Marty’s 1985 get-up.
Nike Dunk Low ‘Teen Wolf’ (2008)
Character/Film: Scott Howard, Teen Wolf (1985)
Sticking with the 1980s Michael J. Fox theme, you could go as conflicted teen Scott Howard. In 2008, Nike released the ‘Media Pack’, featuring three sneakers that individually referenced classic sports films Hoosiers, White Men Can’t Jump, and Teen Wolf. The Blazer Mid and Air Flight Lite High translated the first two films’ motifs in a fairly straightforward manner. But Teen Wolf’s Dunk Low took a truly lupine turn by adding brown fur to the ankle of the fictional Beacon Beavers colourway. Just don’t wear these out during a full moon!
Reebok Alien Stomper (2016)
Character/Film: Ellen Ripley, Aliens (1986)
On the Internet, every one can see your feet screaming for attention. If statistical validation is your goal this Halloween, channel badass heroine of the silver screen, Ellen Ripley, and strap on the Reebok Alien Stomper. One part sci-fi footwear fantasy, one part modified BB 5600, and all parts a lot of sneaker. In 2016, Reebok released the former movie prop with proper shin-height spec 120 years early, breaking their promise of a 2136 drop. Only 500 pairs were made, but intergalactic, extra-terrestrial killing cosplayers can try their luck finding the wider-released mid-cut ‘Bishop’ editions.
adidas ‘Zissou’
Character/Film: Steve Zissou, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
There is only one Bill Murray, but we can all be Steve Zissou. The eponymous blue-striped sneakers immortalised in the Wes Anderson flick, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, suspiciously looked like custom adidas Roms. Apparently, in 2017 at Parisian music festival We Love Green, 100 official commemorative pairs of adidas Zissous were released. While these are long gone, it’s fairly easy to pick up a customised pair of Roms from Wes Anderson replica prop shop, The Society Of The Crossed Keys.
Onitsuka Tiger Tai-Chi
Character/Film: The Bride, Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Somewhat ironically, the serene-sounding Tai-Chi appeared on Uma Thurman’s feet during the sensationally gory ‘Crazy 88’ scene in vengeance flick Kill Bill: Volume 1. Cinema buffs will instantly recognise director Quentin Tarantino’s homage to Bruce Lee’s Game of Death, and so have other sneaker brands. Many have drawn inspiration from the iconic yellow and black theme, but Onitsuka Tiger can lay claim to cinematic glory in Kill Bill. Extend the Tai-Chi’s 15 minutes of fame by tracking down the limited edition BAIT colab, or settle for the almost-there REB version, and go pick a fight.
