The Stylish Insider

Every bottle of perfume and cologne is marketed with its own story or intention as a way to connect its scent and associate it with a feeling before smelling it. Creed’s Aventis is famously inspired by Napoleon. Gabrielle Chanel sought out “a woman’s perfume, with a woman’s scent,” and found this in her own N ॰ 5. Koroma’s Aromas takes a more personal approach to perfuming. Every scent is left open to be interpreted by the wearer. James Koroma is Harlem’s only auteur perfumer. I had the opportunity to discuss his coming to love the perfume business, his philosophy on scent, and to get his perspective on each of the five fragrances included in his collection. James’ grandfather Aloysius Koroma would make perfume as a hobby while living in Liberia. When civil war broke out, he sent his family to safety in America. As he moved around the conflict, he exposed himself to a rich variety of fragrant raw materials all through Northwest Africa before reuniting with his family in the U.S...

An exciting partnership is about to make big news in the world of streetwear. A well-known sneaker influencer and an up-and-coming Queens, New York fashion house have joined forces to promote a shared vision of positivity and balance through their mutual love of inspired clothing. Anyone who follows sneakerhead culture on X (formerly Twitter) or other social media platforms has likely encountered the posts and presence of Kenneth Myers, Jr. , better known by his online moniker, Mr. Unloved 1s . A sneaker historian, Myers is a fan of all things footwear and is considered by some to be the world’s biggest Air Jordan 1 superfan. Following Myers’ social media accounts is a surefire way to gain sneaker knowledge and informed perspective that is presented with calm, thoughtful honesty rather than emotion-driven harsh opinion commonly found in conversations within the sneaker and streetwear community, both inside and outside the virtual space. Myers reminds his followers, always, that “the ...

New Balance and rapper Aminé have officially unveiled the 992 "Outdoor School". This collaboration marks Aminé’s first MADE in USA release, inspired by his memories of attending an Outdoor School program in Oregon. The sneaker features a reddish-brown mix of mesh, suede, and patent leather. It includes custom Club Banana branding on the tongue and heel, along with insoles that reference the Outdoor School curriculum. Each pair comes in a box designed to look like a fishing tackle box. Special accessories include a wooden “wood cookie” hangtag stamped with “Horizon Cabin,” which can be decorated with charms shaped like a frog, compass, whistle, slug, and fish. The Aminé x New Balance 992 "Outdoor School" sneaker drops on October 2 exclusively via Club Banana for $220 USD.

Converse Japan ’s All Star Yunomi Hi turns a traditional teacup into a full-print sneaker. The canvas high-top shoe features a detailed graphic based on the yunomi design, complete with the kanji characters usually seen on Japanese souvenirs. Special details include "All Star" written in Japanese characters and hand-drawn stars mixed into the pattern. The shoe keeps the classic high-top build with a rubber outsole. Look for the Converse All Star Yunomi Hi sneaker to drop on September 25 via Converse Japan for ¥11,000 JPY (approximately $70 USD).

Ryan Reynolds visits Flight Club in New York City to go Sneaker Shopping with Complex ’s Joe La Puma . He discusses why he wears Travis Scott Jordan 1 Lows to Wrexham AFC games, shares a surprising story about his first pair of Converse Chuck Taylors, and explains how he occassionally coordinates his kicks with wife Blake Lively.

The Air Jordan 1 Low Element GTX "Cream II" is a weather-ready update to the classic sneaker. The shoe features a waterproof GORE-TEX lining for protection, styled in neutral tones of "Cream II" and "Light Orewood Brown". Black Swooshes and a dark brown collar add contrast, while gold accents on the tongue and pull tabs offer a refined touch. Finished with a speckled midsole and rugged outsole, this shoe is built for the outdoors. Look for the Air Jordan 1 Low Element GTX "Cream II" sneaker to release in Fall/Winter 2026 via Nike and select retailers for $205 USD.

BEAMS BOY and Birkenstock have reimagined the Boston clog with a "Brown Patchwork" design. The new collaborative clogs replace the usual smooth upper with three shades of suede in Taupe, Mink, and Mocha pieced together in an asymmetrical pattern. The mismatched panels give the shoe a handmade, one-of-a-kind feel to the classic silhouette. Because of the specific arrangement, each shoe features a slightly different mix of leather surfaces. Branding is subtle, appearing on the leather footbed rather than the exterior. The pair arrives in BEAMS’ signature orange box to complete the look. Look for the BEAMS BOY x Birkenstock Boston "Brown Patchwork" clogs to drop on Saturday, September 12 via BEAMS for ¥36,300 JPY (approximately $230 USD).

In addition to the obvious practical purposes for doing so, wearing sneakers has long been a method of self-expression. People have been wearing Converse Chuck Taylors long after their use on the basketball court had grown outdated due to their undeniable rock-and-roll cool look. The same is true for the adidas Superstar and hip-hop, and there really is no need to go on about street culture’s obsession with Air Jordan retros over the last two decades plus; young people rock Jays who are not even old enough to have watched MJ lace them up and grace them on the hardwood. So why not a faith-based sneaker? It is no secret that Christian-themed clothing has long had a presence in American culture as well as in other countries. Everything from cross necklaces to graphic tees to WWJD bracelets are all around, worn by believers and readily available to be purchased. Until now, though, Christianity has not established a strong foothold in the shoe game. Enter Alma Savior and its first of...