Jordan 4 Retro

The pale blue that covers much of this Jordan 4 Retro sneaker pays homage to Michael Jordan’s college alma mater, making it a stylish shoe with a deep history. The first hints of this University Blue tone can be seen on the outsole, where it highlights a section of herringbone grip below the forefoot and the Jumpman in the centre of the sole. This logo is set within a white portion that itself sits between the Tech Grey of the heel and the black parts that fill out the midfoot and most of the forefoot. The last piece of the outsole is the toe cap, which returns to Tech Grey and is decorated with embossed stars. The black part of the outsole extends upwards around the sides of the sole unit, where it arcs up in a cone shape on the lateral side and wraps around the toe. Then, a band of white polyurethane containing a visible Air unit encircles the back half of the shoe, and atop this lies a Tech Grey layer covered in black specks.

On the upper, three layers of University Blue suede create a premium look, while more structural pieces in Tech Grey support the shoe. These neutral-coloured elements include the triangular wings, which attach the black lace cages at the top of the eyestay to the flanks, and the large heel panel, whose spotted surface sports a black Jumpman. Another pair of black TPU cages secures the University Blue laces at the bottom, while eyelets in the suede panel that stretches from the top of the forefoot to the collar hold the foot firmly in place. This suede section also comes in University Blue, as does the one overlaying it and the final segment that encircles the front of the toe.

University Blue mesh netting forges an eye-catching aesthetic on the flanks and the top of the foot, while the inner lining provides all-round comfort through its use of a soft, velvety material in the same azure hue. Further inside the shoe, the insole is black, and a University Blue Jumpman stands out brightly upon its surface. Although the back of the padded tongue is black, its frontside is made of blue suede once more. Sewn into it are two patches – the first is a white square with a grey Jumpman printed onto it, and the second is a black rectangle that contains the number 23 as a reference to the tag and number displayed on Jordan’s jersey during his playing days.