Nicholas Vlahos

1 week ago | soleretriever.com | Nicholas Vlahos

Published May 8, 2025 at 9:37 PMThe 30th Anniversary celebrations for the Nike Air Max 95 are underway. Nike brought back the “big bubble” variant on a slew of OG and new colorways, like the Neon and Pink Foam, collaborated with the likes of Corteiz and Yu-Gi-Oh, and even released a Reverse Neon version of the sneaker based on a sketch from Sergio Lozano’s original drawings of the sneaker. Next up for the Air Max 95 is a Sundial rendition.

1 week ago | soleretriever.com | Nicholas Vlahos

Kobe Bryant's love of fine wine and his play in-game only getting better with age, earned him the “Vino” nickname. Although this name doesn’t come close to his Black Mamba moniker, his footwear, both from Nike and adidas, has used this moniker to inspire PE and retail versions of his various sneakers. The latest Vino Nike Kobe comes in the form of the not-often-seen Nike Kobe 9 EXT High.

1 week ago | soleretriever.com | Nicholas Vlahos

The adidas Samba has proven to be more than a trend—it’s a year-round essential. After a spring surge that saw the retro silhouette dressed in pastel hues, soft suedes, and subtle color-blocking, adidas is keeping the momentum rolling into summer with an even bolder lineup. This season, the Samba sheds its layers and goes lighter, brighter, and more playful, with breathable materials and vibrant palettes that match the mood of sun-drenched days.

1 week ago | soleretriever.com | Nicholas Vlahos

There’s no question that New Balance has been killing it lately. Not only can we look at the brand’s financial performance as an indicator of this, but culturally, the brand that, at one point, was scoffed at as “dad shoe” makers, has a newfound energy in the sneaker and fashion community. Not resting on its hit silhouettes like other labels, NB has been working in the kitchen developing a slew of new models, including the ABZORB 2000, which was previewed once again in São Paulo, Brazil.

1 week ago | soleretriever.com | Nicholas Vlahos

Published May 8, 2025 at 4:13 PMThe rise of brands like Hoka and On over the last half-decade has caused Nike to lose market share in the performance running category. These new players have entered the space and hit on what consumers have begun turning to — maximalist cushioning. Nike is no stranger to beefed-up running sneakers, a la the Alphafly 3, but where these other brands differ is their price point, coming in at much more affordable and reasonable prices in the under $200 range.