Jordan - AIR JORDAN II
Originally a radical 1986 departure from the first chapter in the Jordan shoe saga, with no visible Swoosh – commonplace now, but a big risk at the time and crafted in Italy (alas, not for the majority of retros) for supreme build quality. Did it pay off? Oh, yes. An avant-garde look meant this towered over the competition like the man himself. Letting quality speak for itself rather than generating a regrettable '80s throwback meant the Jordan II is still a landmark shoe that still commands respect. Like the winged ball, there’s something distinctly airborne about the whole package. They might have been a weak cash-in on the superior Fat Boys, but the Skinny Boys had an edge on their rotund rivals' Assaults with their choice of IIs on their feet. For extra Jordan II screentime, check out Spike Lee's overlooked 'School Daze' too...
