TOP 5 COPS OF 2019 — wassupmel

2019 was an expensive year for sneaker releases, and I was around for majority of them. It’s only fitting I share my top 5 cops of the year. In no particular order, here is my list:

- Air Jordan 1 “LA to CHI”

- Air Jordan 4 “Cool Grey”

- Nike Dunk Low “Viotech”

- Air Jordan 1 “Turbo Green”

- Air Jordan 1 Satin “Black Toe”

Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 “LA to Chicago”

The Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 “LA to Chicago” is a pair of Jordan 1s that released as a special Nike SB collab in the spring. What’s special about this collab is that it pays homage to both the LA Lakers and Chicago Bulls in one sneaker. Nike SB is known for releasing shoes that have wear-away uppers, and this model doesn’t disappoint with that same effect. When you wear these 1s over time, the Chicago colorway will start to expose through the court purple and gold upper. These 1s also have the air zoom unit in the heel like all SB models, and the leather quality is like butter. Nike did a great job on this collab.

These 1s made it onto my list because they’re the second pair of shoes I camped out for, ever. I started camping out for sneakers in 2019, and the first pair I camped for were the Women’s Air Jordan 1 “Blue Chill” back in February. That whole experience in itself was one I will never forget. I decided to start camping for shoes because my size (5Y) is really hard to get in certain pairs. I wear 80% of the shoes I camp for, and the other 20% are quick flips. I’m always the biggest advocate for wearing what you like, and the fact that I have to sit in the cold overnight to get my pair makes it way more meaningful to keep. There’s a story behind every shoe I cop, and numerous memories shared between friends.

Air Jordan 4 “Cool Grey”

The Air Jordan 4 “Cool Grey” is the 2nd pair of Jordan 4s I copped in 2019. Growing up, I used to hate this silhouette because of how bulky they are. I could never picture myself wearing 4s before, and always associated them with my dad. Once I saw these were coming out, I had to cop them for the colorway. There’s just something about the cool grey on this shoe that really draws me in.

I bought the Bred 4s earlier in the year, but I immediately hated how they looked on my feet so I returned them. Now that I broke in my cool greys and got used to how they look on me, I’ve been regretting my return. I literally went from hating on this silhouette so hard, to wanting every colorway of 4s that are coming out. My taste and style is always evolving, and I admit that I’m a harsh critic at times.

Nike Dunk Low “Viotech”

The Nike Dunk Low “Viotech” holds a special place in my heart, because Dunks were one of the first sneakers I started “collecting” as a kid. I put collecting in quotes, because I didn’t take shoes seriously as a kid. In elementary and middle school I mainly grew up wearing Air Forces and Dunks. I only wore GS specific Sportswear Dunks cause Kids Footlocker was the only place my parents took me to shop as a kid. I had so many different colors of Dunks as a kid, and I always used to color coordinate them with my outfits. I never really got into SB Dunks cause I never skated, but now I’ve been copping them since they made a comeback in recent years.

The color blocking of Viotechs has always been a favorite of mine, because it’s so unique and stands out. The colors are loud and in your face, but you can still dress them down when wearing all black and other neutrals. I’ve been wanting this pair for years, and I’m glad I finally own them.

Air Jordan 1 “Turbo Green”

The Air Jordan 1 “Turbo Green” is hands down my favorite Jordan 1 that released in 2019. I wore this pair the most out of every shoe I copped this year, and it’s by far the most comfortable pair of 1s I own. Due to the suede and leather upper on the shoe and the foam in the tongue, it makes it so soft and plush on feet. I can wear these 1s all day and my feet don’t feel tired or sore. The leather quality on these is probably the softest of all Jordan 1s that released recently too. Aqua blue is one of my favorite colors, and the white laces against the white tongue really make this pair stand out.

This is also the only shoe I paid resell for in 2019 because I took a fat L on SNKRS when they first dropped. Nike didn’t make a lot of pairs of these in GS sizes and of course I couldn’t get them on launch day. Luckily I found a pair in my size months later and copped them for $240.

Air Jordan 1 Satin “Black Toe”

The Air Jordan 1 Satin “Black Toe” is the second pair of Satin 1s I’ve owned. The first pair of Satins I owned were the Air Jordan 1 Satin “Shattered Backboard” but I had to sell those earlier in the year due to financial troubles. The Satin Black Toes made my list for two reasons - 1) that campout was long and strenuous, but worth it for obvious reasons, and 2) it’s one of the more successful women’s releases by Jordan in 2019. I love how Jordan decided to expand their Women’s collection in 2019 and give us ladies more exclusive colorways. I hate the way brands used the “shrink it and pink it” model in the past for women-specific streetwear collections, cause women just want what the men get but in smaller sizes.

In 2019 Jordan released a lot more heat for women and collabed with some amazing women in streetwear such as Yoon Ahn (Ambush), Olivia Kim (Nordstrom), Leslie Gomez (Tryna B Studios), and Melody Ehsani (Melody Ehsani Shop). They used different materials on retro silhouettes, such as patent leather, satin, bovine hair, etc. that you don’t normally see on standard releases. I hope Jordan continues to give us ladies more heat in the upcoming years and collab with more creative women, because we deserve more recognition.

If you made it this far in the post, congrats. Thanks for reading about my top 5 cops of 2019. I’m gonna try to put out more content in 2020, so please stay tuned for more. As always, you can catch me on IG to keep up with my everyday life - @wassupmel. Peace ya’ll.