Air Jordan Retro XII "Playoffs"

The Air Jordan XII was the first Jordan shoe released by Nike under the official label of "Jordan Brand," making it the first Air Jordan shoe released with no visible Nike swoosh logo.  Drawing inspiration from the classic Japanese rising sun flag, the XII is not as flashy as it is durable.  With somewhat conservative colorways and materials the Air Jordan XII is representative of Michael's career at the time: strictly business.  Though he had lost the MVP title to Karl Malone by the slimmest of margins that year, Michael led his team to a second straight NBA title, making the third installment of the XII "playoffs" a release to have.  Due out April 21st, this is a shoe that is worth buying, shelving, and admiring.

Air Jordan 10 Stealth

Due out an unspecified day next month, Air Jordan is releasing its second installment of the Retro X this year.  The Retro X in the Chicago Bulls colorway were a hot release and sold out online and in person almost instantaneously.  The Air Jordan X was originally released for the '94/'95 season for Michael Jordan in what was his return from retirement.  Many people speculate that the AJ X's somewhat plain design can be attributed to Nike being unprepared for Michael's return.  Personally, I love the minimalist approach and think that the circumstances produced one of the five most timeless Air Jordan models of all time.

This Summer: VI and VII Olympic Edition

There are few Jordan releases that create more hype than a Special Edition.  Coincidentally, this July we will have the pleasure of getting two separate releases that do just that: The Jordan VI and VII Olympic Edition.

The Jordan VI Olympic was released in 2000 as a new colorway for the 2000 summer games in Sydney.  For what can be described as a very basic color scheme, these shoes popped on the floor then and add character to any collection.  The VI was originally released in 1991 and was the beginning of what some suggest as setting the standard for modern basketball sneakers both stylistically and performance wise.  Ten years later Air Jordan has chosen to release the VI Retro Olympic again - and it's sure to be a limited drop.  Set to come out on July 7th Air Jordan has neglected to release any details on the shoe's exclusivity.  Crossing my fingers for a general release.

The Jordan VII Olympic was released in 2004 as release in the Air Jordan VII Retro series.  The VII was originally released in 1992 and was a stylistic deviation that I would describe as a bit "90s."  A departure from the more classic style of the previous Air Jordans the VII and the following VIII have a distinct look and bright original colorways.  The VII Olympic was worn by Michael himself during the 1992 summer games that spawned what basketball fans worldwide now refer to as the "Dream Team."  After a nearly ten year hiatus Air Jordan has decided to re-release the VII Olympic only two weeks after the VI, hitting the shelves on July 21st.

Jordans to Have this Spring

As winter (if we can call it that this year) begins to wind down the thought of fresh kicks paired with warm attire starts to bring smiles to sneakerheads across the globe.  With plenty of Jordan releases set to come out between now and summertime it can be hard to wade through the sea of speculation surrounding which releases are must haves.  These are a few pair that I can guarantee you'll find in my collection by summer:

Jordan IV Retro White/Cement:

Due out this Saturday (2/18/12) the Air Jordan IV is the MUST have this spring.  One of three original colorways the IV was available in, this shoe is an instant collectible.  Having been retroed only one other time in 2000, you can bet that these will be an extremely hot ticket.  Classic white sneakers with a unique "cement gray" accent help these shoes stand out and work with nearly anything you may choose to wear with them.  If you plan on getting 'em you better be in line a few hours before the stores open because I promise you're not the only one waiting on these.

Air Jordan V.1 Hazelnut/Team Red

Out since last month, the Jordan Retro V.1 in Hazelnut/Team Red is a classic looking shoe that is probably off the radar of most sneakerheads.  A reconstruction of the classic Jordan I this shoe combines a sole one could compare to a pair of Vans with an upper that could easily be likened to a pair of Nike SBs.  The result is a clean, slightly conservative, sneaker that most people wouldn't associate with the Jordan brand.

Air Jordan Retro XII Cool Grey/Team Orange

 

Originally released in 1997, the Air Jordan XII is one of the least flashy J's out there - that is until now.  Having sported mainly conservative colorways since its release the XII is getting a fresh and eye catching makeover this May.  Such a secret project that no official photos have even been released yet - so the exact day of release is still being hashed out.  The Cool Grey/Team Orange look will be a perfect colorway for summer and a release that sneakerheads could easily look back on as a sleeper.