The 50 Greatest Sneakerhead Moments in Popular Culture

We understand the world of the sneakerhead, and we love everything about it—but we're also the first to acknowledge that it can get weird. Weird like waiting in line overnight for a pair of shoes. Weird like skipping rent to buy a pair of Jordans. Weird like talking to dudes at parties about sneakers instead of going after models and bottles. But there are times when sneaker culture hits society at large, too, when normal people get a glimpse into our crazy world. Like when mom asks you if you're going to get "The Tiffany shoes." To help lock down the moments when sneakerhead culture crossed over into the mainstream we hit up Gary Warnett of crookedtongues.com. Gary has been in the sneaker game for years, and has been analyzing its effects on hip-hop, cool guy, and popular culture from the get, so it only made sense that we bring him on board for a history of sneakerhead culture crossing over...
Words by Gary Warnett

Jenny Gives Forrest a Pair of Nike Cortez
Sneaker: Nike Cortez
Year: 1994

Artist Brian Jungen Turns the Air Jordan Into Art
Sneaker: Nike Air Jordan XIII
Year: 1998

Michael Jackson's Sneaker Line Flops
Sneaker: L.A. Gear Billie Jean
Year: 1990

Batman Rocks the Air Trainer SC
Sneaker: Nike Air Trainer SC/Air Trainer III
Year: 1989

Chanel Collaborates on an Instapump Fury
Sneaker: Chanel x Reebok Pump Fury
Year: 2003

Mick Jagger Dons the Kidrobot x Nike Air Max 1
Sneaker: Nike Kidrobot Air Max 87
Year: 2007

Puma and Beat Street Sell Shoes Through Hip-Hop Cinema
Sneaker: PUMA States
Year: 1984

James Cameron Makes a Sci-Fi Sneaker
Sneaker: Reebok Alien Stomper
Year: 1986

DJ E-Z Rock Wears AF1s on the
"It Takes Two" Cover
Sneaker: Air Force 1
Year: 1988

Gucci Unknowingly Makes a Shoe for Hustlers
Sneaker: Gucci sneakers
Year: 1985

Gucci's mid-'80s sneaker design coincided with the crack era perfectly and became one of the flyest crossovers of all time. One-hundred-and-sixty-nine bucks for something so basic made this sneaker strictly for hustlers, and it's tough to fathom the tribulations of keeping a pair on your feet if you weren't a hard-rock individual. Jay-Z replicated them for his Reebok release nearly two decades later.