Air Max 90
We aren’t far off Summer, and believe me, it comes around quick, and if you are anything like me, dressing seasonally appropriate is high on your list of priorities. For me, when I think about the perfect Summer shoes, I think of Air Max, and more specifically the iconic Air Max 90. There is something about shorts, white socks and a lairy pair of AM90s that is culturally ingrained in me. In my youth, everyone repped a pair, and if you weren’t repping, whichever way you look at it, you weren’t cool, it’s as simple as that. Me personally, back in the day I had a pair of OG Infrareds, but it really didn’t matter what colourway you had, as there seemed to be as many colour combinations as people wanting to rep them and that cult-like following exists to this day. So naturally, I thought it would be a good idea to bring tear-jerking nostalgia to the Summer of 2019 by running down my picks for 10, yes 10 Air Max 90s you should be considering for your rotation. This selection is everything you would ever want from a roster, balancing the old with the new but all very much current for 2019. You might not agree with all of my choices, but as I stated before, it doesn’t really matter what colourway you’re repping, as long as you are repping.
Off-White x Air Max 90 Desert Ore
The first shoe I’m going to talk about is the Off-White x Air Max 90 Desert Ore, a shoe that dropped in the early months of 2019 and signalled the supposed end of Virgil Ablohs’ The 10′ Collection. Its desert sand colourway with hits of vibrant mango present on the classic swoosh on the side of the shoes upper give this model an undeniable appeal, coupled with the now signature Off-White detailing which elevates this product from just being aesthetically pleasing to being fundamentally top tier. I have this model in here above the Black variation which dropped alongside it, very simply because we are talking Summer here, and the combination of tan with mango hits is just fresh. It really is as simple as that with this model, no one going to have a bad word to say if you are repping a pair of these, I can assure you of that.
Air Max 90 QS Mars Landing
Another Air Max 90 which released earlier in 2019 that has found its way onto this list, is actually one that released a month after the Desert Ore and was met with massive speculation. A sort of sequel to 2014s Air Max 90 SP Moon Landing, the pair in question, aptly named the Air Max 90 QS Mars Landing landed (pardon the pun) in March sporting an upper covered in official imagery from the Red Planet collated from the actual Mars Rover. I don’t know about you, but that is enough for me to be sold on the design of this product. Although I acknowledge it might not be for everyone, worn correctly, with a pair of black shorts, this pair can definitely be the centrepiece to any look this Summer, a real head turner and a great conversation starter.
Air Max 90 ‘International Flag’
For my next pick, I want to take us back to a shoe that came out last Summer, the Air Max 90 ‘International Flag’ from 2018, in my opinion, offers an exciting alternative to a triple white. Granting the desired Summer vibe by maintaining a white base colour but enhancing the colourway beyond this with a series of world flags lining the tongue and mudguard of the shoes upper. Further equipping this model for Summer is its use of reworked mesh which features across the majority of the panels of the shoe to increase airflow, perfect for the hotter months.
Air Max 90 ‘Be True’
Released in June 2019 just in time for Summer and in conjunction with Pride Month is the Air Max 90 ‘Be True’ a genuinely vibrant and playful take on the classic silhouette from the 1990s, and comes as part of a broader collection to celebrate the LGBTQ Community. So not only will you be looking good in this fresh pair, but you will be doing a whole world of good also. The main feature of this design aesthetically comes from the Pride flag inspired layered Swoosh which appears in the same colours as the Gilbert Baker original, while corresponding colours hit the panelling and midsole fo this rainbow coloured creation. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely a shoe anyone could get away with in the hot Summer months.
Air Max 90 PRM ‘Mixtape’
Also in June 2019, we get a chance at getting our hands on the Nike Air Max 90 PRM ‘Mixtape’, which conceptually is one of the most innovative AM90s not to garner a collaboration in quite a number of years. The ‘Mixtape’ which comes in an ultra clean white and grey makeup with light yellow accents is draped in nostalgia celebrating a time before CDs, with, in my opinion, its coolest feature coming in the way of the ‘Tracklist’ on the bottom of the pairs sole that reads eight iconic colourways, including ‘OG Infrared’, ‘King Of The Mountain’, ‘Anniversary Cork’, ‘Moon Landing’, ‘Lemon Frost’, ‘Untold Truth’, ‘OG Ostrich’, and ‘BRS Powerwall’ channelling the very essence of the Air Max 90. Not to mention, it looks sick.
Air Max 90 Retro QS ‘Python’ 2019
June continues to be an excellent month for the silhouette, with my next pick, the Air Max 90 Retro QS ‘Python’ 2019 also dropping in the 6th month. When I am ranking Air Max 90 colourways I tend to prefer to favour the more vibrant options for Summer, as they better speak to the memories I share of the model, but this black and white creation is so stylish and sleek I just couldn’t leave it off my list. Combining grey, black and white panels for an anthracite-esq theme which is always popular amongst all Nike silhouettes the ‘Python’ won’t disappoint those of you who like to keep it grey scale with their outfits. The thing is with these kicks, are you can go bold with your garms knowing that your creps are on point, and never out of place.
Air Max 90 ‘Have A Nike Day’
Now, I am all about equal opportunities, being a progressive man and all, so it is only fair I include one option for all the lovely ladies out there. What I’ve settled on is the womens exclusive Air Max 90 ‘Have A Nike Day’, for obvious reasons I think this is a perfect choice, but of course I openly acknowledge the fact I don’t know everything in the world about a woman’s mind. This AM90 definitely stays true to the time honoured silhouette, with a pastel pink colourway hitting the upper of the shoe, I don’t think many of you girls would complain if your other half came through the door with a pair of these for you.
Air Max 90 Essential ‘Hyper Jade’
My next pick is probably more of a personal one than anything else, but that is the benefit of this being my list, I can choose anything I want. The Air Max 90 Essential ‘Hyper Jade’ reminds me of everything I loved about the Air Max 90 from my teen years. An ultra clean white base, with vibrant hits of two of my favourite colours, purple and turquoise to create an aqua-themed colourway to which I resonate with due to its use across several Nike silhouettes from my school years. The shoe is bulky, unapologetic and unmistakably road, and that is why I like it.
Air Max 90/1 University Red
The penultimate style I have chosen for my pretty impressive collection is perhaps the most controversial of the bunch, and I debated not including it, but here we are with the Air Max 90/1 University Red. Paying homage to both the Air Max 90 and the Air Max 1 some would argue it isn’t a pure AM90, but for me, it has enough of its DNA to qualify for this my list. Featuring the iconic University Red and white colour palette, the upper resembles the makeup of the Air Max 1, utilizing a primarily leather construction, while the midsole incorporates the tooling of the Air Max 90 to round out the hybrid look, and you can’t argue this cross over doesn’t look good.
Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 University Red
Last but not least we have a shoe that has only come to my attention recently, and although it hasn’t been given an official release date all sources seem to be suggesting that it will drop sometime this Summer, and when it does, it is going to be an extremely coveted pair indeed. The pair I am talking about is the Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 University Red, a reported expansion of ‘The 10’ Collection which came to prominence in 2018, this new red iteration is sure to turn heads in a lot of ways. Constructed of leather, suede, and mesh, signature Off-White design cues such as the now-ubiquitous red zip tie and industrial labelling, and an Air bubble can be seen down below for maximum comfort levels. This model is set to inject a welcome hit of colour to a majority greyscale range and definitely one that is Summer appropriate.
So there we have it, my list of the top 10 Air Max 90s to consider for Summer 2019, I can more than appreciate the AM90 might not be for everyone these days, but one thing is for sure, if you are like me and want to bath in a bit of nostalgia this Summer, then look no further. If you want to read more about trainers, why not check out our article about Nikes collaboration with designer Tom Sachs here.