The Sneakerhead Struggle: One Woman's Story

When I was in the sixth grade, I grew to 5’4 1/2’’, size 8W shoe. I was ecstatic. I was one of the tallest people in my class. I was going to be tall! I was going to be long and lean like a model and tower over everyone. That dream was short-lived.

Through junior high and high school I watched as most of my friends and classmates continued to flourish in height while I remained the same. I never grew another inch. (If only I was the same clothing size, but I digress..). While I never did figure out who stole my remaining 4-5 inches of height, the silver lining was that my feet are now considered small. I fall into a category called “Grade School” size, essentially kids, and it basically means that my sneakers usually cost less (And look cuter on my feet. Don't hate lol). That sounds great, and for the average person it probably is. However, for a sneakerhead it’s a gift and a curse.

Speaking of the devil... my latest "L" just took place yesterday :)

It’s a gift in that, yes, my sneakers usually are cheaper. However, they are usually not held to the same quality standards and are sometimes made of cheaper materials. On the rare occasion that a “grade school only” release is done, it’s often a true child’s design.

Even worse… a lot of limited releases (especially Jordan brand) don’t even get released in my size. When they do, re-sellers charge a ridiculous amount because they know how rare and in-demand my size will be.

I also have to deal with that antiquated notion that a female’s shoe must be pink/purple or be covered in flowers. I am a grown woman and was a thug in a former life, so that usually doesn’t work out in my favor. When a special women’s release is done in a more gender-neutral design… yes, you guessed it: Men and re-sellers snatch them up and then offer them back at inflated prices.

My one true victory was the Union Los Angeles Jordan 1 release by Nike. I can’t even tell you how many Nike raffles I’ve entered. This is the first one that I’ve actually won. I was elated, as the Jordan 1 is my favorite model. They arrived, everything was kosher. THEN I decided to take a look on Stockx, a re-seller site that also authenticates. Here I am, about to celebrate my acquisition and then I see I can easily make a $400+ profit if I sell them? Now the conflict. Do I keep the shoe that I purchased to wear or participate in the re-seller culture that I’m always complaining about?

So that’s where I am. To DS or unDS. To flip or not to flip, that is the question. My sneakers are still waiting for me to make a decision. About once a week I go online and check to see what price my size is going for. I have a rare pair of my favorite Jordan model that I can wear and appreciate. Flipside: I have a rare pair of my favorite Jordan that I can sell for 3x the price I paid.

“Dark Knight feeling. Die and be a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a villain.” ~Shawn Carter