On any other day of the year, a grown man would be expected to behave as a grown man, and wear shoes befitting a grown man. But because it’s Star Wars season, exceptions can be made. If you find yourself drawn to your local Sperry boutique by these Star Wars-themed collaboration sneakers and unable to withstand their appeal to your inner child, you will be forgiven. It is useless to resist.
They’re not especially beautiful sneakers. In fact, the two slip-ons with printed movie stills might even come off as garish if worn without a prerequisite sense of irony. But by virtue of their label, the originator of the boat shoe and a classic American staple brand, they would be of reliable quality. And the lace-up plimsolls, which don’t actually scream Star Wars, are subtle enough for casual wear, too.
But of course, you’d be a fool to buy and wear these shoes for style or because they bear Sperry’s nautical heritage. No, the only real reason that you—a human male over the age of 12—would allow these into your meticulously curated footwear rotation is because it will be just fucking awesome to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi while wearing Han fucking Solo (R.I.P.) on your left foot.
People will call you childish, people will gawk at your tacky sense of style, people will question your capabilities to function as an adult. Those who know you better will ask why you aren’t wearing your brogues or your Chelsea boots or your expensive white sneakers—the kind of shoes that are expected of a grown man, and the kind of shoes you’d wear on every other day of the year.
But because it’s Star Wars season, you will not mind. You will look down at your feet and see Ralph McQuarrie's concept art, remembering fondly the first time you watched Empire Strikes Back in the sala of your family’s old home. You will remember forcing your little brother to make bleeping noises so you could pretend he was R2-D2 and you were Luke. You will think hard about how much you love Star Wars, and that you love Star Wars enough to wear these shoes. Then, you will tell yourself that a grown man wears what he damn well pleases. Then, only then, a grown man will you be.
Sperry’s Star Wars collection features five styles and is available for purchase at Sperry stores in Trinoma, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta 3, Bonifacio High Street, and via sperry.com.ph. All shown here retail for P3,795.
