Jordan 3 Retro

Rich charcoal tones mix with lighter shades of cream to bring this Jordan 3 Retro an inviting colour scheme that has earned it the nickname Oreo. Cement Grey offers a counterbalance to these other hues as it works its way around the edge of the rubber outsole before making way for a section of Coconut Milk that spreads out from beneath the heel. Black Jordan branding has been embossed into this last piece, and a black cone filled with concentric rings provides grip below the forefoot. Embossed stars cover the toe, which wraps upwards to connect with the Coconut Milk part of the midsole at the front. This switches from rubber to polyurethane just behind the forefoot, the durable material reaching back around the heel in two tones: Coconut Milk and black, the former through the midfoot and the lower part of the heel, the latter layered above it around the back of the foot. Just below this darker section is a clear window that displays the Air cushioning held within for maximum comfort.

Meanwhile, the upper is made from fine Off Noir nubuck, giving it a satisfyingly smooth finish. This luxurious material has been used on both the mudguard and the main overlay, with small patches of traditional leather visible around the collar and the top part of the eyestay. These are both marked with small perforations for breathability, and the latter panel has Coconut Milk pieces of TPU arcing out of it to form semi-circular eyelets for the dark grey laces to be threaded through. Lower down the eyestay, the nubuck overlay cuts back in towards the tongue, and black ringlets have been placed there to accommodate the laces at the bottom. At the other end, a pair of eyelets has been set into each side of the collar, and the tongue itself has black leather across its front. A black Jumpman is embroidered there, its dark colouration blending in with the similar tone behind it, while the bottom half of the tongue holds more tiny aeration holes.

The shoe’s interior continues this dusky theme, softly padded material in a charcoal tone blanketing its inner walls and insole, as well as the back of the tongue. Only the Coconut Milk Jumpman printed onto the insole lends a splash of colour here. Returning to the outer, a large curved heel panel in a pleasant shade of grey covers the back of the foot, thick ridges emerging from its upper section to act as a convenient handhold for the wearer. Below this, a Jumpman logo and the word “Air” rise from the surface of the heel panel, and further down is a contrasting elephant-print overlay. This exotic pattern is formed of light grey patches alongside darker grey cracked lines, with the design reappearing on another panel that encircles the toe to complete this classy Air Jordan 3 sneaker.