Month: December 2018

Given LeBron James’ massive influence on the basketball shoe industry — his lifetime endorsement deal with Nike is reportedly worth $1 billion — it comes as no surprise that his on-court shoe style is memorable.

In honor of the NBA star’s 34th birthday today, FN is taking a look back at some of his most noteworthy shoe looks over the past few years.

This year marked a big move for James. After playing on his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for several seasons, he went to the Los Angeles Lakers.

For his first home game at the Staples Center, James hit the court in a pair of his signature LeBron 16s. The athlete selected the kicks in a simple black and white colorway.

During the 2016 NBA Finals — when James picked up his third ring by snapping a decades-long championship drought for the city of Cleveland — the NBA star sported white LeBron Soldier 10 sneakers.

But James’ most memorable shoe look of all came in an ordinary Cavs game in December 2017. The 14-time All-Star stepped out in mismatched LeBron 15 sneakers emblazoned with the word “Equality” — sending social media into a frenzy.

After the game, the basketball player expressed his disapproval of President Donald Trump.

“Well, being, obviously we all know where we are, and we know who is at the helm here, and we’re not going to let one person dictate to us, us as Americans, how beautiful and powerful we are as a people. Equality is all about understanding our rights, understanding how powerful we are as men and women, black or white or Hispanic,” he explained.

The sneakers are now on display at the Smithsonian.

While James is out now with a groin injury, the star is expected to return in fighting form soon and is listed by the Lakers as day-to-day.

Click through the gallery for more of LeBron James’ sneaker style on the court.

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Sears has been saved at the eleventh hour.

The bankrupt retailer narrowly evaded liquidation after a hedge fund led by Sears chairman Eddie Lampert submitted a last-minute bid valued at $4.4 billion ahead of the 4 p.m. ET buyout deadline on Friday.

An affiliate of Lampert’s ESL Investments Inc., Transform Holdco LLC said in a statement that it intended to maintain operations at 425 stores as well as keep 50,000 (of the company’s 68,000) jobs and reinstate the severance program for eligible employees. The proposal also included $1.3 billion in financing from three institutions.

The bid still requires approval from the board, with a court date scheduled in mid-January. Sears’ advisers have until Jan. 4 to determine whether the hedge fund is a “qualified bidder,” and then ESL would be able to participate in an auction against liquidation bids on Jan. 14.

Once a dominant force in retail, Sears Holdings Corp. filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 15. Over the last several years, ESL has loaned the company more than $2.4 billion in financing, with Lampert remaining Sears’ largest investor. The hedge fund is also the only party that has publicly offered to buy Sears Holdings Corp. as a whole, which would prevent it from being broken up into pieces by liquidators.

Also on Friday, the beleaguered department store chain announced that it would shutter another 80 of its Sears and Kmart locations across the country in late March. Liquidation sales at the stores are expected to begin in two weeks.

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President Donald Trump is hailing even greater momentum in trade talks with China.

The president took to Twitter yesterday to tout “big progress” on a possible trade deal between the world’s two largest economies following a conversation with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

“Just had a long and very good call with President Xi of China,” he wrote. “Deal is moving along very well. If made, it will be very comprehensive, covering all subjects, areas and points of dispute. Big progress being made!”

The discussion comes less than a month after the leaders agreed to a 90-day financial ceasefire — temporarily shutting down the White House’s threat to raise levies from 10 percent to 25 percent on an additional $200 billion of goods come January. (The U.S. has already slapped tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports.)

“The relationship is very special — the relationship that I have with President Xi,” Trump remarked before his meeting with the Chinese leader during the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this month. “I think that is going to be a very primary reason why we’ll probably end up with getting something that will be good for China and good for the United States.”

China’s Xinhua news agency also reported that Xi and Trump spoke on Saturday to discuss Sino-U.S. relations, with the former “expressing hopes that both teams can meet each other halfway and reach an agreement beneficial to both countries and the world as early as possible.”

The trade war truce brought about optimism in the stock market, which surged into the green after Trump hailed negotiations between the countries in a tweet published mid-December.

“Very productive conversations going on with China!” Trump declared.

Despite the suspension in hostilities with China, investors continue to express concerns over the ongoing government shutdown as well as media reports that Trump is considering the removal of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. (Against the president’s repeated warnings, the U.S. central bank this month raised interest rates to a range of 2.25 to 2.5 percent.)

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Kendall Jenner just outdid herself.

The queen of naked dresses set out to prove that no temperature is cold enough to don the littlest amount of clothing as possible, braving Aspen, Colo.’s 20-degree weather in an itsy-bitsy bikini paired with snow boots.

Other than the string swimsuit, Jenner’s outfit consisted of a more-appropriate trapper hat, polarized sunglasses and a mug of what we could only hope was something hot.

The post, which was shared on Saturday, comes as the Kardashian-Jenner family enjoys a vacation in Colorado’s famed ski resort town.

Even momager Kris Jenner expressed disbelief at her 23-year-old daughter’s ensemble, taking to Instagram to comment on the post. “Get inside and put some slippers on!” she demanded.

Sister Khloe Kardashian, on the other hand, praised the look. “I have an addiction to Kendall Jenner!” She said.

And because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Kourtney Kardashian shared a similar portrait of her own.

In an Instagram post today, the 39-year-old TV personality said she “copied Kendall” — also wearing a bikini and snow boots, made a tad warmer with an iridescent puffer jacket.

Click through the gallery to see Kendall Jenner’s top street-style moments of the year.

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Taylor Swift is back in the spotlight.

The songstress was photographed today in a rare public outing with boyfriend Joe Alwyn, as the couple made their way to a lunch date in New York City’s West Village neighborhood.

First spotted in Tribeca (where Swift resides), the star opted for a monochromatic palette, wearing a burnt orange wool coat, plum-hued pants and a matching plaid scarf.

For footwear, she chose a pair of black lace-up combat boots in black that teamed effortlessly with her leather crossbody bag and newsboy cap.

Alwyn went for a similar one-color look — his black-collared blue jacket and jeans contrasting with a pair of gray and white sneakers. The 27-year-old pulled on a beanie to keep warm in the 30-degree NYC weather.

Just two weeks ago, Swift celebrated her 29th birthday, taking to Instagram to share news of a new concert film to debut on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.

“You made this tour so insanely fun for all of us on stage, and I’m really excited that we will have this memento of the memories we all made together this year,” she wrote in the post.

The “Reputation Stadium Tour” will premiere at 12:01 a.m. PT on Dec. 31.

Click through the gallery to see Taylor Swift’s top shoe moments.

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If the NFL were a game of style, DeAndre Hopkins would have singlehandedly won Week 17.

The Houston Texans All-Pro wide receiver is already recognized for his fashion statements off the field — and ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hopkins once again allowed his outfit to do the talking.

The football star shared on Instagram an image of himself arriving at the NRG Stadium in Houston, wearing a long-sleeve jaguar-printed top — get it? — teamed with loose-fitting black pants and a pair of red Birkenstock sandals over black socks. (Another sartorially daring match.)

“I’m trying to pave the way,” Hopkins captioned the post.

This year, the NFL player was selected as one of the most stylish athletes in Sports Illustrated‘s Fashionable 50 list and even rubbed elbows with Off-White’s Virgil Abloh during Paris Fashion Week.

But it’s not just Hopkins’ haute look that’s paving the way. The 26-year-old also recorded a career-high 12 receptions today to tie Andre Johnson for a team record with the most receptions (115 in 2008) in a single season.

The Texans beat the Jaguars 20-3, clinching the AFC South title and winning the division for the fifth time in franchise history.

We can only imagine the sartorial moments yet to come from the playoff-bound Hopkins.

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From salt stains to dark scuffs and dried-out leather, your winter boots are likely to take a beating this season. Thankfully, there are some quick remedies to ensure your favorite pairs won’t be ruined. Below, we’ve rounded up six surefire fixes to keep them looking pristine for months.

Remove Salt Stains With White Vinegar and Water

Salt stains, those pesky white rings that occur on shoes after contact with salty sidewalks, are an inevitable side effect of winter. To remove them from leather boots, simply mix one parts water with two parts vinegar and rub it into the shoe’s exterior until the stain disappears. Pat boots with a soft cloth and let them air dry, keeping them away from heat sources that can make leather brittle. For suede boots, start by removing loose dirt with a brush and then lightly dabbing on the solution until the exterior is clean.

To buy: Shack Suede Brush Cleaner, $7; Amazon.com.

Restore Dry Leather With Leather Conditioner

Vinegar tends to dry out leather, so once you’ve removed any stains, you’ll want to follow up with a leather conditioner. This will help revive cracked leather and restore some its original sheen.

To buy: Leather Honey Leather Conditioner, $19; Amazon.com. 

Be Cautious With Suede

For all non salt-related stains, skip the wet solution and simply use an eraser (unlike leather, it’s best to keep suede dry as often as possible so it doesn’t lose its texture). If the nap of the suede is flattened, rub a clean toothbrush or terry cloth vigorously over the exterior.

Banish Odor With Essential Oils

Thanks to everyday mileage, it’s no secret your feet can get sweaty inside boots and cause them to smell. To neutralize odors, pour a teaspoon of baking soda into boots and let it sit overnight. Once this is done, pour out the baking soda and follow up with a few drops of essential oils for an especially fresh scent.

To buy: Plant Therapy Organic Lavendar Oil, $17; Amazon.com.

Erase Scuffs With Baking Soda

You’ll want to have a light touch when trying to erase ugly black marks from leather shoes. Simply dip a soft cloth in water, then baking soda, and gently rub the cloth on the shoes. If you’re dealing with rubber boots, use a stronger treatment of kitchen scouring powder to get them spotless. Once the shoes are clean, wipe them off with a damp cloth and buff dry.

To buy: Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, $4; Amazon.com.

Prevent Future Damage With a Water-Repellent Spray

Next time, save yourself the hassle of combating weather-related stains by prepping your boots with a water-repellent coating. This should be applied directly after cleaning. For salt stains in particular, remember to act fast as soon as you’re indoors. Before your shoes dry off, lightly dampen them with a wet sponge and fill them with newspaper to help them retain their shape.

To buy: Kiwi’s Protect All Rain And Stain Repellent, $9; Amazon.com.

All products featured have been independently selected and curated by our editorial team. If you buy something through the links included on our site, FN may earn a commission.

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