Brand: Oakley
Season: Fall/Winter 2021
Buy: Online at Oakley's website
Editor's Notes: Oakley continues to move beyond the domain of tacti-cool, polarized sunglasses with the Coyote boot, its latest foray into footwear.
A sneaker-boot hybrid, the silhouette features a suede upper with paneling made of Cordura, a lightweight textile. The shoe is rendered in three entirely tonal colorways — black, sand, and cognac-like "Coyote" — as well as additional color combos that incorporate pops of neon.
As far as function goes, the boot holds up to wear and tear with a grippy rubber outsole and built-in flaps that keep out dirt and water.
Known for its motorcycle goggles, Oakley re-entered the cultural zeitgeist a few years back, when luxury labels including Louis Vuitton and Maison Margiela released their own takes on the wraparound shades.
Then, the Kardashians — Kim and Kourtney, specifically — were spotted wearing Oakley-adjacent styles. With that, the brand reached a new consumer, one that isn't necessarily a cyclist or a motocross racer.
Reflective, wraparound lenses have continued to endure, thanks in part to fashion's revival of Y2K style (anyone remember Dennis Rodman's many Oakley moments? Or these?).
With the Coyote, Oakley taps into the sneaker market, a sector the brand hasn't held particular weight in before.
The sneaker-boot isn't necessarily cutting-edge, but it's clean, wearable, and has a bit of edge. In fact, it has a distinctly different feel than Oakley's past sneakers, such as the Vans-like Step Camo E or the similarly skater-ish Canvas Flyer.
