Sounders 50th anniversary shoes and shorts
It turns out I was a window shopper before I started Window Shopping. Since this is a new blog--and I've always heard blogs need content--I've been thinking about some of the things I needed to buy but didn't.
I lived in Seattle for seven years, and during that time, the Seattle Sounders won over my soccer-loving heart. Before Seattle, I was a "purist," convinced that European soccer was the be-all, end-all. And sure, the top leagues are still way better than the MLS, but the games have come a long way. It helps that the Sounders won two MLS Cups(!!) while I lived there and that the stadium experience was electric. It was on par with the two most raucous games I've attended: one at the Vicente Calderón (Atlético Madrid's old stadium) and the Volkswagen Arena (Wolfsburg's stadium), where I accidentally ended up in the supporters section (before Google Translate was reliable), found myself without a seat (they remove them to pack more fans in), and secondhand-smoked a pack of cigarettes. Sadly, according to Sounder at Heart, the go-to source for all things Sounders (and a must-subscribe situation whether you live in Seattle or not), the current game-day experience is not what it used to be. But their design team? Absolutely crushing it.
For their 50th anniversary, the Sounders went back to their NASL (North American Soccer League) roots, reviving design elements from their early days. One of the first pieces they teased to highlight the rebrand? A must-cop pair of Adidas Gazelles.
At first glance, they're a bit underwhelming--white leather, gum soles, and, hey, some Sounder green. Nothing groundbreaking. Just another inoffensive, low-risk sneaker drop (read: Nike Killshots). But then... wait a minute. Did you know orcas play soccer? Me neither. But that logo on the tongue? Incredible. How I didn't buy a pair immediately is beyond me.
Apparently, back in the day, the orca was the Sounders logo. And in this modern era of cookie-cutter branding (not just limited to sports, sadly), we need more soccer playing orcas. On second thought, if these were still available in my size, I'd probably cave. They look especially fresh with green laces. Thankfully, the shopping gods have spared me with a limited edition drop.
Pair your sick Sounders Gazelles with the Window Shopping special: raw denim and a fresh tee. Since you're likely wearing these in Seattle, you'll need a jacket with a hood because it's probably raining. But never, never, an umbrella. And here's the thing: only a handful of people will notice your shoes. Even fewer will catch the sick orca on the tongue. But that's the beauty of it. You know you're wearing the best damn pair of shoes in the stadium.
And guess what? You're in luck--Window Shopping is running its first-ever buy-one-get-one-free sale! Not only did the Sounders drop these sneakers, but their new 50th anniversary kits are out now too. The jerseys are solid. The shorts are next level.
Baby blue, apparently an homage to Sounders' colors of the past, with a perfectly placed crest on the right leg and two stars above it (for those not in the know, each star represents a championship--one of my favorite jersey details). The Adidas piping on the sides is classic, and they even added a similar touch to the number on the left leg. I think all MLS jerseys have this, but it still feels intentional. Props to Adidas. Wear these to your Sunday morning rec league game (GSSL, anyone?) with white socks, black socks--honestly, whatever you want. In fact, the final score won't even matter to you because your shorts have already won the day.
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