Fashion

Now Is the Time to Close Your COVID-19 Circle

It’s imperative that young, healthy, mobile people like myself reconsider how many people we’re coming into contact with; otherwise, we run the risk of infecting people who are far worse-positioned to recover from COVID-19 than we are….

There’s simply no way to get around it: COVID-19 cases are rising exponentially around the country, including in cities like New York and Los Angeles that were particularly hard-hit when the disease first entered the U.S. this spring. Chicago is on lockdown as of Monday, hospitals in Missouri are turning people away, and another school shutdown looms in New York. While all of this horror unfolds, the question we all thought we’d definitively answered in March has returned with a vengeance: What do we do?

In an ideal world, the federal government would take greater responsibility in helping the U.S. stem the tide of COVID-19 infections. Unfortunately, though, we still live in Trump’s America, and even liberal politicians like New York Mayor Bill de Blasio seem more concerned with issuing panicked exhortations on Twitter than shutting down indoor dining or taking any other meaningful steps to protect us.

Once again, Americans find ourselves in the all-too-familiar predicament of expecting more from one another than we can from our elected leaders; it’s maddening, certainly, to feel our every individual choice imbued with so much potential harm, but right now, all we can do is try—haphazardly and imperfectly, if necessary–to keep each other safe.

Right now, keeping ourselves and our communities safe looks different than it did even a few weeks ago. To avoid stigmatizing anyone else’s choices, I’ll submit myself as a test case; I’ve been seeing friends, albeit exclusively outdoors and with the benefit of masks and regular COVID-19 testing, since this summer. I’ve eaten in restaurants—always outside, but still—and I’ve gone on dates, even if they always came with readily exchanged negative test results.

Overall, I consider myself a responsible, if occasionally flawed, adaptor to these bizarre times, and a few weeks ago, I would have stood by any of the above choices; after all, we know that masks work, and that outdoors is far safer than indoors in most cases. As the positive rate in my home city of New York climbs toward 3%, though, I’ve once again learned to change my behavior overnight.

Ever since someone in my social orbit tested positive on Monday, the rules I’ve vaguely adhered to for the past five months have solidified and gotten more extensive as my anxiety levels have soared once again. The multi-person backyard hangs I got used to over late summer and early fall are over, at least for now; I’m not sitting down at a bar or restaurant again until New York cases drop significantly, no matter how well-spaced or uncrowded its outdoor-dining setup is; there will be no dates with new people for a while, even if I see a PDF of their negative results beforehand.

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Air Jordan 3 “Paris” Reportedly Trades Elephant Print for Damask

Jordan Brand may be preparing to drop a special Air Jordan 3 dedicated to one of the world’s most recognizable cities. Landing in June 2027, the Air Jordan 3 “Paris” comes with a unique design that ditches the usual elephant print. Instead, the rumored edition is said to feature damask detailing, special Paris-inspired branding, and a limited drop focused on the French capital.

The first word comes from @zSneakerHeadz, but Jordan Brand has not confirmed the sneaker yet. A mockup is currently circulating, so the final look may differ. That said, the described design is an interesting direction for the Air Jordan 3, especially for fans used to seeing elephant print as one of the silhouettes hallmark visual elements.

The shoe is said to feature a white tumbled leather upper with a navy rubber outsole. The most noticeable change is replacing the traditional elephant print with a damask print. The pattern is reportedly on the toe and heel, with another section next to the Jumpman logo on the tongue. The treatment gives the sneaker a different visual character without straying from the Air Jordan 3’s recognizable structure.

More branding is expected to tie the release closely to its namesake city. The mudguard is said to have the wording “Jordan Paris Family 91, 92, 93, 94,” while the heel is said to have “NIKE PRS.” The details give the shoe a more specific identity than a simple colorway, with the reported inscriptions presenting it as a tribute to Paris and its role in the Jordan Brand story.

The sneaker is expected to be released in men’s sizing and will carry the style code JJ3727-100. It retails for $230 and will be available in select Jordan Brand stores in Paris. If the release details are accurate, the limited distribution may make the pair tough for sneaker fans outside the city to get their hands on. But the brand has not confirmed the information that has been reported, and the image shown is a mockup and not an official product reveal.

The Air Jordan 3 “Paris” is also expected to join a growing list of regional releases such as the Air Jordan 3 “Middle East.” These projects give Jordan Brand the chance to attack the same silhouette through various regional themes, not just the usual retro colorways. The damask pattern with city-specific branding would, in this case, make the Paris edition clearly distinct.

This classic Air Jordan 3 shape combined with a strange pattern is bound to appeal to collectors. The expected Paris-only distribution adds another layer of exclusivity, although the final release details have yet to be confirmed. If the June 2027 launch comes to fruition as described, the Air Jordan 3 “Paris” could be one of the more unique regional editions on Jordan Brand’s calendar.

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Nike LeBron 24 “Christmas” – Holiday Collection Gets Grinchy Green Look

Nike Basketball’s holiday collection is starting to take shape, and LeBron James’ latest signature shoe is bringing a particularly loud look to the seasonal crop. First-look images of the Nike LeBron 24 “Christmas” have surfaced, showcasing a black and electric green colorway with metallic silver accents. The rumored Grinch-inspired direction of the upcoming release is shaping up to be one of the more unique additions to Nike’s Christmas footwear collection.

The shoe will be dropped on December 4 for $200. Its most striking feature is the electric green colorway, which gives the design a strong visual identity. Black is used on the upper for contrast, and metallic silver is seen on the Swoosh near the heel. Another contrasting touch comes from a red logo on the tongue, offering a subtle nod to holiday colors within the overall aesthetic. The shoe continues the theme with a green rubber outsole below.

Aside from the looks, the LeBron 24 “Christmas” also features performance elements associated with the broader LeBron 24 line. The outsole has a Zoom Turbo unit that is said to keep the shoe light and quick. That bit gives the holiday edition purpose beyond just its seasonal styling, keeping it tied to the basketball performance direction of the signature series.

The Grinch concept is part of a larger “naughty list” theme that also includes the Sabrina 4 and Book 2. Rather than treating the LeBron 24 as a standalone holiday release, Nike seems to be building a connected seasonal collection around the idea. The electric green colorway fits that direction, making the shoe pop while giving the broader theme a recognizable visual thread.

The first glimpse of the sneaker came via a 360-degree video Nike shared. The audience got a first look at the color blocking and design details as the shoe was presented from various angles. A handful of basketball creators also got a sneak peek at the pair earlier on a trip to Nike headquarters, helping build the early hype around the release.

The style code is IO8205-300 and the shoe is expected to drop in men’s sizing through Nike and select retailers. The December 4 date and $200 price point give us a sense of what to expect, but the information provided doesn’t list every retailer that will sell the sneaker.

The Nike LeBron 24 ‘Christmas’ is holiday-themed and performance-inspired for LeBron’s signature line, featuring a bright green colorway with silver details, red tongue branding, and an outsole with Zoom Turbo cushioning. Its Grinch-inspired theme also fits clearly into Nike Basketball’s broader seasonal plans. If you’re a fan of the brand’s Christmas releases, this pair is already making a strong first impression.

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