When designing the Air Jordan 2, Bruce Kilgore went straight to the source. The shoe was heavily inspired by Italian designs—something you'll surely notice in this latest retro drop.
The pre-holiday release Jordan 2 Retro "Italy" looks like it hails straight from the shores of the Mediterranean. With a color palette of white, Fire Red, Fir and Sail, you definitely get a sense of the lux that's known from Italian designer brands.
Premium white Italian leather covers the sneaker's upper, continuing the posh vibe this shoe had during its original 1986 release. The side wing overlays are also textured white leather with an ombre red and black outline.
The collar and tongue are outlined in red, a tribute to the red of the Italian flag. To finish off the patriotism, you'll also see a dark green—so dark it almost looks black—heel overlay. Above this is a red patch with a dark green embroidered "Nike."
The tongue includes the original Jordan Wings logo in red with black detailing. The insole of the shoe is also black with red logos. The upper rests on a chunky off-white midsole mated to a grey and red rubber outsole.
All in all, this retro basketball shoe has just enough off-white tones that it looks like an original '80s collectible. With that in mind, reach back into the wayyyyy back of your closet for some throwback style. This casual sneaker would pair best with acid-wash denim and an oversized tee—maybe even a vintage Black Cat shirt.
Be sure to cop the AJ 2 Retro "Origins"/"Italy" colorway on November 15 in men's, grade school kids', preschool and toddler kids' sizes in-store only, exclusively at City Gear. And follow our sneaker launch calendar so you know exactly when your favorite shoes are dropping!