Don't call it a comeback. Seriously, don't. A comeback implies that what's in question had arrived in the first place. Hybrid footwear (a combination of aspects from multiple styles) has, since it's inception, inhabited a bastardized zone aimed at guys who are not allowed to wear sneakers to work, but are also too lazy to care about buying proper shoes. The results, as you can imagine, have been horrifying. There's no need to name names. You've seen these monstrosities roaming the streets since the 90's. It wouldn't be a wholly untrue statement to say that there has never been a stylish pair of hybrids. Ever. That may be the sweeping statements of all sweeping statements, but we challenge you to prove otherwise. And the worst part is, the idea behind hybrid footwear is actually admirable. Delivering a shoe with the comfort and support of a sneaker, with looks that can take it anywhere short of black tie makes total sense. It casts a wide net and satisfies a range of different customer types in the process. Why nobody has ever come along and designed a great looking hybrid show is beyond us. It's truly a mystery - menswear's Bermuda Triangle if you will. Enter Cole Haan, whose LunarGrand line of footwear hopes to rewrite the hybrid history books.
The LunarGrand is the child of a perfect marriage. The blissful couple? Cole Haan and its parent company, Nike. While solely a Cole Haan product, the LunarGrand features Nike's incredibly popular Lunarlon sole. Coming in both a wingtip and chukka model, the LunarGrand is good looking shoe on the surface. While the hybrids of the past tried too hard to combine both elements of sneakers and shoes, the LunarGrand wisely keeps things simple - a proper leather upper with a sneaker sole. A pure distillation of what hybrid footwear should be, if you will. It's two distinctly separate components from two distinctly separate styles, coming together to create something new. Once you're past the aesthetic merits, the LunarGrand is crazy comfortable at its core. Nike's ingenuity really shines through in terms of weight and just how solid the LunarGrand is as an everyday shoe. Simply put, it's an expertly designed show that accomplishes everything all other hybrids wish they could.
It was recently announced that Nike planned on shedding Cole Haan in an effort to focus on their other brands, so there's no telling if Cole Haan will be able to continue working with Nike technology. Don't press your luck. The wingtip model is available online now and the chukka can be purchased at Cole Haan's NYC SoHo shop located at 128 Prince St. with an upcoming wider released expected.
[gallery]
