Business

Sneaker Supremacy

A tribute to Earth's favorite shoe

"Sex and the City" exposed us to the uptown crowd, which didn't bat a false eyelash while spending $800 on a pair of Christian Louboutin sandals. But who would pay a grand or more for a pair of vintage high-tops? Meet the sneakerheads. Decidedly more downtown, they're a shoe-obsessed set that collects limited editions of Adidas, Nike and other brands. Some even go so far as to post digital snapshots of their daily footwear choices on message boards and save their best "deadstock" (unworn supply) for their wedding day. How did we get here? Keep clicking for a historical breakdown, in photos, of the evolution of the sneakerhead and America's sneaker culture.