There are fewer sneakers more widely respected than the Air Jordan 1. Since its debut on the court in 1985, the sneaker has become a staple for streetwear kids and celebrities around the world. More importantly, the Air Jordan line is so intertwined in the fashion world that even Dior recognised its success. However, with so many clothes to wear with Jordans, it can be hard picking the best outfit to show your sneakers off.
Let’s face it, it can be tough knowing how to style Jordan 1s sometimes. Here at KLEKT, we thought we’d give you a helping hand. We’ll be showing you how to wear Jordan 1s the right way. We’ll be showcasing a selection of outfits with four classic Air Jordan 1 colourways; Bred 1s, Chicago 1s, Royal 1s, and Shadow 1s.
Without further delay, let’s get started on how to style Air Jordan 1s.
How to Style the Air Jordan 1 “Bred”
There’s no better way to start than with the originals, right? The Bred Jordan 1 is one of the most iconic Jordan 1 sneakers of all time. Often referred to as the “Banned 1s”, the shoe got its nickname after Michael Jordan was fined by the NBA every time he wore them on the court. This only added to the sneakers allure.
Men’s Air Jordan 1 Bred Outfit
When you’re wearing Bred 1s, there are a number of styles that you can look at. Of course, you want the sneakers to be the centre focus of your outfit. A Bred 1 outfit usually has a few simple pieces that you should remember. Old Kanye shows just what we mean about keeping things simple. As a frequent wearer of Jordan 1s before his split from Nike, Yeezy shows just how to style your Bred 1s nicely.
Kanye’s outfit showcases just what we mean. Using a simple straight leg pair of jeans, you can see that Yeezus’ denim does not bunch around the top of the Jordan 1 Bred collar. You don’t want the excess fabric to bunch as this will make your ankles look strange. Jeans with Jordans is a classic combo and it’s easy to see why. Up top, a statement jacket and a plain black T-shirt makes for a sleek look with minimal effort.
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Women’s Air Jordan 1 Bred Outfit
When it comes to female sneakerheads, fewer come close to Aleali May. The Jordan collaborator has created some of the most hyped Air Jordan 1 mids in history. She also has a big influence when it comes to female streetwear. The Los Angeles native shows us just why when we take a closer look at the outfit below.
Dresses with Jordans? Not for Aleali. You can see that the stylist and fashion blogger keeps things very simple when it comes to her Bred 1 outfit. This colour coordinated Flightsuit gives a relaxed vibe to this sleek ensemble. The jacket is worn slightly off the shoulder to add to this casual style. Less really is more when it comes to styling the Air Jordan 1 Bred.
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How to Style the Air Jordan 1 “Chicago”
Chicago Jordan 1s are without a doubt one of the greatest sneakers of all time. The colourway is a tribute to Michael Jordan’s time at the Chicago Bulls. A combination of white, red and black leather, the sneaker is versatile as well as stylish. So much so that even Virgil Abloh reimagined the Chicago 1s in the 2017 Off-White™ collaboration with Nike dubbed “The Ten”. Here, we’ll show you just how to style Chicago 1s effortlessly.
Men’s Air Jordan 1 Chicago Outfit
Knowing how to rock Chicago Jordan 1s is a key skill any sneakerhead should have. When it comes to Jordan 1 outfits, it’s important to make sure that you keep things clean. Layering your outfit can create new textures and elements to your whole look. One good example of this comes from Travis Scott.
The close friend of Jordan Brand shows us just why layering your outfit is important. A bold jacket draws the eye in, whilst neutral colours allow the piece to set the stage. Blacks, greys and light blues all add to this looks grunge chic. The custom light blue jeans also help to add balance, whilst not detracting from the Air Jordan 1 on his feet. Notice again that the denim is cut well, sitting just on the top of the shoe and not bunched at the ankle. If you want to know how to wear jeans with Jordans, look no further.
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Women’s Air Jordan 1 Chicago Outfit
Keeping things simple is important if you want to subtly show off your Chicago 1s. There are a few ways that you can do this, but the easiest way to do this is to wear pieces that have a relaxed fit. You can add statement pieces in like graphic T-shirts to create that perfect street style look. When it comes to nailing this casual fit, the outfit below showcases just what we mean.
You can see that the neutrality of the upper lets the shoes really shine. A set of black cargos and an oversized graphic tee do just enough to create a slick look. However, the shoes are allowed to take centre stage because of the simple palette used above. More importantly, the simplicity of the outfit makes for an effortless look.
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How to Style the Air Jordan 1 “Royal”
Whilst this may be one of the only Air Jordan 1s that Michael Jordan never wore on court, there is no denying the importance of the Royal 1s. Of course, the GOAT being a Bull and these being black and blue, he was never going to rock them on the hardwood. Take a closer look at some of the Royal 1 outfits below.
Men’s Air Jordan 1 Royal Outfit
Of course, that hasn’t stopped a number of people from rocking them with serious style. As we’ve already discussed, when it comes to Jordan 1 outfits, less is more. We’ve already mentioned that relaxed fits are an easy way to show off your Jordans. However, when it comes pants that go with Jordans, it’s important to make sure they fit nicely.
If you take a look at the outfit below, you can see that the key to a sleek Royal Jordan 1 look is definitely making sure you have complimentary colours. This oversized T-shirt and a simple pair of black jeans are perfect. Although the graphic adds an added depth to the overall look, it doesn’t take away from the Royal 1s.
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Women’s Air Jordan 1 Royal Outfit
When the Air Jordan 1 dropped, 80s fashion was in full force. That vintage style is yet to go out of fashion, thanks to many influencers recreating these vintage looks. As we’ve already mentioned, cosy fits and oversized styling when done well makes for a simple look. You can see what we mean when checking out the outfit below.
This old school Nike sweater makes for a great piece to start your outfit with. The turned-up jeans help to create a nice divide too which allows the Royal 1s to take pride of place. You’ll notice that the white socks and accessories also help to create more depth on this outfit too. Keeping things simple really does a lot for your outfits and this is a perfect example of what we mean.
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How to Wear the Air Jordan 1 “Shadow”
Easily one of the simplest colourways of any Air Jordan 1 is the “Shadow”. Shadow 1s were one of the first colourways to release back in 1985, giving a simple monochromatic option for those not interested in the brighter colourway options. However, the Air Jordan 1 Shadow has become a favourite for many due to the easy option it provides for outfits. Take a closer look at some Shadow 1 outfits below.
Men’s Air Jordan 1 Shadow Outfit
With the primary colours of the Jordan 1 Shadow being black and grey, there is a lot more flexibility in what you can wear with them. It’s important to note that layering your Jordan outfits can add a lot of depth to them. In short, your outfit won’t look too heavily focused on just the shoes and you should wear pieces that compliment the entire look. Jordan 1 lookbooks often take this approach and you can see what we mean in the outfit below.
This simple outfit really works well and is a combination of everything we covered above. The plaid overshirt and plain black tee up the top tie in nicely with the Shadow 1s. By wearing a pair of slightly distressed light blue jeans, the top and the bottom are separated by colour palette. This means that the shoes can really be noticed without having to do an awful lot. Simplicity is key and on this Jordans with jeans outfit, you can see why it works so well.
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Women’s Air Jordan 1 Shadow Outfit
The beauty of the Shadow Jordan 1, as we’ve already discussed, is its simplicity. Using a black, grey and white combo, it creates a perfect balance for your feet so that the rest of your outfit can do the talking. Of course, that’s not to say that your Shadow 1s are going to be missed out. The outfit below showcases how the Jordan 1 Shadow can look when pieces layered and paired properly.
Using the black The North Face Nuptse Jacket as the key piece, the slightly purple track pants, complete with striped detailing, work nicely. Going for the oversized look, the jacket compliments the turquoise tee nicely without being too overshadowing. The Jordans also help to create a neutral element, working well with the Nuptse Jacket well without being too overshadowing.
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Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this piece on How to Style Air Jordan 1s. If you need a helping hand then be sure to check out the KLEKT Blog for more style guide pieces!
