Getting the Idea
Okay, so the other day, I was just kinda scrolling, you know, looking at sneakers online, typical stuff. Then I landed on some high-fashion pages, saw some Valentino stuff with those signature studs and that bold red. And bam! This weird idea hit me. What if you mixed the vibe of Air Jordans, like proper classic ones, with that Valentino look? Seemed kinda out there, but I couldn’t shake it.
Prep and Planning (Sort Of)
First thing, I needed some Jordans to mess with. Didn’t want to ruin a super expensive pair, so I grabbed an old pair of beat-up white Air Jordan 1 Mids I had lying around. They needed a good clean anyway. Then, the hard part: getting the ‘Valentino’ bits. Obviously, I wasn’t getting real Valentino materials, haha. I just looked for stuff that felt similar.
- Found some pyramid studs online, the kind you use for jackets.
- Got some specific deep red acrylic paint, like that Valentino red.
- Grabbed some fine brushes and strong glue.
Honestly, finding the right size and color studs took ages. Went through a couple of bad batches from different sellers before finding ones that looked decent.
Getting Hands Dirty
Alright, the actual work. First up, cleaning those Mids. Took forever to get the grime off. Used sneaker cleaner, an old toothbrush, the works. Let them dry completely. Then, taping. Masking tape is your best friend here. I taped off the parts I didn’t want painted red, mainly thinking about adding red accents on the heel and maybe the Swoosh.
Painting was next. This needed patience. Thin coats, let it dry, another coat. Tried not to rush it ’cause acrylic paint can get streaky real fast on leather if you just slap it on. The red looked pretty good once it dried, quite vibrant.
Now, the studs. This was the fiddly bit. I wanted to put some on the heel tab, maybe along the lace collar? Decided on the heel tab first. Trying to poke holes neatly through the leather without messing it up was stressful. Used an awl carefully. Then pushing the stud prongs through and bending them flat on the inside… yeah, my fingers hurt after the first few. Getting them lined up straight was another battle. Let’s just say ‘perfectly aligned’ wasn’t quite achieved.
Oops Moments
Definitely wasn’t all smooth sailing. At one point, my hand slipped while painting the Swoosh, got a blob of red where it shouldn’t be. Had to quickly wipe it off with rubbing alcohol, which kinda dulled the original white finish there a bit. Oh well. And some of the first studs I tried to attach? The prongs just snapped off. Cheap stuff, told you. Had to reorder.
The Final Look
So, after all that cleaning, painting, poking, and gluing… I had this pair of customized Jordans. They looked… unique, let’s say. The red pops against the white. The studs on the heel definitely give it a different edge. They’re not perfect, you can see the little flaws if you look close. The paint isn’t factory smooth, and the studs aren’t laser-straight.
But honestly? I kinda dig them. They’re one-of-a-kind, made by me. Wore them out once, felt pretty cool. They’re definitely conversation starters, though maybe not everyone gets the Jordan-Valentino mashup idea, haha.
Was It Worth It?
Yeah, I think so. It was just a fun little project, kept me busy for a weekend. Learned that sneaker customizing takes way more patience and skill than it looks online. Respect to the folks who do it professionally. Mine are rough, but they’re mine. And hey, now I have these weird ‘Jordantinos’ or whatever you wanna call ’em.
