The Sneaker Freaker Squad Go Shopping for Valentine's Day 2024
It will come to no surprise that sneakers are our insatiable love language here at SF HQ. Whether it’s a gift for your main squeeze or the roommate you love to hate, no one’s ever been disappointed with a fresh pair of sneakers for Valentine’s Day. So, we turned the lights down low and brainstormed a few ideas to get you in the mood for love.
Georgie, Senior Editor
Valentine: Matt
Sneaker: Oakley Chop Saw Mule
My boyfriend is the best at finding presents, often trawling every resale platform imaginable to find me cool stuff that I had no idea I even wanted and nailing it every time. Unfortunately for me, this means I’ve also had to up my game like crazy. With a habit of copping everything he wants, I’ve had to get creative this year, and I think the Mules are out of the box enough to be a surprise while still being an option I know he’ll wear loads.
Sebastian, Content Producer
Valentine: Cayleigh
Sneaker: Kiko Kostadinov x Heaven x ASICS GEL-LOKRO
What do you get the girl that already has everything? Something that she doesn’t already have. If you catch my girlfriend in the streets, she’ll most likely be sporting her Heaven by Marc Jacobs bag, and on-foot, maybe a funky colab from the likes of or So, for Valentine’s Day 2024, I’ll be saving my pennies to eventually get my ultra-swaggy bae the Kiko Kostadinov x Heaven x ASICS GEL-LOKRO when they drop.
Jess, Copy Editor
Valentine: Joe
Sneaker: Air Jordan Spizike Low ‘Year of the Dragon’
Joe is a fan of both simplicity and so I immediately thought of him when I saw these. I got him a pair of Air Jordan Stadium 90s in green for his birthday, and he's rinsed them ever since, so I'm certain this clean and similarly cut Jordan will bode well. He also knows how to perfectly style his outfits with complementary colours, and I know the burgundy, green and gold accents will fit right in with his wardrobe palette.
Anthony, Paid Social Media Strategist
Valentine: Myself
Sneaker: KENZO x ASICS GEL-Kayano 20 'Digital Aqua / Black'
This Valentine's Day, I'm saying I love you in the mirror and practising a bit of self care. I've been flirting with the idea of coppin' these bombastic pairs for a hot minute, and now I think it's time to tie the knot.
Pauline, News Editor
Valentine: JC
Sneaker: adidas AE 1 'New Wave'
My boyfriend loves basketball – we’re Filipino, and the sport is practically in our blood. Every so often, the soles of his basketball shoes wear out and naturally, he’s in need of new ones. It was really between the AE 1 New Wave or the 'Old School', but it narrowed down to the AE 1. JC knows everything there is to know about the construction of a basketball shoe and what makes a good pair, so I hope these make him happy.
Gabe, Features Editor
Valentine: Leanne
Sneaker: adidas Gazelle
When I first met my main squeeze, she was wearing a pair of beat-up Second date? Dolce and Gabbana. My bank account – and bottom lip – was quaking. A few weeks into dating, I bought her a pair of similarly chunky a not-so-subtle attempt at ushering in a more sports-centric, economical wardrobe more suitable for a bright-eyed kid working in the media biz. It worked. These days, you’ll catch us wearing a lot of 99X series, adi terracewear classics and Air Jordans. This Valentine’s Day, we’re slimming down with a pair of red adi and denim jeans ala Kate Moss circa early 90s – her words, not mine!
Cesca, Branded Content Manager
Valentine: Lewis
Sneaker: Vans Authentics Black/White
Many moons ago, my beloved and I met working at a local sneaker store. After a few years of sharing the shop floor, our jovial-yet-professional relationship progressed to flirtatious eyes shared over discussions of release dates and fingers accidentally brushed when both grabbing for the same shoebox. Fast forward 6 years, and his interest has waned (not in me, of course) in keeping up with the onslaught of daily, weekly, monthly releases. Instead, he’s chosen an on-foot uniform: in Black/White. And so, his rotation is a simple one, consisting of a clean pair, a beater and a boxfresh pair for when the beater cycle inevitably progresses. Sure, I miss the early days of our relationship when we’d get his-and-hers sizes, but at least now my Valentine’s present is a no-brainer.
Simon, Digital Media Strategist
Valentine: Claudia
Sneaker: Papergirl Paris x BEAMS x ASICS GT-2160
My wife is incredibly hard to choose for, particularly when it comes to fashion gifts. I have long since given up buying her anything but gift vouchers because I'm inevitably met with a high-pitched 'Ohhhh, I looove them...', before I find that gift in the back of her cupboard gathering dust before being regifted to the bin. This year, my job is easy: she loves Japan, silver sneakers, and she loves polka dots. The Papergirl Paris x x ASICS is exactly the kind of shoe she will love... I hope.