Keeping it Classy (And Sassy)

Panera Bread, N. Decatur Rd., Atlanta, GA


These sassy boots immediately stood out to me while I was grabbing a coffee and some World Wide Web action at Panera the other day. This shop is located within steps of Emory University, which means it is 90% populated with college students wearing Ugg boots, "retro" Converse sneaks and other "I want you think I just casually grabbed these shoes from my closet but really I bought them because all my friends have them and I wanted to make sure I merge seamlessly with them" styles. These boots were dressy and sophisticated and most likely designer, so the wearer clearly did not blend in with the bourgeoisie. Given the proximity to Emory, I would be inclined to think she was a professor or otherwise employed there, but she didn't really give out that vibe. Maybe an administrator at the hospital? Don't those people wear uniforms of some sort?



I really wanted to snap a shot of the gaggle of girls sitting next to me to illustrate the groupthink shoes I mentioned above, but it would've been too obvious. Had I done so, I could've described in detail their conversation about the pros and cons of living with one's boyfriend before marriage (or just living together and never getting married), but I guess I'll have to save that for another day as well.

Business on Top, Party on the Bottom

Rising Roll Gourmet, Northside Drive, Atlanta



I stopped in to Rising Roll for a tasty and delicious lunch and spotted these bad boys when I walked in the door. They first caught my eye with their day-glo coloring, and then I quickly noticed they were Mizunos. This intrigued me because, while the shoes were clearly designed for running, this guy was neither dressed athletically nor was particularly built like a runner. He and his two colleagues were sharing a table and discussing a large set of blueprints they'd spread out on top of it. I tried to sneak a peek at what the blueprints were outlining, but didn't want to blow my cover, so I'm left with only the conjecture that they are architects.



If so, why the sporty kicks? Mizuno's US headquarters are located just 20 minutes north of Atlanta in Norcross, so perhaps he purchased them to show loyalty to a local brand? Or maybe he even knows someone who works at the corporate office and snuck him some freebies on the side? Either of these are plausible explanations, but neither explain his affinity for their flashy appearance when the rest of him seemed so professional. Granted, he wasn't dressed in suit and tie, but he did have the pulled-together look of someone who carefully strategizes his appearance. I noticed that one of his companions was also wearing athletic sneaks, but his were Reebok, so there's no connection there. Maybe shoes are his outlet for expressing a funky personal style while making sure the rest of him remains fairly neutral. As I mentioned before, he didn't look especially like a runner (nor did the shoes look worn or dirty), which leads me to believe he only brings them out for the sake of fashion. Whatever the case, any friend of Rising Roll is a friend of mine.