DR MARTENS Basquiat Special Edition 1461 Lace-Ups

“Jean-Michel Basquiat is repeatedly cited for his tailoring. It is often by white editors of men’s magazines desperate to appear diverse. But Basquiat was not one to conform. His relationship with clothing was complex and intuitive, a jumble of thrift and high fashion, a mix of color, texture, garment.”  (From the 2021 book What Artists Wear by Charlie Porter)

It’s true—a lot has been said & written about the “curated nonchalance” of Basquiat’s style—The Miyake shoot! The oversized Armani suits! The Comme Des Garcons runway moment!—and with Saint Laurent being the latest fashion brand to launch a capsule collection in collaboration with his estate, the world’s fascination with him is not predicted to decline any time soon.

In 2020, Dr Marten’s revisited some of its iconic pieces for a Basquiat tribute that is itself -we think- museum-worthy. As Hypebeast reported, “The shoe incorporates Basquiat’s Dustheads, 1982, which sold for a record-breaking $48.8 million USD at Christie’s New York in 2013. The shoe’s heel and upper quarters have been kept black and minimal with tonal top-stitching, bringing out the vivid artwork along the tongue and forefoot. Furthermore, the shoe boasts a tall woven heel pull, a tiny crown motif at the top of the backstay and a well-cushioned AirWair midsole for added cushioning and support.”