The Cortez is banging. From Farrah getting her Charlie's Angels skate on, the Corsair's DNA being distilled and those changes in shapes, recently coming full circle with the mighty fine Vintage nylon and suede variations and the older, harder-to-wear, floppier and less comfortable leather '71 version resurrected lately. We're not holding our breaths for any push on the crappy jewel Swoosh versions. They're no good. The Cortez is so strong that even its frequent dragging of our denim hem into frayed cotton spaghetti is forgivable. We can't wear skinny jeans you see, because the knots don't fit.

Latin Kings, pub goers, George Costanza, collectors...it's a shoe that attracts a fanbase across-the-board. They're a design classic. But when we heard premature mutterings of a Flywire variation, we unleashed Scooby Doo sized gulps - the appeal is in the simplicity, and Flywire is sheer tech - the principle might be to strip down a shoe to ensure maximum performance, but why tinker with something that's already plain and simple?

We're pleased to report that this modified Cortez is far from ruinous, with enough tweaks to make it work well. The wire framework supports a neoprene-style upper mixed with more traditional suede panels, and the Free-style approach to the jagged outsole (as dramatic in it's cut-out grooves as the flexy Women's Free 3.0 from last year) is effective too - a 'painted' Swoosh gets the message across too. It's also nice to know that the original Cortez look will be getting an equal push too, and that's where the second shoe fits into this fancy double-boxed package.


A special box always makes a difference, but the slidey, wobbly house for the Jordan double acts we've seen lately have been pretty diabolical - this white dual-compartment creation is actually very sturdy and adept at doing it's job, and the neighbour for the black, blue and white premiere of the '08 variation is a gum soled black, red, yellow and white take on the standard version - mixing leather with synthetic rather than suede isn't the ideal blend, but it's a decent partner, additionally united by a reflective heel tab and white leather lining.

Created especially to coincide for release with the MTV European Music Awards on 06.11.08 that take place in Liverpool,and only available from Liverpool's size? there's talk of Mathew Street, home of the Cavern Club, and a 274 to denote how many times an ever-so-slightly overrated band might have played there, on the old style makeup, and a mention of 43 Seel Street, home of the Zanzibar Club on the new style, but it's all relatively unobtrusive, and for some reason, regardless of price, a two shoe pack always feels strangely appealing to us. It's like getting a two-for-one! Except at double the price! Regardless, this is a nicely presented combo, and a fitting launch for a Cortez remix, limited to the appropriate but lowly sum of 72 pairs.