A mysterious ’80s family-and-friends Air Jordan 1 inspired the latest Retro High OG colorway

By the time you reach the age of 35, you’ve managed to amass a considerable cache of lessons learned, memories and inspiration from years past.

While I could easily be describing myself, what I’m really talking about is the Air Jordan 1. Since its arrival in 1985, we’ve seen it issued in so many colorways and telling so many stories that you’re bound to see it loop back on itself now and then.

Nike and Jordan Brand are no strangers to dressing AJ1s in familiar colorways from both inside and outside of MJ’s signature line, as we’ve seen on more than one occasion this year.

And there’s one more in store, for Jumpman final version of this silhouette for 2020, the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Metallic Gold.’

The combination of black patent leather and metallic gold highlights is rare on the AJ1, but there’s unquestionable heritage from the Jordan archives.

We saw a mid-cut version debut in 2003, while 10 years later a high-top edition arrived sporting a white midsole and gum outsole to break up the all-black look. In 2017 Jumpman dropped the AJ1 ‘Gold Top 3,’ which featured more gold as well as a white tongue and toebox.

But black-and-gold trim comes from much deeper in the vault, to a limited run that even Jordan Brand itself acknowledges is “elusive.”

According to legend, a very small run of a Friends and Family AJ1 colorway released sometime in the 1980s and featured that same black patent leather upper with gold Swooshes and Wings logos, a white midsole and black outsoles. This 2014 story from Sneaker Freaker calls it “the holiest of grails” and sheds a little light, although not much more, on the mythical sneaker.

Inspired by that mysterious and exclusive shoe, the ‘Metallic Gold’ is completely blacked out, save for the gold collar, Swooshes, Wings and tongue logos. The glossy patent upper is slick enough that you could rock them with a tuxedo if you had to.

Bring some class to your holiday ‘fits when the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Metallic Gold’ releases in Men’s and Grade School sizing on 11/30 at FinishLine.com and in stores via mobile app reservation.

– Available at FinishLine.com or in select stores via mobile app reservation on 11/30.

– To enter for a reservation of the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Metallic Gold’ in Men’s sizing only, head to our mobile app. Reservations open on Tuesday, November 17 at 10 a.m. EST and will close on Thursday, November 19 at 1 p.m. EST.

*Status Members, use your Status Points to redeem extra entries to increase your chances of winning.

– Reserved pairs can be picked up in store.

– No pairs will be sold in stores on 11/30, only at FinishLine.com

– To adhere to local social distancing guidelines, we suggest picking up your shoes during designated windows of time:

11am-1pm (last names beginning with A – G)

1pm-3pm (last names beginning with H – M)

3pm-5pm (last names beginning with N – T)

5pm-7pm (last names beginning with U – Z)

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