Some sneakers tell their story through the upper, while others do it through the sole. The Peterson OG Sole van Maison Mihara Yasuhiro unmistakably belongs to the second group. Up top, it’s a simple canvas sneaker. Underneath, something happens that you see from almost no other brand.
The sole
The rubber sole isn’t cleanly finished; instead, it spreads out beneath the shoe in wavy, uneven shapes, as if the rubber sagged during production and then set that way. It noticeably bulges around the heel, while along the sides it follows the shape of the foot. The outsole is dark brown with a zigzag tread pattern. The result is a shoe that looks handmade, with each pair appearing just slightly different.
Above that, things are much more restrained: off-white, almost ecru canvas, thick white laces, silver-colored eyelets and a white rubber toe cap. A thin black trim runs between the upper and the sole, separating the two sections. At the back, there’s a small label with a red accent.
What it does to your silhouette
This sole makes your feet look wider and heavier. That’s exactly what you want when wearing wide-leg trousers: the lower half gets a solid foundation and the proportions fall into place. Wide-leg trousers in cream or grey, a long coat, and this pair underneath — that’s when the silhouette works in your favor.
Where it gets tricky is with slim-fit trousers. Skinny jeans over this flared-out sole create too much contrast, making the shoe look disconnected from the rest of the outfit. The transition can also be difficult with a short skirt and bare ankles, where a sock in the same tone as the shoe helps considerably.
Color-wise, this ecru shade is a gift. It’s warmer than white, making it easier to pair with beige, camel, sand and washed denim. I wouldn’t wear it next to bright white, though, because that makes the canvas look dirty when it isn’t.
Practical considerations
Light-colored canvas gets dirty — there’s not much you can do about that. With this model, you can partly embrace it: the shoe is designed in a way that makes signs of wear feel like part of the design. The white rubber toe cap, however, can simply be cleaned.
The Peterson is mainly stocked by fashion boutiques and international retailers, and you can see that in the pricing. For the exact same pair, I’ve seen the gap between the cheapest and most expensive retailer grow to several times the price — something that happens more often with Maison Mihara Yasuhiro than with major sportswear brands.
If you want a sneaker that makes a statement instead of simply completing an outfit, this is one of the more interesting options in its segment. Just compare retailers before you decide, because the price difference here is far from insignificant.