Cassius Approves: BAPE's Shark Hoodie Returns, PlayStation 5 "30th Anniversary" Plays On Nostalgia, & More

Welcome to Cassius Approves, where the team drops off some of the hottest items around in fashion, sneakers, tech and more. Whether an impulsive purchase, a quick Amazon Prime order, or a statement piece, we’re cutting through the noise with our recommendations. Check out our latest selects below.

Nepenthes NY X Packer Shoes X New Era

Source: Nepenthes NY / Nepenthes NY

Dad hats, truckers and bucket hats all have their waves, but nothing has remained as classic as a fitted with your favorite team’s logo stitched on the front. Arguably, the most popular hat is the navy Yankee fitted, so Nepenthes, the Tokyo-born brand with a cult following at its New York shop, remixed it. With New Jersey’s Packer Shoes and legendary hat maker New Era, Nepenthes created a hat featuring mismatch panels of faux suede, corduroy, and melton wool. Never afraid to mix textures, Nepenthes hat is available on instore and online for $65. And if you’re a stickler for that kinda thing, the under brim is grey.

BAPE Celebrates 20 Years Of The Shark Hoodie

Source: BAPE / BAPE

BAPE‘s Shark full-zip hoodie went triple platinum in streetwear culture in the early 2000s, and now, 20 years on, the Japanese-born brand is bringing it back. While you’ll have to wait until mid-October to get your hands on the hoodie, BAPE’s currently releasing a bunch of gear in its honor, featuring the shark’s fangs on hoodies, T-shirts, and more dubbed the “Country Pack.” The most interesting release in the offering comes in the introduction of a new sneaker silhouette, the Shark Sta, which features those infamous fangs along the upper. Each country –from U.S., China, France, Indonesia, Italy, UAE, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and the UK– gets its own colorway. Shop here.

PlayStation 5 Pro 30th Anniversary

Source: Sony Playstation / Sony Playstation

If nostalgia is all it takes for you whip out your credit card, then Sony‘s got something for you. The 30th anniversary of the original PlayStation release in Japan is around the corner, and the brand decided to release the PS5 Pro in that iconic mute grey colorway, synonymous with 90s tech. The slim bundle –which only includes one duel sense controller– will run you $499, but if you want the collection that includes a disc-less PS5 Pro, charging station, a stand, and a 2TB SSD that costs $1,000. Or if you just want the regular PS5 Pro, that’ll be available to cop, too. Most of the systems are currently sold out despite an official release date of Nov. 21, but preorders are set up open again in October. Skip the official PlayStation Direct site and try local retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart. With only 12,300 units of the PlayStation 5 Pro 30th Anniversary, cross your fingers.

A Ma Manier x Air Max 95s

Source: A Ma Maniere / A Ma Maniere

Ever since the first 2021 collaboration that James Whitner’s A Ma Maniére pulled off with the Swoosh, he hasn’t missed. Now, his relationship with Nike has led to him digging deeper into the family and expanding beyond Jordans with a pair of Air Max 95s as part of the six-shoe collection “While You Were Sleeping.” A Ma Maniere stayed true to colors synonymous with the brand with tones of deep purples, burgundies, and mauves, with each of the 95s’ panels featuring a different color and texture, which all look to be luxe leather. A scripted A Ma Maniére hit can be seen on the toe, and a subtle “A” logo pops on the heel. Though previewed back in August, sneaker sleuths are now saying they’ll drop with a price tag of $190, just in time for the holidays.

Nike Tech Woven Suit

Source: Nike / Nike

Tech Fleece season is officially here. But for 2024, Nike has update its ubiquitous “Nike Tech Woven Suit” with some new materials and silhouettes, too. The full-zip jacket is now complemented by a pair of pant options: a looser “oversized” version and the more tapered version we’ve all become accustomed to. The tops and bottoms feature Nike’s Dri-FIT tech along with a two-way zipper, and bungee cords that cinch the hem and hood. While the black and cobalt (grey) colorways return, there are also six more colorways with a reflective “flash” colorway due later in the season. The new Nike Tech suits became available Oct. 4 on Nike.com and at select retailers. —Alvin aqua Blanco