There's a lot of shoes that people consider high-end fashion

"There's a lot of shoes that people consider high-end fashion, from Balenciaga to this and that or whatever, and the Pro Models are very similar to me. They're very fashionable to me – the design and the shape of them. I just like them." – Big Sean

In this simple yet deeply revealing statement, Big Sean — artist, creator, and voice of his generation — speaks of authentic taste, the kind that is born not from social approval, but from personal connection. His words carry a timeless truth: that value lies not in the name, but in the meaning one gives it. When he says that “Pro Models are very fashionable to me,” he reclaims the right of the soul to define beauty for itself. For fashion, like art, is not about prestige — it is about identity, comfort, and truth.

The origin of this quote comes from Big Sean’s journey through the intertwined worlds of music, culture, and style. Raised in Detroit, he grew up where expression through fashion was not a luxury, but a statement of being — a language of survival and individuality. The “Pro Models,” a classic Adidas sneaker, symbolized not wealth, but confidence, movement, and self-definition. To him, they were not lesser because they lacked the label of Balenciaga or Gucci. They were authentic, and authenticity, he suggests, is the highest form of elegance.

His message echoes an ancient wisdom — that of Socrates, who said that the unexamined life is not worth living. In Big Sean’s words, we hear a modern echo: the unexamined taste is not worth following. Too many worship the idols of trend and brand, mistaking noise for art and label for worth. But the wise see beyond the glitter. They find beauty in simplicity, nobility in use, and grace in what truly resonates with the self. Like the philosopher who finds truth not in gold but in thought, Big Sean finds style not in fashion houses but in what feels right to him.

There is a quiet rebellion in his statement — a defiance of conformity. He stands against the tyranny of logos and the illusion that worth must be bought. In his words lies the courage to say, “I like what I like.” This is no small act in an age where image is currency and authenticity is often sacrificed at the altar of approval. To hold one’s own taste sacred, to cherish what speaks to your spirit regardless of status — this is a kind of moral strength, the strength of one who is at peace with himself.

History offers many who shared this spirit. Vincent van Gogh, shunned by the art world of his day, painted not what was fashionable, but what was true to his heart — the wheat fields, the stars, the faces of the poor. He died unknown, yet his art became immortal because it was honest. So too, Big Sean’s words remind us that what we choose — be it music, clothes, or companions — should reflect our inner rhythm, not the fleeting applause of the crowd. What is real endures; what is performed fades.

In this light, the Pro Models become more than shoes. They become symbols — of self-knowledge, of the courage to find beauty where others do not. To Big Sean, their design and shape carry memory, movement, and identity. They are a reminder that style, at its core, is the art of telling your story without speaking. The wise understand this: to wear what you love is to declare who you are.

Lesson: Do not let the world tell you what is beautiful. Seek instead the things that make your heart recognize itself. Whether in clothes, art, or life, choose what feels right — not what seems right to others. For the highest form of fashion, like the highest form of living, is authenticity. When you walk in the shoes that fit your spirit, every step becomes an act of freedom — and every movement, a quiet song of truth.