White shirt, khaki pants — the students at Natchez High all dress pretty much the same.

Until you drop your eye below the ankle.

Gray, black, red, orange and blue, it’s the shoes that make a difference to today’s teenagers, they said.

Start asking questions about the sneakers and things get far more complicated than just colors.

Nike’s Air Force 1 shoes — the biggest hit around — come in a multitude of editions. Each edition has a different name or number. And each one looks different.

Jordans — the ever-popular Michael Jordan shoes — also have numbers, names and colors, including AJXX2 and Air Jordan 5 Retro.

Throw in custom-made shoes and the possibilities seem almost endless.

And that’s what the teens like.

“It’s to be different,” NHS senior Jarmel Colston said of his footwear. “It’s always to be different.”

And different must become a daily duty.

“I have a different pair of Jordans for every day of the week,” he said.

Colston can get two pairs of the shoes for about $200 if he shops at the right place, he said. But the best shoes can’t be found in Natchez without running the risk of wearing something someone else has, he said.

Colston’s Tuesday kicks came from Chicago.

The drive to be different is everywhere.

Jasmine Jackson, a junior, donned orange and blue Air Force 1 shoes Tuesday.

“Shoes make you different,” she said. “It is hard to find something to go with them, though.”

Jackson’s orange and blue shoes came from Texas. She has seven other different pairs at home.

Seven is a low number to sophomore Teron Foster. He has 13 pairs.

“I just buy shoes every week,” he said.

The average pair costs about $85, he said.

And that’s about right for most shoes, Sports Center Sales Manager Earl Cornwell said.

The Sports Center carries in-store shoes ranging from $60 to $160, but can order the more expensive, exclusive sneakers on request.

Cornwell said his biggest sellers are the Nike Shock, the Nike 360 and the Air Force 1.

The Nike 360 costs approximately $160, but it’s about more than looks and name brand, Cornwell said. You get what you pay for.

“The most expensive is the most comfortable,” he said.

And many of the shoes are designed to keep runners and walkers safe.

“You decide if you want to spend your money on doctor bills or your feet,” Cornwell said.

Other big sellers — for the non-teen crowd — include New Balance 992.

Sports Center does sell the popular Air Force 1 shoes, but only in a limited supply, Cornwell said. Nike limits the number of the shoes each store can order at a time.

“They’ve been out for a while, but they are still popular,” he said. “Rappers on TV have promoted them a lot.”

Eckwanise Hughes, a NHS senior, said the best Air Force 1 shoes are all white. And they must remain clean.

“I use soap, water and a toothbrush on mine,” she said.