Posts with tag All-stars

Summer time is all about trying to balance looking stylish while not dying of heat exhaustion -- sometimes that's pretty hard to do. While we love our flip-flops, but some situations call for a more substantial footwear choice. That doesn't mean your feet have to sweat it out.

Click through the gallery to see the top 5 classic tennis shoes for a sock-free existence:

As someone who has both studied art intensively for the past six years and lovingly worn Chuck Taylor All-Stars for about just as long, seeing these DIY'd Chucks fills my cold heart with joy. These otherwise normal black Chucks have been custom painted in the style of archaic Greek red-figure pottery (learn more about that style here). I tried painting a pair of white Chucks in the style of Mondrian when I was in high school, but I somehow managed to screw that up. Always paint one side at a time, kids. Anyway, seeing these shoes inspires me to get creative with my own sneakers. I have a pair of new off-white Chucks that are screaming for something fun.

Recently, the creator of these red-figure Chucks started to take commissions, but because of the time and detail involved, the price tag would run a bit high, up in the $200 zone. Honestly, though, with some research in the style, healthy dose good old patience, and some acrylic paints mixed with textile medium should be enough for anyone to do this at home. Contact information can be found at the "Read" link.

From the feet of 1970s punks to the tenth Doctor of Doctor Who, Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, often affectionately called "Chucks", have been everywhere. Sure, they don't offer optimal arch support and, since Nike bought the shoe and moved production overseas, the quality is not as fine as it once was, but the look is too classic to pass up. They go well with jeans or casual skirts and even serve as a nice way of toning down dressy pants.

Also, Chucks hold the strange honor of being the only shoe that most people usually like better dirty and worn-in. Pristine new Chucks are actually a bit blinding and scary... But old Chucks with blackened toes, small holes worn in the sides, and fraying laces, instead of looking sad, they look loved, like a loyal pair of shoes that have joined you on every adventure of your life. Have I made it obvious enough that I love my Chucks?

Here's a helpful hint for finding cheap Chucks: While hunting in the clearance sections of shoe stores (or even online, like on eBay), take a look in the men's section as well. Labels on all the boxes are unisex, so no need to convert your shoe size to men's. On more than one occasion I've managed to find a criminally cheap pair of Chucks just because I took the time to peek.