Keds and Chucks

[Nuzzolese]

Was there ever a time when Keds and Chuck Taylor sneakers were really out of fashion to such a degree that wearing them would have been fashion suicide? I know they've had their high points and low points in popularity, but it seems like they've always been acceptable if not exactly trendy. Would you say so?


Slightly off that subject, I'm confused about the Chucks. Are they Converse or are they Chuck Taylors? Are they Converse Chuck Taylors or Chuck Taylor Converse? How do ALL STARS fit into it?

[hpdrifter]

I just got my first pair of Chuck Taylors. Classic black low top. I love them so much. When I wear them I feel so... casually smug. I'm like yeah, I don't care, it's all easy.

[paul jones]

I don't know anything about these Chuck Norris shoes

[mickill]

Converse is the brand, All-Stars are the name and Chuck Taylor was the basketball player who first endorsed them.

Converse is owned by Nike. I have two perr.

[Randetica]

i have two shoes of them

[Nuzzolese]

I have one pair each. I want more, but that seems unnecessary.

[jabumbo]

my dad bought 2 pair about 15 years ago when he thought they were going out of business


he still has one unopened in the bottom of his closet

[skra75]

Mid to late Nineties / Y2K era

Chucks and Keds were very much out of style and went the way of Doc Martens. Keds were worn only by Mom's and wierd professors and stuff. Chucks were worn by a handful of uncool teenagers.

Popular sneakers of that era were (now hideous to a certain degree)

Over-designed trainers with reflective adornments
Those hideous thick-soled Spice girl shoes
Clogs. Also awful to even think about now.
Wingtip dress shoes ala "Brian Setzer Orchestra". Gross.
Those really puffy-collar looking skate shoes, Etnies, and the like.
Square-toed dress shoes with Prada Style bottoms.

[skra75]

Also, diggin' back into my memory - they were not cool in the early/mid 1980's. Like 1984-1986.

Pumas, adidas (especially shell toes and suede gazelles), and other simple joints made the Chuck Taylor's rubber toe look awkward and it was a sneaker that the poor kids wore and were embarrassed by it.

I think the only ppl that wore chucks were punk-rockers, and even pucks in the mid 80's were not wearing them like they once did. They were wearing Doc Martens, various wierd random shiny dress shoes(?), and Vans.

Keds, on the other hands (esp the white preppy ones) were certainly on their way into style with the pinnacle of the cash-rich reagan 80's. Hard to lump them with the Chucks at this time.

Pro-keds (which I love btw) were long dead at this point.

[skra75]

Slightly off that subject, I'm confused about the Chucks. Are they Converse or are they Chuck Taylors? Are they Converse Chuck Taylors or Chuck Taylor Converse? How do ALL STARS fit into it?

the model of sneaker you are referring to is called the All-Star. It got the street name "Chuck Taylor" at some point bc (according to my Dad) Chuck taylor was a prominent and successful Basketball Coach or something, and they say "Endorsed by Chuck Taylor" on the side.

So, All Star is the real name. But everyone now calls them Chucks. Nike (the now-owners of Converse) call them easy-money.

[jabumbo]

easy money because every other shoe that nike makes sucks major balls

[Gareth]

nike makes awesome shoes
i don't really do chucks, they look weird on my feet
i prefer jack purcells (i know they kinda look the same but i reckon they look better on my feet)

[silence7]

Just had to retire a pair of Black and White Chuck's two days ago, the sole started separating from the tops.... Had to go back to an old pair of Vans skate high tops....

Been thinking about getting a pair of Macbeth high tops (http://macbeth.com/catalog/Footwear/mens), look kinda like Chuck's only cooler. Every time I've gone to buy them they've been out of my size.

And No, Chuck's will never be totally OUT of style.

[synch]

One of my many childhood trauma's is not being able to buy Chucks because my foot was (is) too wide.

Never knew Nike bought Converse, odd.

[sab0tage]

One of my many childhood trauma's is not being able to buy Chucks because my foot was (is) too wide.

Yeah I had the same problem but bought some anyway. The lace eyelets on each side were about 3 inches apart when I wore them!

[Freebasser]

I've also had that problem. Bought a lovely pair of these (http://www.office.co.uk/images/shoes/large/25032141_b1.jpg) but it hurt my feet like crazy to walk around in them for more than a minute. It was like somebody had my foot in a vice.

This is why I stick with the old school adidas. Now those are men's shoes :cool:

[Randetica]

my ones got a black toe part instead of a white one, the white ones kinda remind me of clown shoes

[Caribou]

My dad used to get them as work-shoes in the early 80s. They only cost about 2,50 back then and they lasted about a week, according to him.
Over here we have no idea who Chuck Taylor is, but I do remember that my dad and my sis used to call them Basketball shoes, or just 'basketballs'.

I only got my first pair in '04 or something, and now have 7 pairs. My favourites being the black low-tops and my exclusive converse-store mintgreen and brown low-tops. I don't wear them that often though, as I have wide feet and they start to hurt after a couple of hours.
The only really comfy chucks I own are a pair of black leather ones, the sole is much softer and bouncier. (y)

[sjp]

don't wear either but i do have 20 pairs of shell toes a few i have never worn yet but even the ones i do where look new.