Classic sneakers find place in modern wardrobes

    Paired with Basketball’s evolution in the early 20th century came an American icon in the form of footwear.
    Crafted in 1908, Converse’s All Stars represent a shoe that has been transformed into a part of popular culture. Paying homage to basketball player and innovator Chuck Taylor, Converse added his name to the logo in 1923.
    They are more than just shoes, a fashion statement or a piece of nostalgia. “Chucks” transformed the sport of basketball and witnessed the birth of rock and roll.  They are also the world’s first performance basketball shoes. From punk rockers to models, these shoes have represented almost every lifestyle in the country. 
    According to Sneaker Head blog, the Converse All Star was originally produced only in black, but after World War II, the company came under pressure from basketball teams to add additional colors. Converse yielded and a number of new colors were released in addition to the traditional black and white colors.
    Hollywood gave the shoes a boost when actors and other celebrities wore them. Sneakers, especially Converse, became the preferred footwear of kids and teenagers and a symbol of youthful rebellion in the 1950s. Film legend, James Dean officially sanctioned this fashion when he was photographed wearing jeans and white Converse sneakers.
    Some Murray State University students also enjoy the sneakers.
    Brittney Meredith, senior from Eddyville, Ky., said she bought her first pair on a sale rack the summer before starting college. She now owns four pairs in various colors and patterns.
    “They come in pretty much any color you can imagine, so there’s a pair for everyone and every outfit,” Meredith said. “They’re just so versatile.”
    Chucks can also be seen in popular films. In the film, “I, Robot” Will Smith plays a detective investigating the murder of a scientist. Smith’s character, Spooner, opens a fresh pair of black, high-top leather Converse which in the futuristic setting of the movie are obviously a rare collector’s item.
    All Stars are also an important part of the music industry. Several musicians including Rihanna, Josh Groban, members of Green Day and Pearl Jam, have sported them.     It is rumored Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain was wearing a pair Converse One Star shoes when he committed suicide.
    Bryce Pope, senior from Trimble, Tenn., said he first started wearing them for their vintage appeal. Pope said he is not a fan of today’s athletic shoes.
    “They have too many weird colors and designs and I don’t like the thick springy looking heals on them either,” Pope said.
    He started off with a black pair and soon after bought a red pair. He said the more he wore them, the more he liked the way they looked.
    These classic shoes are also available in a variety of new materials, colors, prints and special features. Chucks also continue to make numerous appearances on celebrity feet, with rock stars, athletes and musicians rocking the sneakers.
    Owning a pair of Chucks can be compared to owning an important piece of pop culture history. In a time when things change so quickly in the shoe industry, you can always count on Converses to be exactly like you remember them from last year, the last decade or from your childhood.
    After all, they are the best-selling sneakers in the history of sneakers according to allbusiness.com.
    Misty Hays can be reached at misty.hays@murraystate.edu.