| Product: |
Converse |
| Date: |
11/06/01 (1784 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: comfortable, range of colours
Disadvantages: pricey in the UK, can smell so wash them!
I love Converse baseballs I admit it. I live in them all through the summer and can be spotted a mile off in my bright red pair!
For the uninitiated, Converse are the makers of canvas baseball boots and shoes and have been doing so since the year dot. Once the favourite attire of aging rockers with long straggly hair, they became trendy once again during the "grunge" years thanks to Mr Kurt Kobain (RIP) and then again due to the skate boarding craze taking off again.
So why do I wear them? Well I've always worn them ever since I first became a student 10 years ago and I'm still wearing them. I have found them to be one of the most comfortable forms of footwear I have ever had the pleasure to wear. They're as comfortable as my army surplus boots! They are wonderful to wear in the summer as they keep your feet cool and breathing thanks to the specially designed holes in the side. They look great with jeans (I hate wearing shoes with jeans for some strange reason) and they can withstand summer showers without your feet being soaked. The soles are thin enough to let your foot bend (think of your favourite pair of slippers) but are substantial enough to put up with a lot of walking.
So how do you spot a pair of Converse? Well they are quite recognisable with a coloured canvas upper and a white rubber sole. They come in a variety of clours including white, yellow, black, burgundy and the elusive hard to fnd bright red. The only place that I have managed to find bright red is in a shop in China town in New York! The one thing to look out for is the logo on the inside ankle of the boot. There are quite a few copies going about (I noticed some in Miss Selfridges the other day) but they don't have the logo. I'm not too fussed about designer labels but when I buy a pair of Converse I know they are going to last so I would much rather have the real thing!
How long do they last? As with all shoes, i
t depends how much you wear them. As I said I only wear mine when the summer or better weather is here as they are only canvas after all. I've had some of mine (I own several pairs in different colours I admit it!) for several years now and they look absolutely fine.
However this is where the title of this opinion becomes clear. I also own Converse canvas shoes that I wear during the summer with skirts and dresses. I don't think I need to explain to anyone the problems that can occur wearing canvas shoes in hot weather. Even though the shoes have ventialtion holes, they're not quite up to the job. Therefore every couple of weeks I throw all my canvas shoes and boots into the washing machine.
All you do is put them through a normal 40 degree wash then hang them outside for a couple of hours. They dry quite quickly and look as good as new (as well as smelling a lot better!). My shoes and boots have been subjected to mumpteen washings and they look absolutely fine. They are still in one piece and look lovely and clean!
Where do you get them? Schuh used to be the best place to buy Converse. However, they are rather expensive there. I haven't bought a pair of Converse in the UK for about 8 years. In the UK a pair of boots costs around £36 which is a ridiculous price for a pair of canvas boots! If you buy them in the US they cost about £16 which is a much more reasonable price I'm sure you'll agree! My parents have brought me Converse back as presents, my relatives who live in the US bring them over for me when they visit and when I go across I get pairs for my friends! Well worth while pleading with your relatives/friends who are visiting the US!
I wouldn't be parted from my four pairs of Converse, they are just too comfortable. So next time you are looking for a pair of shoes to get you through the showery British summer try a pair of these - your feet will be happy!
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