Blog on Converse Shoes, Vans Shoes, Dr. Martens Shoes, Shoes Laces and Sk8Hi

It doesn’t seem like a whole year ago that Italian knitwear brand Missoni collaborated with Converse on a line of Chuck Taylor shoes. The effort was so successful that Missoni is back again with the iconic zig-zag print for fall 2010.

Last years Missoni Converse Chuck Taylor shoes featured the same bold geometric print as this years, but instead of the warm beiges, browns, blues and grays of last year, they’ve stuck to black and white. While last year’s design was influenced by Indian patchwork and rich fall colours, this year’s Missoni shoe is much more sleek and chic, and a little more subtle. The inner lining and tongue is made of tanned brown leather, with a license plate logo at the heel, with the classic white vulcanized sole and traditional Converse patch.

The release date isn’t set yet, but rumour has it that the new Missoni Converse Chuck Taylor shoes will be out sometime in November. You’ll pay more for these designer Converse than you will for a pair of casual Chucks – around $200. The shoes will mostly be available at select Missoni stores throughout North America.

Check out photos of the new Missoni Converse Chuck Taylor shoes here.

The Doc Marten TecTuff Boot

If you liked the breathable, water-resistant TecTuff material that Dr. Martens used in last year’s boot release, you’ll be pleased to hear that they’re back, in three bright new colours. The Dr. Martens TecTuff boots are available in fuschia, khaki and grey.

For over 50 years, Dr. Martens has been making men’s and women’s boots, shoes and sandals with the unique air-cushioned sole and yellow stitching. The Dr. Martens TecTuff boots have these classic details, but look a bit more like a work boot than the Docs we’re used to. They look like they’re made of heavy canvas, but are actually made of leather, making them ultra durable and waterproof.

Polka Dot Dr. Martens

These Doc Martens will jazz up any outfit! We’ve seen polka dots popping up on everything from dresses to men’s ties, so it was only a matter of time before they made their way to footwear. You can buy polka dot Dr. Martens boots or shoes in pink, purple, white or black.

Floral-Patterned Dr. Martens

Another feminine twist on the rugged Doc Martens is coming this fall! Floral-patterned Dr. Marten boots come in two designs: you can sport big, bold roses or be a bit more subtle with a tiny purple pattern. And, you can also decide if you want to stick with the clunkier boot or go girly with the thick high-heeled style.

Wanna see? Check them out!

Remember how much fun it was to pick out school supplies for the new year? Choosing colourful notebooks and binders, getting that brand new pack of Crayons…this year, Vans has teamed up with children’s crayon company Crayola to release the Vans x Crayola Pack, a rainbow of Vans kids shoes just in time for the fall.

The Crayola Vans kids shoes are a vibrant take on the Authentic, Sk8-hi, and Slip-on. The shoes have the classic rubber outsole and canvas upper, but the design is brand new. It looks like a child’s broken colouring, scribbled all over the shoe. You can choose from the one-colour styles, or go for something a bit bolder: two-colour Vans kids shoes with checkered uppers and crayon markings on the toe. These Vans kids shoes come in purple, red, blue and pink. Each pair also comes with a colouring book made by Crayola specifically for Vans.

Vans has recently added a bunch of cool new styles to their kids line. Look for Vans crib shoes for tiny skaters, and the addition of Velcro to their kids classic deck styles (no more having to constantly retie your kids shoes)! So, whether your child is sleeping, studying or skating, there’s a Vans kids shoe to suit their style.

See some photos of the Vans x Crayola Pack Fall 2010.

The renowned menswear fashion designer John Varvatos has been collaborating with Converse for ages. His latest look is especially eye-catching because it’s so different from the classic Converse shoe we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing. The Chuck Taylor Multi-Eyelet hightops are made of a faded black canvas, with a rubber toe. The standout feature of the Chuck Taylor Multi-Eyelet hightops are the nearly 30 eyelets on either side, running all the way up the shoe.

Ever since Chuck Taylor’s came onto the court way back in 1917, they’ve been a favourite among athletes and the general Converse-loving population. It’s funny that a style of Converse shoes that were not all that popular until basketball player Chuck Taylor started wearing them went on to become the top-selling style of Cons.

The benefit of the Chuck Taylor Multi-Eyelet hightops is that they keep with the classic basketball court fashion. But, because Varvatos designed them to be more chic and unique, they’re fashionable enough for guys looking for something a bit more refined than the regular canvas Chucks. The Chuck Taylor Multi-Eyelet hightops are a vintage style with a modern twist, and they’re good to go with jeans or a dress jacket.

See photos of the Chuck Taylor Multi-Eyelet hightops here.

We’re right in the midst of summer, and the trend we’re seeing a lot of on the streets of Vancouver this season is casual, canvas slip-ons paired with everything from flowing dresses to skinny jeans. On many feet are the durable yet lightweight Vans Vault sneakers, similar to the old-school Keds. (If you were born in the late 70’s/early 80’s, you probably remember the Keds craze of the early 90’s, where every guy and girl seemed to be sporting those classic three-hole sneakers in white or navy).

Well, like every other trend – from bell bottoms to neon sunglasses, the canvas boat shoe has made a comeback. Vans sneakers released their new models from the Vans Vault shoe Collection in January 2010, but we haven’t been seeing a lot of them until now, as it heats up and more people hit the beach or congregate on the streets downtown.

Two of the most popular Vans Vault shoes for spring/summer 2010 come in either a bold, rich purple or a soft mahogany brown, both with a sturdy leather upper and the traditional Vans tag and waffle-design soles to prevent slipping.

It also looks like the Vans Vault shoe ollection will bring another fresh footwear perspective to stores in the fall of 2010. Word is that the new autumn Vans Vault shoe line will features the same casual style with leather uppers and a native inspiration.

However, let’s not think about the arrival of fall or winter just yet…let’s just enjoy the sun, sand, and everything else summertime has to offer!

Looking for something to stand out among all the surfer flip-flops and casual canvas slip-ons? Doc Martens shoes have again broken from tradition to produce the low-cut x Beams wingtip shoe. If you happened to see this style trotting by you on the street, it’s highly unlikely that you’d even recognize it as a Doc. Why? It’s an Oxford style, which means it looks entirely like a dress shoe, with a black and white leather lace design complimented by a bordeaux-coloured upper and perforated detailing all around. Instead of the classic yellow stitching around the lower part of the shoe, they’ve chosen white to go around the chunky outsole.

This Doc Marten shoe is all old school glamour, and is a collaboration between Docs and Japanese retailer Beams. The two companies’ collaboration last year was a success, but definitely a lot more subtle. The Hypebeast Oxford of ‘09 looked like an original Doc Marten; it was a simple yet elegant black upper with the well-known yellow stitching.

This year, the Doc Martnes and Beams partnership is all about standing out and combining big, bold colours into a unique Longwing shoe that will pair equally well with a pair of well-worn jeans or a fancy suit. See photos of the Doc Martens x Beams here.

While Converse women’s shoes come in a rainbow of different colours, and in hundreds of different designs, some girls go another step further and customize their Converse. But, unless you want to pay up to $300 for an artist to painstakingly paint an original design on a pair of Converse sneakers, why not get together with a few friends and customize your own? It’s easy, fun, and best of all – inexpensive.

Step 1: Take any pair of canvas women’s Converse shoes. Make sure your shoes are clean.
Step 2: Stuff the shoes with newspaper to keep their shape while you work.
Step 3: Use fabric paint, paint pens, or permanent markers in different colours. You can either paint images freehand, or use stencils, available at most arts and crafts stores.

Here are a few ideas for customizing women’s Converse:

Twilight Converse: From pillows to posters, from notebooks to hoodies, you can find the Twilight stars faces on pretty much everything! Take your favourite Twilight character or scene and transfer it to your Converse.

“Girly” Converse: It seems like ultra-feminine clothes and shoes are making a comeback. Decorate a pair of pastel women’s Converse shoes with whimsical tropical flowers or butterflies for the perfect spring/summer look.

Splatter-Paint Converse: This style has been in for years. It’s easy for those who aren’t comfortable with trying to paint a complicated image on their shoes. Put down some newspaper, dip your brush, and carefully splatter the shoes, with any colour combo you like.

Weird Al has been poking fun at everything he can think of for years with parodies like “Like a Surgeon,” “White and Nerdy” and “Amish Paradise.” He’s played sold-out tours all over the world, and just keeps coming out with more albums of cleverly-worded satirical songs.

He even made fun of Canada in his Straight Outta Lynwood album, with the song “Canadian Idiot,” a parody of Green Day’s song “American Idiot.” The song makes fun of Canadians for living on donuts and moose meat, and he sings:

“Tell me, what kinda freaks are that polite? / It’s gotta mean they’re all up to something / So quick, before they see it coming / Time for a pre-emptive strike.”

But, there’s one thing that Weird Al takes very seriously – Vans Shoes. Yankovic says he’s been collecting Vans shoes since the early 80’s, and owns about 100 pairs, mostly Vans slip-ons. His collection of crazy shoes, which include Vans slip-ons with palm trees, Hawaiian patterns and of course, the classic checkerboard squares, are often seen onstage when he performs. How many pairs of Vans slip-ons do you think he takes with him when he goes on tour?

Check out a photo of Weird Al with his impressive Vans shoe collection!

Last fall Converse Basketball unveiled their all new, revolutionary cushioning system known as “Balls Technology.” This aptly-named shoe style means that your feet will be cushioned on the court by a bunch of polyurethane balls encased in TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer). The balls will compress and react during the game, while cushioning the heel and providing stability.

Last week at the Nike/Jordan/Converse Fall 2010 Basketball Showcase, Converse Basketball unveiled their spanking new collection of performance shoes. In addition to the Balls Technology in the new kicks, Converse Basketball is going back to its Star Chevron logo on all fall models. (Remember the Star Chevron logo? No? Jog your memory here).

Converse Basketball has also totally revamped the Weapon shoe for this collection, which was originally manufactured in a rainbow of colours to match the kit colours of basketball teams. The Weapon is heavily padded and features tough leather construction throughout for ultimate comfort and performance. While the colour schemes have been updated, the new Converse Basketball Weapon shoes have the old-school forefoot support and Y-Bar of the older models, which were popularized by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 1986 NBA season.

See hot photos of all the new Converse Basketball styles that will be hitting shoe stores this fall, just in time for the 2010 basketball season!

It’s a Hello Kitty and Dr. Martens collaboration!

In September three styles of Hello Kitty Dr. Martens will hit the shelves. The Dr. Martens 1480 Hello Kitty boots will be available in two versions: one with a full image of Hello Kitty and her friends, and the other two with a cute little bow on the sides. Check out the Dr. Martens here.

The Hello Kitty Dr. Martens are done in the iconic pink and white colours, but you can also get one style of the boots in black with a hot pink bow. The all-white boots with blue soles and red bows look like ice skates, while the boot with the images of Hello Kitty and her friends like Keroppi, Little Twin Stars or Chococat are bolder and sure to get noticed. While Hello Kitty is a new twist on Doc Martens style, the boots are the classical 1480 model with eight holes.

We’re predicting that many Hello Kitty lovers will be waiting to get their hands on these cute combat boots! Prices for the Hello Kitty Dr. Martens boots range from $120 – $165, and they will be available at select Nordstroms, Dr Martens and Sanrio stores in Canada and the US, starting in September.