White trainers - classic or dud?

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Specifically those kind of anti-fashion, anti-style big white running trainers that always curl-up slightly at the toe and are generally worn by pale young men with drainpipe trousers who are not 2tone kids or teddyboys (ie; they have no idea of the cultural significance of drainpipes in a fashion/music nexus sense), and which are generally dirty and look like retro-futurist goretex boats attached to your feet?

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic because they cost me a fiver.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:41 (twenty-three years ago)

aw I wanted to gush about various white trainers I have owned

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Needless to say, I think they = dud. My mate James at uni always used to wear them and his excuse was always "I'm not cool and never was and what's more I don't care now fuck off again."

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Your mate James is cooler than you are, Nick. :)

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Without doubt - he was the youngest person ever to get a letter published in Private Eye! However, I won the phone competition last night - first one to make the other laugh by talking meaningless surreal shit at each other in a Pete & Dud manner; my trump card was a remark about Wayne Rooney's mum, Wayne Rooney's face, a stack of Prodigy records and a make-shift shelf.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:45 (twenty-three years ago)

i love it when really old men wear these enormous futuristic slabs of velcro and silver gortex on their feet

― minna (minna), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't like 'em coz they get all dirty, and tennis players wear 'em and I hate tennis.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Took 20 minutes to make him laugh, mind.

And Ronan - feel free to eulogise your old white trainers! I had soem great Superstars with orange trim that everyoe told me were too camp to pull off, but once worn in they became famous and much respected!

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I have superstars with blue REFLEXIVE stripes, they are really slick but the paint is coming off the stripes at an alarming rate. I had ones with gold stripes for a while, feel the pimp vibe, I used to only wear them on special occasions but then they got clubjuice all over them and were beyond use. the problem with like white adidas or converse generic old skool ones is that every time they get slightly dirty you want a new pair, I would seriously love to be able to just buy out a shop.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Get this - I picked up some Superstars last time I was in London from a shop in Covent Garden and they are kidn of iron-grey all over, very very cool, not seen another pair like it (esp. not in Devon!). ALTHOUGH, saying that, there was a girl in a/v yesterday with all red ones on, which were very cool too.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 28 March 2003 13:53 (twenty-three years ago)

I seriously could wear them for the rest of my life, they are so comfortable and cool. I had a wicked old pair of adidas which were called like "classic b-ball" or something and had a blue toe and tongue with white everywhere else and really thin bowling shoe style laces. I could never find another pair like them sadly.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 28 March 2003 14:10 (twenty-three years ago)

i wear navy blue SKechers now but they have quite thick white soles which possibly is a bit naff - i have not worn white trainers since i left school it has to be said (i had a major hiking boot phase between the ages of 16 and 21)

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 28 March 2003 14:17 (twenty-three years ago)

There are sooo many more pairs of interesting trainers out there people!! You can have no end of fun in a supermarket with a pair of Nike Dunks on!!?!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 28 March 2003 14:43 (twenty-three years ago)

white trainers i own:

Adidias stan smiths - all white with velcro - simply perfect - except they have become so widespread that they haven't been worn for ages.

Converse all stars low top and hi top all white, they are so discoloured that they are both a mild grey.

Converse Jack purcell, one of the first sneakers and simply a great piece - all white

Nike air force 1 3/4 - all white, look lovely.

Puma velcro - all white

duffer velcro (converse esque) white sneakers.

White sneakers are great when they are clean, and they are great when they are knackered so long as they are worn with the correct trousers/shorts.

(p.s. i collect sneakers)

― james (james), Friday, 28 March 2003 14:45 (twenty-three years ago)

otherwise known as classic - except "classics" which are DUD

― james (james), Friday, 28 March 2003 14:52 (twenty-three years ago)

considering the number of trainers I've got I've only got two white pairs, a pair of puma baskets with a blue stripe, which are nice and knackered and a pair of Globe skate shoes with the biggest tiongues you've ever seen, but which are very comfortable.

― chris (chris), Friday, 28 March 2003 14:55 (twenty-three years ago)

**Specifically those kind of anti-fashion, anti-style big white running trainers that always curl-up slightly at the toe** - I was referring to these, white trainers can be classic def!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 28 March 2003 15:03 (twenty-three years ago)

i've never owned white runners in my life

― minna (minna), Friday, 28 March 2003 15:09 (twenty-three years ago)

for shame

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 28 March 2003 15:15 (twenty-three years ago)

White people who take the train are a dud.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Friday, 28 March 2003 15:19 (twenty-three years ago)

unless they're called Lenny

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 28 March 2003 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

good point chris - i have a pair of crystal white puma baskets

― james (james), Friday, 28 March 2003 16:53 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm considering moving from off-white Converse to pure-white Converse for the summer. Thoughts?

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 28 March 2003 17:23 (twenty-three years ago)

do it - converse are so cheap that you can get away with loadsa colours, if you are feeling arty buy the white ones and `jazz' them up in a BBC do it yourself kinds way - or make them look like a young nephew nicked them and ruined them or coat them in swear words - i suggest the swear words.

― james (james), Friday, 28 March 2003 17:29 (twenty-three years ago)

My white Converse all-stars will remain my favorite pair of shoes I ever had. I literally wore them til they fell apart.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 28 March 2003 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

duuuuuuuuuuuuuud*

*unless you are Run-DMC

I haven't bought a pair of sneakers since gym became non-compulsory (age 13).

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 28 March 2003 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually am wearing mine, as I type. Don't care that they are from Tommy Hilfiger, but they have been comfortable. So yeah, I guess Classic.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Friday, 28 March 2003 17:39 (twenty-three years ago)

I always wear white ones, but I am utterly unfashionable so that probably counts as a dud vote.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 28 March 2003 20:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't start wearing them until Memorial Day, Mary.

― rosemary (rosemary), Friday, 28 March 2003 23:13 (twenty-three years ago)

When is Memorial Day RM?

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 29 March 2003 01:41 (twenty-three years ago)

I have a pair of white Skeechers (sp?) with rhinestones and a very thick sole that I wear while working*. All the old women I care for seem to like them a lot.

*I'm a home health aide.

― Christine "Green Leafy Dragon" Indigo (cindigo), Saturday, 29 March 2003 02:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Took 20 minutes to make him laugh, mind.

This sounds like the best extreme radio ever! However, it was probably awful in 'reality'. What station was this?

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 29 March 2003 02:41 (twenty-three years ago)

DUD!

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 29 March 2003 03:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Sadly, Nick, you've misunderstood me; though I didn't phrase it very well. Me and my mate James occasionally phone each other and see who can make the other laugh, is what I meant. Although now you mention it, I might have to propose that to the uni radio station...

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Saturday, 29 March 2003 10:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Adidas stan smiths
Converse all stars
Converse Jack purcell

yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!!!!

and...

I have superstars with blue REFLEXIVE stripes

Are these stripes that refer to themselves or that reflect light? Just wondering. The former would = Classx

― Skottie, Sunday, 30 March 2003 06:45 (twenty-three years ago)

er, yeah reflective even, good call.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 30 March 2003 14:01 (twenty-three years ago)

white stan smiths with laces are the only trainers i wear but james is right that their recent ubiquitousness has slightly lessened their coolness (and increased their price by a tenner or more).

― michael wells (michael w.), Sunday, 30 March 2003 15:52 (twenty-three years ago)

should we all move on to rod lavers or whatever?

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 30 March 2003 15:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Everybody who's anybody is wearing Ilie Nastases this year!

― Skottie, Sunday, 30 March 2003 16:08 (twenty-three years ago)

I only WISH I could move on to Rod Lavers!

But apparently they are not to be had in my size for love or money in this town.

― felicity (felicity), Sunday, 30 March 2003 20:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Felicity in Rod Laver shockah!

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

You wouldn't believe how hard it is even to find a pair of Stan Smiths in this town!

― felicity (felicity), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:25 (twenty-three years ago)

i saw these really cool white adidas boxing boots in a shop a few months ago. i should've bought them then, because i can't find them anywhere in this city!

― sand.y, Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:26 (twenty-three years ago)

If they are the Adidas/Yamamoto cross breed: avoid avoid avoid.

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Mary, I would have thought of you as more of a white-on-white Tretorns gal. But perhaps that was pre-M.F.A.

― felicity (felicity), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:36 (twenty-three years ago)

classic. preferably all white with nothing not-white about them except, maybe, the soles and some muck.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Mary, what is this adidas/yamamoto crossbreed of which you speak?

― sand.y, Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Ha ha in highschool I rocked the white on white Tretorns. I also seem to recall a special tricot twist that I did at the end of my jeans to set of shoes to further display. Sand.y: a high concept hybrid intented to give class to adidas and sportiness to yamamoto. On second thought: could be vaguely rockable, I'll give up my pretentions to knowledge re fashion now that I have outed myself as a former white sock white tretorn tight guess jean wearer. The new-vintage breed of Keds are looking cute.

― Mary (Mary), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Chucks are C on the females and D on dudes. The other ways in which white trainers may be worn without instant dudness are:

1. Be full of soul

2. Be excellent at computer science

3. Be wearing a tuxedo

― Millar (Millar), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

4. In a retro-80s revival "Prep cool" stylee

― felicity (felicity), Sunday, 30 March 2003 23:57 (twenty-three years ago)

No.

― Millar (Millar), Monday, 31 March 2003 00:14 (twenty-three years ago)

"Ok" (she said to the man who advocates sneakers with a tuxedo) ;P

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 31 March 2003 00:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh Mary, please don't bring back the folded jeans look. One of your classmates demonstrated it to me this month, and oh, it was horrible.

(I think I just have middle school issues.)

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 31 March 2003 01:53 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, but can I still tuck my jeans into my socks?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 31 March 2003 02:02 (twenty-three years ago)

What kind of cover did you have for your Bermuda Bag?

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 31 March 2003 02:07 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

At my favorite Converse outpost, there were no pure white Chuck Taylor lowtops, so in a shocking development I have bought my first pair of Jack Purcells. White as all get out. Andy B. says it's ok to wear white after Easter (some Southern thing) so I plan to innaugurate this new fashion 'do' tomorrow.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:35 (twenty-three years ago)

WHAT?

NO WHITE BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY!

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, no white shoes at least.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Too late: the Georgia loophole is my savior.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:47 (twenty-three years ago)

God forbid you run into Beverly Sutphin, Mary.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't you have LIVE in Georgia for said loophole to apply?

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Grrrrrrr how long till Memorial Day?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:54 (twenty-three years ago)

(um, have TO live)

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Mary already has a "drawl." Perhaps that counts?

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:56 (twenty-three years ago)

No.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 03:01 (twenty-three years ago)

My shoes look dangerously like Keds but I am trying to be not afraid.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 19:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I miss my rust-brown Skechers, they were ace.

― Matt (Matt), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:42 (twenty-three years ago)

The die has been cast. I am now roaming the city in screaming white shoes.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, Mary.

― rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:54 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

So I took out my old white velco Stan Smiths (blue on the back) and rocked them today. Thing is, I think I got them a half size too small of something cause they hurt a little and I started to get blisters and I had a vague recollection of that happening before. I wonder if I can get white velcro Stan Smiths anymore.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 03:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Im sure white stan smiths are available still - where do you live?? as this will be crucial to your search

― james (james), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I am wearing white TIGERS with green stripes on them. They rock.

They also need a WASH.

In the washing machine with you tonight boys!

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Not just white stan smiths white velcro stan smiths -- i want to break more than one ilx fashion law at a time . . .

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 17:37 (twenty-three years ago)

So K-Swiss has some hot new white shoes out. Crests (light blue, pink, or gray) on the back and on the side, laces and velcro, slightly high. But I'm not sure I really have a need for a third pair of white sneakers.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 13 May 2003 05:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Guess what my latest pair of trainers are? Ha ha! I bought them in the Incredibly Cheap Shoe Shop in the Brunswick Centre. I thought HSA was kidding about the cheapness of those shoes, but no. However, my enourmous white toeboats are actually Adidas so rock that. Hah!

― kate, Tuesday, 13 May 2003 07:29 (twenty-three years ago)

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