Pastel hues and sherbert shades have crept their way in this season and these exhuberent tones are on trend and easy to wear. You dont have to go the whole hog but it is nice to pair pastels with pastels and add some neutral accesories and jewllery to complete a perfect outfit for any occasion.
Styling by Vanessa Cocchiaro
Sneakerstory
Most of the fashion images from last year to the day on street-style websites portrait sneakers; comfortable, fashionable and contemporary. What else? If you’re thinking about the trend, placing it to the 90s, you are only partially right. It really seems like a sport breeze – if you even can associate the modern day sneakers to sports anymore – is still blowing. But what about the first sneakers ever?
The very first rubber-soled shoes have been created in the late 19th century in US. Their were called plimsolls, and funny enough, there was no difference between the right or left foot shoe. A company from Connecticut was the first to claim the license for a new manufacturing process called vulcanization, discovered by the owner, Charles Goodyear. The process consists of using heat to melt rubber to fabric for a more permanent bond.
Around 1892 the first canvas sneakers were born, called Keds, being produced by U.S. Rubber Company. In twenty years Keds became very common, and they got the name sneaker from Henry Nelson McKinney, an advertising agent. They were so quiet that a person wearing them could sneak on someone. In 1917 Marquis Converse produced the first pair of shoes created specifically for basketball, the Converse All-Stars. Chuck Taylor, an Indiana hoops star, became their testimonial and made them definitely the best-selling basketball shoes of all time.
1924 was the time when sneakers became international. A man from Germany, named Adolf “Adi” Dassler, made a collection of shoes under a brand called Adidas, and after ten years his brother Rudolf started up another brand, Puma.
The long love affair between youth culture and sneakers started during the 50s, mainly thanks to the star of Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean who inspired a whole generation with his style. At the beginning of the 80s Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, helped Vans to achieve greater success wearing the famous slip-on model. The peak of all the sneaker history happened in 1984, when Michael Jordan signed a contract with Nike: does Air Jordan sound familiar to you?
And here we are, the 90s arrived and you have witnessed yourself how crucial it was to get a pair of sneakers back then, almost like it still is nowadays.
Running Shoes: From Running Lane to Runway
Rewind back to the late 80s and early 90s, NYC commuters rushing to work in glam power suits teamed with running shoes and socks over nylon tights. A practical and fast way to get to the office on time without any broken ankles or heels, only to slip into those high heels ready to strut the office corridors.
Fast forward to 2012, with the 2013 Spring/Summer collection shows just behind us, there is a renewed hype to the functional athletic shoe, with designers like Raf Simons, Valentino, Missoni and Salvatore Ferragamo sending male models down the catwalk in tailored suits and fresh preppy silhouettes favouring modern running shoes as footwear. Valentino goes for camouflage tones and blurred patterned trainers worn with tailored ankle cut pants, slick sportswear and utility inspired pieces. Salvatore Ferragamo’s clean crisp line in zesty fresh colours is a striking mix of modern men’s tailoring and retro details worn with matching running shoes in acidic brights with flashes of neon.
This trend is not restricted to men only, it clearly lends itself to women also, with many women of all ages opting for a comfortable statement, mixing fashion outfits or chic modern ensembles kicked off with a pair of New Balance or neon Nike running shoes.
Of course it’s not the first time sports shoes have been a trend outside of functionality. Take the 80s rap era when the Nike Air Force 1 basketball shoe and the Adidas Superstar became firm fixtures in urban street style.
So what does this say about the mix of sport and chic as a fashion statement? With technology developing ever lighter fabrications, some running shoes weigh less than 10 ounces / 250 grams. It goes without saying that the boost in running shoe sales for such brands as Nike and New Balance represent the continued trend towards the “casualization” of society and the acceptance of sport and chic in the office. It seems more than just a fashion statement but more like a mentality and attitude of today.
