All posts tagged: Converse

Hudson’s Bay Company x Converse Jack Purcell – Fall 2013

Converse is killing it for Fall 2013. There is the Maison Martin Margiela collaboration and one featuring an iconic Canadian institution, Hudson’s Bay Company. Those of you that covet Hudson’s Bay Company stripes, these are the sneaker for you. Available in the unisex Converse Jack Purcell, Duck Boot and women’s only Helen silhouettes, each style embodies the Hudson’s Bay Company wool point blanket stripes, with features such as threaded stitching and antique brass eyelets, and the Jack Purcell and Hudson’s Bay logos on the foot bed. These silhouettes also carry an official “Seal of Quality” maintaining the authenticity of Hudson’s Bay Company. Additionally, the Jack Purcell Duck features a leather collar and heel stay, as well as embroidery on the tongue of the shoe, creating an elevated style that merges these two iconic brands. (source: Press Release) The Converse x Hudson’s Bay Company Jack Purcell collection is available exclusively at Hudson’s Bay Stores and will retail for $120-140.

Converse x Maison Martin Margiela – Fall 2013

I talked about changing up my shoe game but Converse keeps calling me back. This collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela is pretty awesome. “Converse is thrilled to partner with Maison Martin Margiela. The collection perfectly embodies each brand’s spirit of individuality and self-expression unifying Converse and Margiela’s conviction of unleashing creativity,” says Matt Sleep, Converse Senior First String Designer.(source: Press Release) The first-time Converse Maison Martin Margiela collaboration features the Chuck Taylor All Star and the Jack Purcell sneakers, each completely hand-painted in Maison Martin Margiela’s iconic white paint. Covering all canvas, eyelets, laces and soles, they naturally crack and shed their outer coat of paint to reveal the original colors beneath.(source: Press Release) “The Maison has always been obsessed with white; it is used as a layer to give an incognito feeling. A sort of poetry, with the passage of time, the shoe asserts itself,” says Maison Martin Margiela.(source: Press Release) There are four colour ways available: red, black, navy and Margiela-exclusive vintage yellow. This limited edition collection are availalbe at Margiela stores and …

Converse Spring Summer 2011

I’ve been wearing my Converse for the past couple of weekends so I feel like I can talk about Converse earnestly now. It’s Converse weather people. I’m the type of person who wears my Converse in the warmer months as they don’t offer much protection in the winter. So this season Converse teamed up with DC Comics and they have some great choices in design from Batman, Superman, The Joker and Batgirl. There are a lot of great styles for the comic book fan. I also got to see the Marimekko x Converse collaboration. They are a fun shoe that I’m liking for summer. There were some interesting offerings from Converse by John Varvatos this season too. I really like this woven looking pair. See all my photos from the Converse Spring Summer 2011 Preview. Best bet for finding these styles in Toronto is Get Outside.

Converse Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 Preview

The Converse Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 preview was held at One King Street in the Vault. It was an interesting venue as it literally was a vault, heavy steel door and all. It was a little to dark for good photos. The Chuck Taylor line is always coming up with new fabrications and colour schemes.  I saw corduroy, jersey, sequins and suede. I really like the Chuck Taylor Slims in leather.  For women they introduced a slouchy Chuck Taylor in patent leather and denim. They retail $80 – $90.  There where so many styles to look at, here are my highlights. Chuck Taylor All Star 1969 Collection The 1960’s were turbulent times. War lotteries and race riots gave way to protests and the love movement. The music of Woodstock carries with it the all the strength and desires of a new and prolific generation who were determined to break all the rules. Chuck Taylor All Star shoe’s capture the radical spirit of the Woodstock generation and pay homage to the artists that changed the …

Converse Music Collection Spring 2010

Converse Music Collection for Spring 2010 brings us Blondie and The Clash. The Music Collection are “sneakers inspired by iconic bands who defined what it means to rock.” The Blondie styles are made for women. I’m a fan of The Clash so I was super excited about their offerings. The white leather London Calling chucks are amazing. I ended up getting the red skull and bones Hi Tops thanks to the kind folks at Converse. I can’t wait till the weather is nicer so I can wear them.  I seem to be amazing a little Chuck Taylor collection at home, this pair will be number four.  The others were purchased by myself and not gifts, I love my Chuck Taylors. Converse Music Collections Availability and Pricing Chuck Taylor Blondie DH Print Hi $80.00 Available at Get Outside & Little Burgundy Chuck Taylor Blondie Tri-Stitch Ox $80.00 Available at Get Outside All Star Light Blondie Animal Print $70.00 Available at Little Burgundy Chuck Taylor The Clash – London Calling 30th (leather) $100 and two other styles …

i want: Terence Koh for Converse 1HUND(RED) Artists Chuck Taylor All Stars

I love the minimalistic nature of these Terence Koh for Converse 1HUND(RED) Artists Chuck Taylor All Stars. Unfortunately, these are for the guys. Not in my size. Boo. I’m a 5.5 Converse! Enlisted as a contributor to the 1HUND(RED) project, Koh’s approach to the design of his shoe focused on subtraction. “I wanted to keep the DNA of the Chuck Taylor intact, while reducing the seams, and smoothing out the shoe’s surfaces as much as possible”. Terence replaced the usual curve of the ankle with a vertical construction to give the shoe a clean square look. A smoothed-out version of the signature Converse tread on the sole combines with a white on white All Star rubber license plate on the heel to round out the ultra-clean look and feel of the shoe. As a contributor to 1HUND(RED), a percentage of the net wholesale price of the shoe will go to help fight AIDS in Africa, giving consumers an opportunity to become agents of change and offering a way to turn design into power. The Terence …

i want: Converse Chuck Taylor Boots

I’m always sad when the really cold weather happens because I have to put away my Chucks. It was just too cold to wear them. That’s changed this season because there are now Converse Chuck Taylor Boots. I like the plaid and leather versions. They cost $140. The one below is nylon and it’s $120. They are available at NEON, Get Outside and Little Burgundy in Toronto. You can find the leather and nylon versions in stores now, but the Woolrich Plaid will be available after November 30, 2009. http://www.neonclothing.ca

i want: Woolrich Converse

Woolrich Converse I noticed that plaid was big for men at the Holt Renfrew Fall 2009 – 2010 Menswear Media Preview. I kinda liked that and these Chucks immediately struck a cord. The interesting thing about these ones are the Woolrich angle. Woolrich has been synonymous with quality outdoor clothing for over 178 years. The company got its start in 1830 when John Rich, an immigrant from England, built his first woolen mill in Plum Run, Pennsylvania. Rich would visit the lumber camps that dotted the area and sell his woolen fabric, socks, coverlets, and yarn from a mule cart. image: sneakerfreaker.com