[Closed] Middle age and brand loyalty to trainers

For the last 20years, I've had a whole load of shoes that looked exactly like this:

[img] [/img]

Sometimes with a little more black, sometimes with a little less brown, just to keep things exciting.

i've got a stupid amount of trainers. it's great.

4x vans
3x macbeth
1x DC
1x etnies
1x duffs
1x adidas
1x salomon
1x inov8
1x sheep
1x emerica
1x merrell

I might actually be Binners. 😳

Is it just me, or does any item of clothing with Nike or Adidas on it scream, "Chav" or, "no taste" anyway?

It's not just you. I worked (past tense) in marketing and design for my sins - and big brands actually cater for perceived social exclusion and actively reinforce stereotypes (whether 'valid' or 'invalid', whatever side of the fence you're on) if it's profitable they will profit from it. We wouldn't judge a child living literally off a dump for his choice in footwear, we might rightly consider that his real 'self', his passions, intellect, character etc are all nothing whatsoever to do with his choice of footwear.

On the other hand I should be banned from discussing the concept or practice of brand loyalty on account of being unfashionable, irregardless of whether or not I too was slavish at any time earlier in life. (I know it's just banter, just being rhetorical here)

It's just shooooz! I do find it all really interesting, sociologically/behaviorally - in group/out group, people can get really heated up defending brands etc...kids have been killed/committed suicide over shoes. Nowhere is shoe-craze so active as hip-hop/rap culture, even more than STW! For instance, was a fan of De La Soul but their FB feed is 90% shoe-fetishism, sort of put me off them! Sometimes i think we're living in a re-imagined sportswear equivalent of post-pompadour Georgian society

Not really about brand loyalty more about not falling apart, other trainers I've worn self destruct in weeks. I've got Adidas trainers I've used for 20 years. That and run DMC etc...

Only brand I really liked were Simple and they have gone away 🙁

On the other hand I should be banned from discussing the concept or practice of brand loyalty on account of being unfashionable, irregardless of whether or not I too was slavish at any time earlier in life.

+1

42 and no brand loyalty, just try to buy what is comfortable and not too 'shouty', which seems difficult these days, I'm not keen on brash loud trainers with wacky style soles etc.

Did you do the whole Kick, Mamba, Bamba, Samba thing?

44 and forever in skate shoes.

Always used to be Vans but they went off the boil a few years back IMHO. On to DC now.

Also got a few pairs of Merrels for actual 'outdoor' use (though my next pair will more likely be Salomon or Keen), and some Nike for the rate occasion I play 5 a side.

Isn't it a just an accepted fact that as a British male* your choice of trainers is frozen in time the moment you hit 18. Whatever you're wearing then, you are pre-ordained to wear for the rest of your life. In most cases this is good. Not so if you had white Reebok Classics on though. All i wear, and have ever worn, is Adidas Gazelle or New Balance. Anything else would just be... well... a bit like wanton showy-offy extravagance

I heard it that the cut-off is whenever you leave full time education. That applies better for me than 18 does. On the other hand I was never very fashion or style conscious at all so it's only the basic look (jeans, t-shirts, trainers) that's been constant, I've never been too picky about the brands except for generally not buying expensive stuff.

I'm 45. I bought my last trainers 25 years ago. They were pink (and a bargain).

If anyone can find me a pair of adidas titan running shoes in brown, size 46 is get them a pint

Adidas, Puma, Nike, Converse, Vans, Five Ten...

Love Cortez, Stan Smith, Superstar, Ciero, All Star Suedes, Suedes, Baskets in particular. Also really love the Five Ten Tennie Guide shoes.

I will hit 40 in December...

failedengineer - Member
Is it just me, or does any item of clothing with Nike or Adidas on it scream, "Chav" or, "no taste" anyway?
POSTED 6 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

It's not just you - but no matter how many of you there are you will all be wrong! 😆

Adidas all the way. If you are over 25 and still wear Vans you need to have a word with yourself.

I had a word. Turns out they're extremely comfy, pretty understated, and longlived so I'm going to keep wearing them.

33 - only wear nikes

been though the dunk sb phase, pusheads got me started, Tiffanys i paid an arm and leg for, hawaii's were good, lots of love for "hair highs" , golfs, stussys, avenger pack, reese forbes, still got most,

moved to AM1's, then to Free Run 2's - now on Flyknit Max

also have a deadstock pair of Swagger x Terminators that don't even fit me, End Clothing stiched me up

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

I wear chinos, so I win.

frozen in time the moment you hit 18

This is true ^^^. For me it has been...

[img] [/img]

... despite looking like clown shoes on my size 12s.

at present I have about 10 pairs of Cons in different colours and states or wear, but occasionally can be seen in Nike 6.0 for skating and 5.10 for riding...

Oh and I'm 38, and have lost count of how many pairs of Cons I have had over the years

Is it just me, or does any item of clothing with Nike or Adidas on it scream, "Chav" or, "no taste" anyway?

Mainly Nike here. A few pairs of Adidas (fabric shell toes, zx9000) and I'd have more but they always feel a bit narrow for my feet.

Trainers, or sports shoes, are for doing sport in. Birkies are for 54 year olds, tho' I have yet to wear them with socks.

I had a word with myself about vans too, turns out I've been wearing them for 25 years so I think I'm ok. I can only wear skate shoes, Nike SB at the moment. Had some nice Adidas skateboard ones too a while back. DC have been naff for a decade if not more!

I think going onto an Internet forum to give yourself an erection by telling strangers what shoes they should or shouldn't wear makes you seem like a thirteen year old growing up in a darkened room not being taught any social skills.

I tend to only wear skate trainers. My ankles thank me for the support.

My missus has tried to get me into brown shoe/trainers from time o time but she generally knows she's beat after 13 years of trying.

Emerica and Vans Half Cabs at the moment

Is it just me, or does any item of clothing with Nike or Adidas on it scream, "Chav" or, "no taste" anyway?

Wearing Lonsdale clothing definitely appears to be a marker for social deprivation.

Nike Cortez FTW. I used to wear them for work and they were great, until it became difficult to get sufficiently inconspicuously white ones.

I don't understand the adult male fascination with exercise pumps made out of cheap materials in sweatshops?

'Exercise pumps'?

You may as well call Paris Hilton's accessory bag a 'rucksack'

High profile branded training shoes tell us about someone's core identity, their person - their achievements and aspirations - not to mention their social status/peer identity and peer group acceptance level. They may also denote the 'playfulness' or 'seriousness' of the wearer. Non-branded sends an adverse message to others - ie 'I don't care about my life, I chose to lose'. Think yellowing Hi-Tec-wearing sex pest or ginger combover-cadet in no-name wellingtons

In short - correct trainers say 'winner'. Incorrect trainers say 'loser'.

Choose carefully, your credibility is at stake.

'Pumps'? wtf? Pumps are for kids. Fashion is a grownup thing.

High profile branded training shoes tell us about someone's core identity, their person - their achievements and aspirations - not to mention their social status/peer identity and peer group acceptance level.

Do you by any chance work in sales or marketing?

Is that a Nathan Barley sketch?

Shoes ? Yes, many and varied

Trainers ? No, not in training for anything

Just checked and it seems Vans and Adidas in that order. One pair of G-Star because they look really good and were cheap and a pair of Reebok for the gym.

No it's not just you.
I don't understand the adult male fascination with exercise pumps made out of cheap materials in sweatshops?
Fair enough if you partake in exercise and need some jogging shoes but buying gaudy plimsoles to wear to the pub just looks like you wish you were still 13 and kicking a football around the park.

Problem is, what to wear with my shorts and polo tshirt? flip flops or retro trainers. Please Help!

High profile branded training shoes tell us about someone's core identity, their person - their achievements and aspirations - not to mention their social status/peer identity and peer group acceptance level.

Bret Easton Ellis is reimagining Patrick Bateman as a chav and I claim my five pounds.

[img] [/img]

Oh... and anyone who has ever had a pair of crocs on their feet should be immediately disqualified from commenting on this thread. Your opinion is about as valid as a vegan commenting on how to cook the perfect steak, or who makes the best sausages

but anything more than 1 pair of smart shoes, 1 pair of trainers, 1 pair of walking boots and a pair of 5-10's/SPDs for the bike makes you an Imelda Marcos wannabe 😉

I'd possibly by Vans... because they're not Converse.

MrSmith - Member

I don't understand the adult male fascination with exercise pumps made out of cheap materials in sweatshops?

No matter who you are, what ever label you attach to yourself, there is no excuse for bad footwear.

A man who pays no heed to his shoes is not to be trusted.
It's hardwired into our consciousness.
We are judged by our hooves.

*Northern whimsy
Brought up to polish, repair and generally look after shoes.

Shoes made a statement:
Docs from Harpurhey market or rare Diadora nicked on a European Cup match raid by someone's older brother.

*Northern whimsy

Quality counts though, got to be a functional item.
Nothing ugly or useless. 😀

Like everything, you can see the fun and accept the contradictions.
I knew that it was all marketing led bollocks by the last year of junior school.

Try not to partake in marketing bullshit, but a little now and again does you no harm. 🙂

I still fancy another pair of green Los Angeles. 😀

Do you by any chance work in sales or marketing?

Not so much these days. Our minds are so amusing, so compliant. Yet it feels somehow wrong/sociopathic to take advantage and tweak the minds of others (unless in good-natured jest of course). After a while you risk becoming awfully disillusioned and cynical. Marketing (especially fashion) is arguably pure, winker-grade distilled cynicism selling 'lifestyle choices'. Truth is most of us are so very easily manipulated - all the while convinced that by purchasing mass-produced and aggressively marketed cheap things at inflated prices we are nonetheless making a net positive individual 'statement'. What we wear is become more important than what we do, or indeed what we stand for.

It's a con, yet we are largely either unknowing or else willing dupes.

Some of us are market savvy and even aware of the process, even to the point of knowing our own demographic - yet we continue regardless. Brand loyalty is a powerful thing, whether simple beans or mass-produced pumps. Labels became a Very Big Thing. We are taught that we can 'look down' from them, can 'look up' to them, we discover that we can even look through them. But we have to have them. It's the feelgood 'magic' that seems unfathomably deeper than 2mm of PU or nylon mesh produced in sweatshops. Complicity of sorts.

Sometimes TJ should be allowed special dispensation to return for just the odd thread.

Malvern Rider - Member
High profile branded training shoes tell us about someone's core identity, their person - their achievements and aspirations - not to mention their social status/peer identity and peer group acceptance level. They may also denote the 'playfulness' or 'seriousness' of the wearer.

Yep, spot on.
And your other post too.

Susceptibility to external influence is hardly a radical concept.
But everyone believes it applies to a greater extent in others than it does in themselves.
Which is the perfect set up for men to take the piss out of each other about their shoes.

At 42 I don't like to admit to owning trainers for anything other than sports but I've had at least one pair of Vans (usually old schools) since I was 14.

Currently own a pair of these

[img] [/img]

which are my "go-to" casual "pumps"

a pair of these which come out once in a blue moon as they're rare and getting old

[img] [/img]

but that's about it that gets seen out other than a pair of these which are "smart pumps" if there's such a thing

[img] [/img]

Other than that, I've got a pair of these classics that I can't bare to part with. The just get used as general duty around the house shoes for pootling in and out of the garage/garden/whatever but I love them.

[img] [/img]

They're the strongest, most hard wearing and most comfortable shoes I've ever had and when the soles eventually wear out I expect I'll be getting some 5:10 Stealth glued on.

Everything else I own that could be called trainers is made by 5:10 for throwing yourself down mountains attached to a bicycle.

Which is the perfect set up for men to take the piss out of each other about their shoes.

Bingo. If you realize it's a shallow con/begin to lose your loyalty/begin to get sweaty around the neck etc...then just shame someone else for not dressing like your lofty fashionable self. Instant soothing balm, and for free! All you had to do was make someone feel shitty about themself for their lack of 'style'. Result: Self-worth boosted x100. Nikidas thanks you. Kerching.

Malvern Rider - Member

Bingo. If you realize it's a shallow con/begin to lose your loyalty/begin to get sweaty around the neck etc...then just shame someone else for not dressing like your lofty fashionable self.

Eh?
What if you knew it was a con in the first place?
Like football, or musical tribalism?

Maybe we can all laugh at the joke?

Cheap shoes are a way of deluding myself I can channel my susceptibility to consumerism. 😀

Instant soothing balm, and for free! All you had to do was make someone feel shitty about themself for their lack of 'style'. Result: Self-worth boosted x100. Nikidas thanks you. Kerching.

Not everyone's like that.
Unpleasant people have the same interests as pleasant ones.

Rusty +1

There's a point where something is overthought.