12
Issue 77 / 2015
FASHION
guestlist.net
Fashion timeline: hi-tops
Hi-tops have run the musical gamut; from rock and roll to punk, from grunge to hip-hop, even sugary sweet pop stars
like to sport the classic shoe. Pretty much everyone on the planet owns a pair, and they have become the festival and gig
shoe of choice – comfy enough to rave or mosh all night long and cool enough to keep you looking fresh. Not bad for a
humble basketball shoe
1917– The first version of the All Star basketball
shoe is produced by the Converse Rubber
Corporation. A classic is created.
1936– Chuck Taylor designs a white
hi-top with red and blue trim for the US
Olympic basketball team. Of course they
win the gold medal.
1955 – James Dean sports a pair in
Rebel Without A Cause and the shoes
instantly become symbol of cool.
1970s – Although they originally
started out wearing Keds, everyone
assumed the Ramones only wore
Converse, which they did do later
down the line.
1989– Still enjoying a rock and roll
phase, Chuck Taylors became the
official sneaker of The Rolling
Stones' Steel Wheels tour. Both
icons are still rocking to this day.
early 1990s – Kurt Cobain was often seen
in a beaten up black pair of hi-tops, and
consequently the trainer entered the world
of grunge.
2009– Hi-tops go
Hollywood as Kristen
Stewart starts rocking
them on the red carpet.
2013 – Many in the hip-hop game love the
shoes, with everyone from Ice Cube to
Snoop pulling on a pair, but none as much
as Wiz Khalifa who creates his very own
range.
2013 - Maison Martin Margiela put a high
fashion twist on the hi-tops. Red, blue
and yellow Converse get a coat of white
paint, which is designed to flake off over
time, creating a one-of-a-kind design.
2015– Grubby Converse will be treading the
festival fields of Europe and beyond.
