Bess is really good at taking your every common day product, adding some well planned out studs, and making it totally badass. I’ve never been a big Converse guy (they really hurt my feet), but I would totally rock these.

By far the best purchase you can make right now. 100% customizable Converse. With over 13 pieces of remixable sections, it’s not only the perfect get out of work activity, it’s also down right addictive.

I’m getting pretty sick of seeing every guy wearing Converse sneakers, so here is a great alternative to the classic high top sneakers. These awesome Oak kicks have the same vibe as Converse but in leather and suede with an awesome heel zipper detail. Sure, they’re not as cheap as Converse, but they sure as hell are cooler!

Get it at: Oak

Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, designers of Vena Cava, recently designed a pair of high-top Converse sneakers for the 1HUND(RED) project, an organization striving to eliminate AIDS in Africa. The limited edition kicks look similar to their recent collection for The Gap.

Thanks Teen Vogue!

Chewbacca the Wookie is the proud model for the latest Converse campaign…wonder how much he got paid?

While a good majority of New York males have a decent sense of style, their shoe choices tend to revolve around dilapidated Converse, Nikes, Toms or Vans. But should I ever come across a guy rocking out the classically inspired, Southern California based Esquivel Shoes, I may very well kiss the ground he walks on. Made entirely by hand from the finest materials, veteran cobbler George Esquivel has dressed Grammy nominees to members of royal families with his stunning array of men’s dress shoes. Ranging from simple, classic oxfords to distressed lace-up boots, Esquivel has a shoe for every type of man whether he be sophisticated or flashy. So tell me, is there a Mrs. Esquivel, and if so, does she craft women’s shoes? I’ll cross my fingers! 

GALLERY: DESIGNER TO KNOW: Esquivel Shoes

Check out Esquivel Shoes here! 

Not sure exactly where I found these two, but I am so glad that I did (so much that I want to tell everyone I know, and all of you Indies that I don’t know about it).  Formally Tomás and Geraldine, these childhood friends have created one hell of a design team that puts LaChapelle at the end of the line.  Photographer and artist Tomi, and artist/illustrator/graphic designer/teacher Cherry reside in Argentina and are constantly creating the most insane work I’ve ever seen.   A big way these two are creating such off-the-wall work is because of their similar visions, and passion for art.  Tomi described to me:

 

“How we work together, is by doing everything side by side. We work together from the beginning designing and manufacturing the scenography’s, and also afterwards taking the pictures (deciding best angle for the shoots and illuminating a scene together). So we don’t credit our work separately as nowadays our knowledges are melting into each other more and more.. usually we credit as doing the photos together, as the final photo is the result of all the work previusly done. But it’s not like I’m specifically the photographer and Cherry the set designer.”

It’s weird to see a Chuck Taylor with an ankle strap (seems a little Nike Dunk), but I kindof like it.  I like the slim look of Chucks, and Converse decided to jump on the high-top ankle strap band wagon for fall.  Keep a look out for more colors.

SOURCE: High Snobiety

It doesn’t get more classic than this, Woolrich and Converse teamed up to create these Chucks for fall. They’re aren’t available yet, but look for them for back to school.  I love plaid, and grew up in the Midwest, so obviously I was around a lot of Woolrich, and I’ll definitely be picking up a pair of these come August.

SOURCE: High Snobiety

Is she seriously wearing that?  Lets start with how rough her hair looks…you aren’t living in that small vampire town anymore, THIS IS AN AWARDS SHOW.  Second, that Spiderman dress…um…? Maybe it would’ve been okay if it wasn’t fire-engine red and didn’t have that weird belt around it.  Finally, Converse? really? I know that young Hollywood is trying to convince the world that they can wear Converse with their $5,000+ dresses because they’re “too good” for Hollywood and they’re “just like everyone else” even though they make millions doing who knows what, but really…THIS IS AN AWARDS SHOW, suck it up and put on some heels, or at least flats.  You won’t have many more chances to go to awards shows after people realize that your movies aren’t good, so you might as well take advantage of designers handing you anything you want while you still can.

</rant>

IMAGE SOURCE: MTV.com

This season Comme des Garcons PLAY worked with Converse on a series of Chuck Taylors. They kept  it simple with the sneakers by only adding their red heart logo to the black and white Chuck Taylor Hi and Lo, now available at Bobos.

Converse has announced that they are discontinuing the Converse by John Varvatos women’s line (launched only 3 years ago), effective April 24.

This will not affect the men’s wear line: “We have a strong relationship with John and are planning to continue both the Converse by John Varvatos footwear and men’s apparel lines as part of our on-going commitment to the growth of Converse.”

So sad since we just talked to John regarding launching his own women’s line, guess that won’t be happening either.

Finally, a shoe “inspired by the Prince of Darkness!” I’m surprised it’s not black — but I guess the straitjacket motif makes up for that.

This Ozzy Osbourne-inspired Jack Purcell sneaker by Converse is only $100 and available at Converse.com.

You’ve got to give it up to a dude who can properly rock Martin Margiela. This fashionisto was spotted in Paris looking like he beat the shitake out of a runway model and grabbed his garb.

Wearing Martin Margiela, Paris

Jacket: Black MARTIN MARGIELA Belted Jacket

Shoes: White Sneakers

Sunglasses: Black MARTIN MARGIELA Sunglasses

T-Shirt: White CONVERSE T-Shirt

Tights: Black BOUDICCA Leggings

Photo By: Phil Oh

LINKAGE: Street Peeper

Help me out indies, I can’t make up my mind on these new shin hi boots by Converse. They look pretty cool I think, but I can’t really decide. I know that I like them way better than those annoying Hunter boots, and sorry Marc Jacobs, but your boots don’t cut it either. The things I do like about these boots are the soft top that could possibly allow for some slouching, and the buckles are a nice added touch. Let me know what you think indies.

Get your own pair at Flauge

Naturally distressed Converse sneakers are almost as sentimental as great grandma’s baked macaroni recipe passed down through several generations. The thing I love about seeing someone sporting a nice beat up pair of these kicks are the stories behind them…the tragic bleach spill at the laundromat, the pit bull who mistook the chucks for a steak, the mud pit at Lollapalooza. The stories are endlessly entertaining. So, why one earth would you buy Chucks that already have tears, stains and battered laces? Not only are you sacrificing the story behind the timeless sneaker, you resemble the loser who actually coughed up money for torn Abercrombie jeans! I despise this instant gratification era we live in and Converse is just feeding the flame by pre-beating their shoes. Really people, have some patience, take your time with a natural distressing process…Chucks aren’t going out of style anytime soon.

Thanks Arquivo Urbano!

Deadheads of the world rejoice; you can now access a pair of trainers stamped with the imprimatur of The Grateful Dead.

The legendary hippie-era band, formed in San Francisco in 1965 and regarded as ‘the pioneering godfathers of the jam band world’, has joined forces with Converse.

The band has recreated its famed, psychedelic ‘Dancing Bears’ artwork as an eclectic, colourful print on the canvas upper which is based on the original Chuck Taylor silhouette.

The trainers, in a black/red/blue/yellow colour scheme, are priced from pounds sterling 44.99, from the Converse Store at UK Size 6-11, Carnaby Street, London W1 (020 7287 4016; www.converse.com.

-Via Telegraph

An interesting version of the All Star Ox has just been released – a clear, transparent version. Guess now you must be very careful with your sock choices…

Thanks Highsnobiety