WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 11, 2004
Cadenza Editor / Travis Petersen / cadenza@studlife.com
shooting some shoes
STUDENT LIFE | CADENZA
3
Shoes. We’re all wearing them, and we can’t seem to get our minds off our feet. A wise student newspaper designer once said, “Man, I noticed that about this school—people are always checking out each other’s shoes.” The “college look” is a part of every campus, and students seem to divide into factions by design: those who wear Nikes, those who wear Pumas, those who shop at Payless. While wares wear thin in the spring as students pare down to Tevas and Birkenstocks, the winter months offer a bevy of footwear, from the traditional rugged rubber of sneakers to the comforting warmth of leather boots. Black remains the dominant fashion statement, but white appears ornamentally, and color is never passé. Here is a look at the top ten university foot fads.
The gray suede with blue side-lining, a Sketchers rip-off of the Adidas line that just won’t go away. The shoe looks like it has a thin Converse-like sole, but is adequately lined and comfortable for walks, although its owner comments, “I wouldn’t wear it to go hoop.” An interesting shoe for its unisex capability, which overshadows its lessthan-unique design, this shoe looks like something both Rivers Cuomo and his sister would wear.
Another fun fi nd, this pair of galoshes, perfect for a slushy day. Many wear these over their shoes to protect their favored footwear from the elements. We tend to think they are fun on their own. Apparently, clothiers Urban Outfitters agrees, and now offers galoshes in many a bright and sunny color. When it comes right down to it, no one cares if galoshes look good, or even how effective they are. People just like saying galoshes.
The knee-length black boot, a classic leather Equestrian design from Born, a Swedish shoemaker that now manufactures its shoes somewhere in Southeast Asia. The manila-colored stitching on the outside of the sole is reminiscent of the famous Doc Marten design, but the zip-up sides of this high rise make it far more accessable. This boot also scores high marks for comfort, since unlike some of its haughtier counterparts, it has no heel and is therefore fit for everyday use.
These ankle-high black boots are made for walking, and are practical if not on the cutting edge of fashion. Laura Ingalls loved wearing these shoes, and what’s good enough for her is good enough for us students. In fact these pristine peds are popular among professors, who appreciate their austere quality in tandem with other professional clothes, such as pleated khakis and anklelength dresses. Sometimes comfort just has to outweigh couture.
Another classic look, these black Vans have been in style since middle school. The fat tongue of the shoe makes it comfortable to lace either tight or loose, and its thick rubber sole and rim make it ideal for skaters. Of course the owner of this shoe is not a skater, which just goes to show how successful the Vans brand has been at crossmarketing its design for the layman. Also clear from this photo is the way the owner of the shoe tends to arch his foot towards the right while walking, as is evidenced by the position of the bow, which has settled on the left side. Thank you, Dr. Watson.
These leather puppies are also in fashion with both the male and female sectors. In fact, these shoes scream the most annoying buzzword of the past year and a half or so: “Metrosexual!” The wearer of these particular shoes kicks it at the library, and any wearer of this particular style of shoes probably wouldn’t mind kickin’ it with a clove cigarette.
Probably the most ubiquitous shoe on campus, the outdoor Nike will never be usurped by New Balance, much to the dismay of the other third of students (who wear grey New Balances). Black, gray and army green are the most popular colors for this shoe, which usually becomes so caked with mud and grime that color becomes obsolete. Students like them not only because of their unassuming nature, but because they go with everything. Nike should start including in their shoeboxes a form thank-you note to the factory in Malaysia where these shoes are made.
See other Nikes.
These Adidas sandals, known to locker rooms worldwide thanks to swimmers and soccer players, are all over the place in the spring and summer, but we were lucky enough to run into the only guy on campus brave enough to sport them in early February. “Aren’t you cold?” we asked, after initially assaulting him with demands to photograph his feet. “Yeah,” he said, rather sheepishly. Three cheers for Sandal Man. Seriously, can someone write a shanty for this guy?
These red and white shoes are stylish and fly. The dude wearing these was ready to rock coming out of Duncker Hall, and no doubt he has an outrageous personality to go along with his outrageous footwear. Keep it real, Duncker Dude, keep it real.