Fasten your seat belts, please. In this article, we travel through my past in not one but two time loops. Station 1: my early twenties. I spent them almost exclusively in Converse. The rest of the time in Vans. In spring, summer, fall and winter. How I didn't gradually freeze all my toes off during the latter and managed not to fly on my nose all the time is still a mystery to me today. What is completely obvious, however, is the reason for which both brands are still represented in my shoe assortment: There are probably few sneaker models more timeless than Chucks from Converse and Old Skools from Vans. Am I right?
The only difference between then and now is a small but decisive one: the sole. Because I no longer prefer them flat, footbedless and worn through, but properly chunky, please. Yes, the platform sole is back - and brings us directly to stop number 2 in my past. About ten years before I laced Chucks and Vans on my feet out of conviction, it had to be Supergas. With platform soles. Preferably the same ones that my best friend wore. For the perfect partner look, you know. We were advocates of tattoo necklaces, colored sunglasses, small backpacks and said platform sneakers. In other words, everything that is now part of a sensible 90s revival look. So now, in 2022, the two shoe passions of my youth merge into a symbiosis. Timeless sneakers with a zeitgeisty twist. Hach.
Another "shoe" from my childhood is also suddenly aiming high. The plastic slippers from Crocs. Whereas back then they were strictly used within the confines of one's own four walls or in the garden, today opinions are divided over their sudden salon appeal. Pop star Justin Bieber launched a colorful collection for his Drew House label, model Bella Hadid wears them for strolling around, and my good colleague just strolled into the pool with them by my side last weekend. Say what you will about it, but Crocs are ubiquitous - and with their platform sole upgrade, no longer fall clearly into the "absolute no go" category for me either.
