Splicetoday
Splice Archive
Pop Culture
Aug 01, 2008, 09:34AM

What Is Your Footwear's Market Research Profile?

Carles, Hipster Runoff

If you're trying to be a little more alternative in your lifestyle brand, there's no better place to start than your selection of shoes. Here's a breakdown of what your shoes say about you, and what your shoes say about marketing executives.

Shoe3.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

Regular Converse -a classic look that often justifies itself/leaves much to be desired at the same time. It sort of says 'I am a humble person' but still lets people know that you are either 10-25% alt or 100% post-alt.

 

      Shoe4_large

Quirky coloured converse - You were probably in a ska band in high school and are attached to your image as 'the smart kid who was also artistic and also had a quirky side that his teachers absolutely loved!'

     Shoe2_large

The Samba - I wonder what would happen if people who owned Sambas were required to register for an indoor soccer league. Overall, a 'humble yet alt' look that I would compare to a modern take on the Converse All Stars.

 

      Shoe1_large


New Balance 991s - A shoe made for mainstreamers/frat bros/girls who wear athletic shorts+a university t-shirt. These shoes are built for comfort. I wonder if they selected a comfy shoe on purpose, or if it was an arbitrary decision.

IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO PROMOTE THE CONVERSE ALL STAR? If I were the CEO of Converse, I would stop making every non-AllStar shoe and cancel their initiatives with high-profile athletes like Dwayne Wade.

Converse should just start distributing through thrift stores and be happy with 'letting people pay what they want' for their shoes. It worked for Radiohead's "In Rainbows" and I think this product is similar.
Older Pop Culture
Newer Pop Culture
Discussion
  • Missing sm

    dtdowntown

    commented

    Do people still wear Sambas? Even more, are people who buy similar but different shoes really get criticized for not buying sambas? Does all of this mean that in 3rd and 4th grade I was a budding alt-hipster? Actually, when looking at the full list, I must have been alt from about age 6 (LA Lights) up through middle school, when Airwalks became the big thing (do those still exist?) Weird. I don't know that any of these shoes are actually marketed anymore.

    Responses to this comment
  • Missing sm

    Iris

    commented

    I wear classic gull-wing Tretorns, an understated hallmark of the early 80's preppy look and style zenith in my opinion. It is the ultimate in swedish tennis technology, which is important to me, though I don't play tennis.

    Responses to this comment
  • 6a00d8341c630a53ef0105351b03fd970c 800wi.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

    Sourpuss

    commented

    Black, hi-top Converses have been my choice since a kid, passed down from generation to generation in my family. Never thought about any other kind, never thought about switching. And Converses will still be cool long after writers use the word "alt."

    Responses to this comment
  • Exclamation mark.png?ixlib=rails 2.1

    eureka

    commented

    the classic converse colors (black/white/red) are still my shoe of choice, not only for their durability and comfort but for the modest/humble look.

    Responses to this comment
  • 6a00d8341c630a53ef0105351b03fd970c 800wi.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

    Sourpuss

    commented

    Sorry to be harsh, but red is a novelty color for Converse. Black only, except low whites for church.

    Responses to this comment
  • Exclamation mark.png?ixlib=rails 2.1

    eureka

    commented

    don't be so puritanical, puss. red has been classic for ages.

    Responses to this comment
  • 6a00d8341c630a53ef0105351b03fd970c 800wi.jpg?ixlib=rails 2.1

    Sourpuss

    commented

    Particular, yes, puritanical, no. Red Converses might be fine for Halloween or XMAS, but otherwise on the dorky side.

    Responses to this comment
Register or Login to leave a comment