3 Nov 2011

Trainer Issues - Sports vs Casual

Sports - Nike Air Vengeance Vintage. Reissue of the purple and pink nylon/suede upper with vintage treatment soles, 1985 running trainer. It's a case of so ugly I love them, mad as a box of snakes these ones.
New Balance 420. Cira 1980s classic running trainer. In royal blue, grey and white nylon/suede mix. I can't fault New Balance for comfort, design and general understated coolness. 
Nike Elite Vintage Size? Exclusive. Red and navy nylon/suede upper and original waffle soles straight from the year of 1976. Look pretty slick and streamline. Takes me back to the days of my first job in a sports shop when I was 16.
Casual - Adidas Originals Gazelle Indoor. Modern update of the late 1960s indoor classic. Featuring half translucent sole in forest green, white and gum. The classic terrance trainer gone uber-mod. I was given a similar pair about 7 year ago for they bought the wrong size! Doy.
Converse Star Player. Natty alternative to the classic. Mixe the Allstar with the Onestar and this is your outcome, with suede upper, extra padding and premium trims. My favourite comes in navy, ecru and grey. Slick as Rick but not too different from my usual sneaks.
Nike Blazer Low Vintage. The trendy option, minus the high top upper. Again a suede upper in copper, white and vintage treatment soles. I had a similar grey pair when I was about 15, the got totally trashed from playing football but they lasted like no other. Maybe a bit too "cool" for me? The colour is pretty appealing to me though.

So I'm trying to make the decision on a new pair of trainers, and I want you guys to help me. I'm trying to make up my mind - Sports vs. Casual. I have a handful of trainers already, a mixture of both styles, I wear them for the gym and on an every day basis. Currently my favs are a pair of blue and orange nylon New Balance 410 which I wear to the gym every week and occasionally out & about. Comfort is key but I like a bit of a nostalgia too so I don't want anything too trendy. I turned to one of my favorite trainer store on the high street Size for a bit of inspiration. If you're in the market for  a new pair of trainers you can't go far wrong with Size.co.uk, have you checked their selection out lately? The pages seems to scroll on for ever! 

Here's where you can help. I like a good ol' nostalgic design and splashes of colour, comfort is always important and I don't mind a bit of the ugly factor. Which ones do you like (or hate too, I really don't mind) and why? Also which ones can you see me in? I'll be really interested to hear your opinions on this one.

Images from Size.

22 comments:

  1. I like the look of the New Balance, but I'm not sure how I feel about the color for winter? I like the red & navy Nike's a lot.

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  2. The first ones. And the second ones. Dammit, I want them all. But especially the first ones!

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  3. I so can see you in either Nike Blazer Low Vintage (colour is gorge) and Converse Star Player.

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  4. Anonymous12:25

    My brother's got a pair of the green Adidas Gazelle trainers - the texture of them is so lovely x

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  5. Good shortlist Mat. For me as a huge adidas fan (I've got about 80 pairs!) it has to be the Gazelle indoors - great colour and they've done a decent job on the shape and the sole.

    The NB's are a close second though.

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  6. Anonymous17:58

    Puma Suede Classics? I've seen one or two pairs around lately and they always look good. Particularly like the "pineneedle spectra yellow" colourway: http://www.shop.puma.co.uk/Men/Footwear/Iconic-Styles/Suede-Classic/350734,en,pd.html&q=suede#!size%3DUK_6_5%26color%3D11_pineneedle-spectra_yellow

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  7. Anonymous18:14

    I can see you in the addidas gazelle's! and also the vintage burgundy nike's!

    I can't say I find any of them ugly. I have a thing for creepers too! There's just something about them!

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  8. Nikes are really cool. I want a pair but I already have puma supersuede shoes so it's ok. But when I get some money I'll make sure to buy them!
    -Farrah
    Farrah's Muse

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  9. I really love the green pair!

    For me though I prefer to have a separate pair of running/sports trainers to everyday trainers - I don't know about you but I just do not get enough support to run in fashion trainers, compared to my hideously ugly but incredibly comfortable running shoes!

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  10. I love the green ones! I remember when I was about 4 my mum used to sport a pair of red and white Nike Cortez and I WISH I still had them now!

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  11. oh man, i wish i could advise. my only trainers are boring old converse low tops :( xoxo

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  12. "mad as a box of snakes" hahahahah, you should get those just for that reason! I think you could work any of these, maybe get them all?

    I'm still having trouble commenting on blogs from my phone (and I never go on my laptop now I have the Iphone of Joy, apart from on the rare occasion I actually blog), but I've been reading every single one of your posts - obvs

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  13. oh man, i swear all mark and i did in barcelona was go in to shoe stores to look for the perfect trainers.
    i like 2 and 3 and especially 5. i don't like the orange ones. good luck!

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  14. Anonymous23:34

    well, for me the first 'Nike' image sneakers! just my favorite colors! ;)

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  15. i really like the green adidas pair. i'd buy them for myself if i'm looking for trainers. green is a good color that's not too sporty. i think it can go with jeans well too. :)

    nouveauskin.blogspot.com

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  16. Cool trainers! Loving the first color combi!

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  17. i personally love a guy in casual ones... so i'm rooting for four and six!

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  18. Love these types of shoes -- liking the NB one!

    Fashion Translated

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  19. I'd get the Air Vengeance personally. I like the colourway for Autumn, and even though I'm not sold on pre-oxidised soles, I've seen those in beaten up condition and they were fantastic.

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  20. My faves are the last three with the more round toe - I can see you in those more easily!

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  21. Anonymous21:35

    the first Nike pair - GET them, I've seen them myself and am so getting them in the new year...my next pay day is going onto xmas gifts!

    I also like the new balance pair.

    Not the orange nikes tho just simply cos I'm not an orange fan x

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