Converse Celebrates One Hundred Years of Style

Whether you're a jock, punk rocker, femme fashionista or prep, you have probably owned a pair of Converse All-Stars at one point in your life. This kind of diverse appeal is what has made Converse a fashion staple over the years. The classic Converse All-Star is a blank canvas from which people have been channeling their identity and individuality for over a century.

As Converse celebrates 100 years, its Fall 2008 line represents all the reasons why it has remained a fashion establishment for so long. Capitalizing on the versatility of the shoe, the fall line takes inspiration from rock stars, previous fashion trends and sports teams. I experienced the foot-friendly creativity firsthand when I got a sneak peek at the fall 2008 line.

For its 100th anniversary, the designers at Converse looked heavily to the past for inspiration. One of the most interesting ways it did this was by taking cues from music legends in its Music Collaboration line. Converse got sign-off rights on the estates of Kurt Cobain, The Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath and The Doors, paying homage to each of the bands through personalized shoes. Whether it was taking pages from Kurt Cobain's journal, or the Grateful Dead's album artwork, Converse crafted shoes that give music fans the opportunity to wear their favourite bands on their shoes.

The fall line not only takes cues from music of the past, but fashion trends as well. Continuing the theme of nostalgia seen in the spring line's looks from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, the fall line takes inspiration from the trends of the 80s and 90s. From 80s new-wave neons, to 90s grungy flannel, the shoes span the decades representing the kitschy-ness of each era. This walk down memory lane could easily come off as cheesy on any other shoe, but the Converse designers manage to pull them off with style. Trends like rap-bandana do-rags and 80s arcade games have been transferred into prints that could easily work with a cute outfit, fun without being tacky.

But Converse isn't just looking to pander to trends of the past; it is always looking into the future. For the Trend Level line, a higher price point from the regular Chuck Taylors, the designers took cues from current runway trends like metallic and leather. The Trend Level also shows a cross-gender appeal, with footwear directly targeted at female consumers. "This would be the All-Star Lite," says a Converse rep. "We took the Chuck, streamlined it, brought it into a low profile." The effect is a sort of ballet-flat version of the Chuck Taylor, toned down to a more feminine silhouette.

In its 100th year of making footwear, Converse remains a timeless shoe, moving forward in its design while remaining true to the aesthetic that has made it so accessible. No matter who you are, from whatever walk of life, there will be a pair of Converse for you this fall.