"Flashy" Sneaks - YouLookFab Forum

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"Flashy" Sneaks

Beth Ann

Veteran

I have a great pair of Cons for white sneaks, but I am in need of some walking shoes, and have decided that shoes designed for running are causing me some gait issues. Are these "flashy" enough for fashion sneaks, or would they have to stay in the Forest Preserve as gear? They are lined in memory foam and also have a roomy toe box and a supportive fit around the top of the foot. Sooooo very comfy.

SKECHERS Performance Go Walk 2 - Flash

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14 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Mona

Veteran

They look more gearish to me. How about swapping the laces with some other colour?

rabbit

Veteran

I think if they are comfortable and feel great you should definitely consider them for gear -- and maybe test run them as fashion sneakers as well with a few outfits before they go on a trail.

Here's where the sneakers as a fashion trend thing gets really tricky for me personally. Sneakers are so so tribal. Both the style (retro, hi-top, slip on, etc.) and brand communicate things about the wearer completely separately from how they look visually. Also these associations change over time. For example when I was a teen, Cons were skate shoes, but Vans were dirt bike shoes, and the two tribes tended not to get along. Keds for me had little girl and 60's bombshell associations, until Taylor Swift became their spokesmodel, and now they have Taylor Swift associations. Nike was linked with sweatshops, but now it maybe isn't? Toms were frumpy until they were hipster. Sketchers....I associate with tweens? Maybe I'm over-thinking it, but this is why it took me three months to buy a pair of fashion sneakers recently....

Jules

Veteran

I like the grey and mint ones better. But they definitely look gearish so maybe it's just a matter of preference, not style advice

deb

Veteran

I think you could get by with the grey and mint for fashion outfits.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Depends ENTIRELY on how you wear them. With lots of black - 100% fashion forward.

abc

Veteran

Haha rabbit I think we must be the same age because I was nodding along with each shoe and tribe described.

cciele

Veteran

What Angie said (of course)! Those aren't fashion sneakers, but being that athletic sneakers are on trend right now, they could totally work.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Now, Rabbit, this is exactly why I would have to turn to the euro brands (annagybe's Golden Goose or something) if I was buying fashion sneaks because it all feels been there and done that for me. For me, Vans were the skater shoes and I thought my checked ones were awesome in a Specials ska music kind of way, and then I thought my four-tone pastel Converse high tops were kind of punk, and I thought my Nike wrestling shoes were some kind of avant new wave, and then I had some kind of Gap slip on ones that were my Sinai beach shoes that got bleached out along with my hair, and then I decided I was a nineties professional woman who couldn't wear sneakers out of the gym ... And I gave the old pastel Converses to my nieces who were way excited with the vintage look ...and my 14 year old loves Converse...and we hand painted her a pair a couple years ago with Starry Night and Dr. Who's Tardis ... Have we got some kind of YLF sneaker ethnologist because I think we need one!

Aquamarine

Veteran

^ Rabbit you crack me up...that all sounded familiar.

Beth Ann, last fall I got a pair of black sneakers...first time ever...and I have been amazed at how versatile they are. They book end my hair so they always feel "right."

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks, all for weighing in. I have my Cons for sassy white sneaks --- and I could just let these be "cuter than average" gear. Truthfully, it's the extreme comfort that draws me in.

Deb and Jules: The grey are attractive, for sure.

Rabbit: I so get your allusions. I used to buy a pair of Keds at the start of every summer. It was a "summer's here" ritual in my teenage years. Now? Too twee (Thanks, Taylor)! I feel just faintly like a poser in my Cons, but at least I know what they "say" to the world. Skechers. What do Skechers said to world? Do I want to know, or do I just want to make 'em dance?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I feel lucky to be ignorant (mostly) about the cultural associations of various sneakers. Because they were so incredibly uncomfortable for me, I never wore them. Now that I have my Hi-Ness Cons, it's a different story...

Your Hi-Ness, this Urban Prince bows, in deepest gratitude, for the comfort you have afforded him....

Beth Ann, I have a feeling that if these look good on your foot/ leg, then you will be able to make them work in a fashionable way.

Adelfa

Veteran

I think they are really cute and will be perfect for lots of outfits. They will look especially intentional if you pick up the black (and the white) even a little bit in the outfit.

carter

Veteran

I have a pair of Skechers that I love. They really do get the fit right, don't they? I think these work perfectly for fashion sneakers. The picture below is a woman in Paris who I think did a great job with sporty luxe. Her shoes appear to be Nikes, but the look is exactly the same to me. I have no associations for any of the brands.

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CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

They look like spiffy gear to me. They would look cute with jeans or a black and white outfit as Angie suggests. My instinct would be to go for more of a cute gear ensemble or very casual look with these rather than a fashion forward, dressy skirt/juxtaposition type of look. That whole thing takes some advanced styling skills not to mention confidence.

I'm not really a sneaker person and I buy Skechers because there is a store convenient to where I stay when I go to the city. And their prices are reasonable plus the brand always fits me well. I have high volume feet and their 6.5s fit me perfectly, and in many different styles. Puma and Adidas have always been fails on me, Nike is more promising but the Nike store is too intimidating for me. But one of these days I'm going to Just Do It and walk through that door!