Ahhh, the 80's.  That iconic era also known as the Reagan years.  The decade of John Hughes movies, heavy metal, big hair, Dynasty shoulder pads, neon colors and even new wave.  I spent those years attending high school and college.  I remember them well.  They were good times.  Life was carefree and full of promise.  

The recent death of my last parent, left me longing to recoup a little slice of my youth, and those days gone by.   I was looking for some small reminder of the days when time seemed to last forever, and real life responsibility was just an innocuous concept.  I didn't know where, or how, or even if I would ever find something that would bring back that lighthearted feeling I experienced during those days, until I stumbled into these...

The last time I wore Converse sneakers I was in high school.  I had the very traditional off white canvas All Star high tops, and my best friend had the same pair in black.  We lived in them.  They were a little bit rock and roll, a little bit new wave and totally cool.  

When I ventured into the Converse store in SoHo,  my eyes lit up to see the walls filled with Chuck Taylors in a mesmerizing array of colours.  I was immediately drawn to this  light turquoise blue pair.  As soon as I put them on I smiled.  I purchased them immediately, and have been smiling ever since.   I don't know if it is the light blue colour that reminds me of the warm Carribean and Mediterannean waters where I have spent summer days re-energizing my soul, or the old school style that momentarily brings me back in time, but something about these kicks make feel relaxed and happy.

Converse began making their All Star High Tops,  known as Chuck Taylors in 1917.  They were made of a rubber sole with a canvas upper.  In 1923 world famous basketball player Chuck Taylor began wearing the shoes, and they started to catch on. By the 1960's Converse All Star High Tops were worn by 90% of professional and college basketball players.  By 1979, they had pretty much vanished from the pro basketball scene, but thrived in popular culture and fashion, especially in the 80's.  Back then, they were also really cheap.  The design has pretty much remained unchanged, and now both high tops and low tops come in a variety of colours and specialty designs, for both adults and kids.  I love the fact that a small part of my youth is now  again in vogue.  At 50, there aren't too many items I can still wear from those days without looking silly, but a fun pair of kicks definitely isn't one of them!