The Dunk

As I sit here to write this blog I think...'what is the best thing about the Nike Dunk design?'

I think the best thing about this style is the accessibility. It comes in so many different styles, there really is a Dunk for everyone! I love the Elmo design above, it's really fun and gives a cool injection of childishness to a classic design!

Not only do they come in a variety of colours and designs but they do lo-cuts, mid's and high's. I couldn't find a picture to show you of some really cool, high cut, pink Dunk boots, but the link here will take you straight to it! They also come in black but I love the pink and white version, they look like they could be girly boxing boots!

A little bit of Dunk history now, when they first came out they were a technical basketball shoe, Nike say 'What the Dunk really represented was an explosion of colour.' A number of American College basketball teams at the time wore Dunks in their team colours.

I think I can safely conclude by saying the Dunk will always be a classic, there are so many different colour and material combinations that they would be impossible to get bored of! But make sure you check out those pink boots!

(Photography Courtesy of antonyhollingworth, Noel back in Zurich and azritt - Flickr)

The Star Wars collection.

Adidas recently bought out a new Star Wars themed range. Now ordinarily if someone told me that I wouldn't be bothered. I don't care for Star Wars and I'm one of those people who would usually call it 'geeky'. But Adidas have managed to give a new twist to something I never would have bought into.

Each item in the range is based on a vehicle, character or scene which is incorporated into the design. My favorite of the one of four featured is the Forum Mid At-At, which I'm told means All Terrain Armoured Transport. But I think they're cool all the same. I love how they've made them look fresh but a bit old school.

Next we have an appearance from the evolution of the Superstar previously mentioned. This one's called Superstar II Star Wars, I like the way the logo is simply printed as a background and not pasted all over like a tacky bit of memorabilia.

Shell toes have always been a favorite of mine, to me they are everything that started my passion. In 1969 the Superstar was introduced as the first low top basketball shoe, and it stays as one of the most iconic designs in history. This particular pair of shell toes have a Stormtroopers theme, who I've found out are soldiers from the Imperial Army.

Next up is the Stormskate Mid Stormtrooper, which are a great variation on the Adidas Mid show. The colours contrast really well and I like the understated trademark stripes on the side. Even for someone who's not into star wars I would definitely own a few pairs of the sneaks on this list, purely because they're a bit different to what you'd find usually up for grabs!

Finally we have The Skywalker version. It comes in bright orange with old school padded ankles and contrasting white. This style is reminiscent of a few old Adidas styles, I think that's why I like it so much. It's a re-vamped shoe that's been injected with some sci-fi geeky-ness, but somehow that works. The outcome... a modernly-classic shoe that looks like it might be worn by a boy in a comic book.

If you click here you can view the full range and take part in the interactive Star Wars experience on the Adidas website.

(Photography Courtesy of adifansnet - Flickr)

The DC Obsession

Branding is not something I consider to be majorly important when I buy my sneaks. It just so happens that they are almost always skate brands. This is generally down to comfort and style, and whether or not they catch my eye!

DC's have been ever present

in my shoe collection, their styles range from simple monochrome patterns, to clashing neon's and sparkling metallics! I think the key to their success is diversity and simplicity, they do a shoe for everybody!

DC's have become more popular in recent years, for me this can only be a good thing. When I first started rocking skates there weren't many shops that sold them so I'd find a load of kids I knew would have the same kicks!

This was a disaster, as anyone knows it's totally embarrassing walking into a room to find someone else wearing the same gear! However as time went on DC's seemed to be popping up everywhere, but this time they were appearing in more shops, each having different styles!

This was brilliant, the chance of being shown up by some teeny bopper trying to look cool had decreased dramatically and I was free to buy my shoes without fear!

Ever since then DC's have been a safe buy, to this day I've owned at least 7 pairs and have 2 currently in my possession. Each other pair have regrettably been worn to death, but they've served me well and I've looked great every step of the way! :P

Photography Courtesy of Featurette, Sally_monster and BuddaMunx - Flickr)

Skaters and mexers

When I was 12 the skate park was my hangout. You know the age... too young to go to gigs but too old to be seen dead with your parents. So my friends and I would spend our days relaxing, soaking up sun and catching up with the skaters, oh and not forgetting the countless fully clothed swims in the sea! We had everything we could wish for, seaside, warm summer air, and fish and chips!

In the two years I spent hearing the 'clak-clak' of skaters falling off their boards or the sound of bmx-ers sliding along the grind bar I developed a love of all things skate and surf. Still do this day I love the urban style of the extreme lifestyle!

The first skate shoe I remember would have to be the Osiris D3. These were the biggest shoes ever, I used to catch my feet when I moved which forced me to walk with a gangster bowl!

These shoes are amazing! The massive lace holes which resemble something like a caterpillar, the air bubbles and the moulding of the sole flows and looks balanced. But by far the most memorable thing about these trainers was how comfortable they were. They were pretty much padded, which probably explains why they're so big. The tongue was ultra padded, I came to the conclusion it must be so skaters aren't damaged by their boards when they stack.

Although I didn't skate, deciding to sit on the 3ft did create the problem of being hit by flying limbs or boards. I can safely say these shoes did protect my feet from being hurt, although my shins did suffer the consequences in the end.

Since my days hanging out at the park my preference has branched towards more fashionable styles with prints and different materials. But the D3's were perfect for me back then, and ever since my shoes have been chunky.

These shoes along with the experience is what sparked my love for skate shoes.

(Photography courtesy of Emily Stuff & Kikfoto - Flickr)