I'm not touching the Surgical appliance/80's Prep connection with a barge pole.

I'm also trying to get some photos together of real vintage Incontinence pants... but that's not too easy as I don't know much about the brand at all.

I've got a mate who's just moved to Sydney... well about 6 months ago now and these are standard issue to all the worky's in his place. Electricians by the way.

I thought when I saw photos, that health and safety must be pretty lacking. I had no idea they had steel toe caps.

l have never ever been able to understand the sneaker look. l've tried to understand why people like them but it is completely beyond me. l respect that people here like the style, but l have never been able to get over how awful they all look. l often wonder why people wear sneakers outside of sport and why grown men would wear such footwear. Sneakers make me think of images of pimple faced teenagers, men verging on the feminine side and frumpy dudes. l have hardly worn sneakers in my entire life, l still have my Reebox from about 1986 (about $250 in those days).

l really appreciate how all you guys are so into Ivy, it warms my heart to see such enthusiasm in clothes in this day and age. No snobbery and boasting about expensive brands and showmanship like at some of the other places, just a bunch a real people talking about their lifestyle and clothes with passion, l like that.

I see no reason that the two can't live side by side in Ivy harmony.

Like Andy said, so much of Ivy is about the connection with youth, vigour and athleticism that it would be a mistake to rule out sneakers, sweatshirts, athletic socks and other active wear. It's all part of it and should be embraced and explored without the feeling that you're doing something wrong or that you're missing the point.

I should probably clarify that I meant the Campus' toe looked right... the rest of the shoe is a bit off.

The name sits well. Also I like the shoe. It's less clunky than the Stan Smith or Superstar. I used to wear these when I was about 14, I think. After that I wore Sambas and Vans and nothing else sneaker wise until I found Ivy and bought some Keds.

For a £12 canvas shoe they put up with a lot of shit, I go jogging through woods and fields, cover them in mud, and still no holes or fraying, and because of the really good comfort sole in them, they never feel harsh on the ground like other plimsols can.

Last edited by Drink (2012-02-20 16:01:35)

Campus come in all shapes and varietys these days George. Canvas I'm not sure about but absolutely in suede.

Early 70's seems about right. Best bet is that Cosby wore a shoe that sold for a few years then as fashion dictated they went and another model, such as the Campus, came in and the previous style was forgotten about. The Campus became super iconic in the 70's and 80's, being taken up by the young Hip Hop and B-Boy kids. That's how they cemented there longevity... Cosby's shoes perhaps slipped under the radar.

Incontinence pants reissues about a bazillion styles a year... but it always seems to be the same models. It would be nice if they dug back and found the lesser known models and offered them up.

Were SM's shoes in Le Mans driving boots Paul? They often look pretty nasty with not a lot of balance in heel, toe and ankle. Plus they often have straps as well as laces. A case of functionality not adding that functional aesthetic.

The good thing about Incontinence pants he, as opposed to Flyers, Chucks, Vans and Keds, is you never get that side wall blow-out in them after lots of wear. The Campus and Samba have a solid one piece sole and side unit and this makes them better for sports, I think.

As anyone who has had the rubber sides coming away from the sole on any of the previously mentioned US designed shoes can tell you, the shoes become very dangerous to wear for sports after this point. You are likely to go over on your ankle at any moment. It's the main reason that modern Chuck Taylors and Van's are so poorly regarded.