Are they or are they not 'old school Ivy'? I wear these reasonably clean Jack Purcell of mine, invariably with jeans, when wanting to make a DGAF statement, often on a weekend afternoon in fair weather. I think they're a touch 'boyish' if you catch my drift, the polar opposite of the black wingtip - which is, let's face it, a shoe for men, for grown-up men. These Jack Purcell of mine happen to be white, the only colour I'll wear at my age, but I tip my hat to those who will sport blue, yellow - or those beige McNairy/Diadora I was casting half an eye over just before Christmas. (They were canvas, weren't they?).
(The leather version, like the Converse I wear for daily exercise, do not count).
If there is an ‘old’ and ‘new’ school, I’d tend to put brogues/bucks in the former and sneakers/pumps/desert boots in the latter. I’ve no idea why. It’s not based on any solid evidence.
White canvas sneakers. I love them. Always mean to invest in a quality pair that’ll do more than one season. Which they should do seeing as you can chuck them in the wash. But usually end up spending a pittance on high street white and blue pairs and chucking them come October.
Definitely old school I would say the sneaker, a canvas rubber sole shoe that the British used to call plimsolls. They were good for all sports, cricket, tennis, cross country running, athletics, track events up to 5,000 meters. Before the advent of trainers and long before it became de rigeur to have dedicated shoes for each sport (oh dear you’re not actually going to try and play badminton in those tennis shoes are you?). Later in life they become a friend to feet that are less resilient than they used to be, except that most old boys are now loafing around in their cheapo trainers from Sports Direct. The plain white canvas sneaker is far more stylish, something the Japanese seem to understand. I like wearing them with beaten up chinos. By the way if you like Converse it is well worth shelling out the extra for the 1970s model … far better made and with a really comfy insole, Mrs W is a fan and has them in 3 colours.
Totally agree Woof, with regards to CT 70's, I'm also a fan of Spring Courts, French Ivy maybe.
Used to wear the sperry's with the blue piping, now Vans Anaheim 44s - great casual shoe for when the weather is much better than today!