Conversation and commentary from people who care about chucks.
| How chucks have affected the lives of our readers. | ||
| A look at the trends and new models for people who wear chucks. | ||
| The coverage of chucks in the print media, films, and television. | ||
| A listing of the latest articles and features on this website. | ||
| ChuckTalk articles from previous years. |
Modesto, California principal Douglas Fraser has a unique way of reaching out to his students: Every Friday he wears a different pair of high top chucks to school, and any student who wears a pair of chucks to school on that day that matches somehow their color is eligible to win a prize. On a typical Friday, dozens of Lakewood students will take him up on the challenge by wearing their own pairs of chucks to school.
The program all started in 1993 when Fraser wrote the Converse Company to ask for a million dollar endorsement deal. Although they not surprisingly rejected the deal, Converse did agree to send him pairs of shoes, and over the years have shipped him over one hundred pairs.
"I thought it would be just a great conversation piece, so I wore them on a Friday and the kids just thought they were really cool," Fraser said. "The whole idea really was that kids should never be scared of having to meet or talk with their principal." With so many pairs to choose from, Fraser has sported all kinds of different prints, patterns, and seasonal colors, as well as core colors, and his favorite, well worn purple high tops that was one of his first pairs.
High top chucks have a unique look and are always noticed when you wear a pair. Why not use them as an icebreaker and a way to bridge the generation gap?
You can read a complete article from the Modesto Bee about Fraser and his weekly wear chucks to school day by clicking on this link.
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White retro shoelaces on core high top chucks; red retro shoelaces on core low cut chucks.
The selection of shoelaces to customize your chucks has never been greater. Now in addition to classic flat athletic or fat shoelaces in a wide variety of colors, you can get retro laces. Retro laces are a throwback to the 1950s and 1960s when the laces issued with chucks were wider than the laces we see now. They are 1/2 inch wide instead of the usual 3/8 inch standard lace but thinner than fat laces which range in width from 3/4 to 7/8 inches. They look great on your high top or low chucks. You can get them in 45" and 54" length. Click here to see a photo gallery of Retro Shoelaces on High Top Chucks. Click here to see a photo gallery of Retro Shoelaces on Low Cut Chucks.
Black and white checkered print shoelaces on core high top chucks; red and silver star print shoelaces on core low cut chucks.
Another popular alternative in shoelace are the print shoelaces that have images or patterns. Two of the most popular are black and white checkered laces and laces with star patterns. The ChucksConnection now carries both styles. Best of all, you can get either style in 45" or 54" lengths, unlike mall stores that only carry them in 45" lengths. Print laces look good in a variety of different lacing pattern besides the traditional ones shown here. They can be worn rolled or flat, or in a combination. Click on the links to view a photo gallery of black and white checkered laces or red star print laces.
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Earlier this year Target Stores and Converse announced that they had teamed up for a new line of One Star shoes that would be carried in all of the national chain's stores. This was a step up for Target, as their shoe line consisted primarily of cheap knockoffs of various types of athletic shoes. You know the type, not in a box but displayed opening on racks and for cut rate prices. Now there would be a complete line of One Stars, and Target would be selling an actual brand name athletic shoe.
The original Converse One Star had suede leather uppers.
If you are not familiar with One Stars, they were first issued in the 1980s as Converse's answer to the skateboard craze. They were low cut models, with suede uppers in dark colors like black, navy, or hunter green. The shoes had the basic Chuck Taylor sole, but had different stitching on the sides and back, and a white star that shows through on the sides. They changed the toe cap design, eliminating the white rubber cap, and the suede material went all the way to the toe guards in the front of the shoe. The diamond studded toe guard was made differently also, featuring a single row of small stars. The outer sole were similiar to the familiar Chuck Taylor pattern, but had a One Star imprint and were colored grey. The One Star line had some popularity, but never caught the public's imagination like the Chuck Taylor line did. They were only issued on a seasonal basis, and not every season, and just a couple of issues since the bankruptcy.
A black One star canvas high top; a red oxford low cut.
So this seemed like a good move for Converse, getting renewed functionality out of a shoe line that wasn't going anywhere. Recently The ChucksConnection went to our local Target store to check out the new line. There is one black suede model like the original One Stars, which is the most expensive at $39.95. They also advertise an all-white skateboarder shoe and a big star leather basketball shoe at the same price (although these were not available at the store we checked out). The rest of the line seems like cheap knockoffs of the Chuck Taylor lines that are popular. They all price at around $29.95. There is a black high top, low cut models in blue, white, red, pink, black, and camouflage ($5.00 more), and a couple of slip on and skidgrip models. Unfortunately the workmanship on the new models doesn't seem very high quality. All of the toe caps were cut off in half moon shapes and not aligned with the uppers, like you see in the photographs. It just seemed like you were buying second rate chucks instead of first rate One Stars. Other than the two more expensive suede upper models, all the other shoes seemed like Chuck Taylor wannabes. Imagine, Converse making its own "buddies"! One good thing about them was the fact that they were all available in half sizes, something that Converse has eliminated on most of its seasonal Chuck Taylor issues and is very annoying to customers who wear half sizes. In the long run, they would be better off launching a line that looks like the One Star all the way through, instead of most of the line looking like cheap chucks. For example, a black suede high top that looked like the original One Star low cut, would be more competitive with similar models made by Vans and other skateboard shoe manufacturers. Since you have to pay $39.95 anyway for a good One Star pair, why not just stock real Chuck Taylor canvas shoes? They're still the best!
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It all began long years ago, when I was a teenager...
I wanted to have a pair of high top chucks, but my mother didn't like them! She said a lot of things: they're gonna distort my feet, they're much too expensive for a textile shoe, they're gonna stink, I deserve a better quality shoe...
And, disapointed because lots of my friends had them, I had to obey her. So I got used to harder sport shoes, leather ones, and trekking models...
But I always liked the look of Converse. This summer I decide to buy a pair. Even if they're not comfortable, I would wear them when I don't have to walk long distances. I'm old enough to decide what to buy!
I went to a store, and fell in love with two models: violet (or purple) high tops, and orange with blue inside low cut. I bought them both! I couldn't resist! To my surprise, I have to say they're much more comfortable than what I expected! I wear them all day long!
People from all over the world like to wear chucks.
Mum was wrong! I don't know why lots of mothers don't like chucks, but they should change their minds! Mine are made in Brasil (I live in Argentina) and I don't know how they were made in the '60s or '70s, or the USA made... But I have to say I'm very happy with my two pairs, and I'm gonna buy some more, very soon!
Long live chucks!!!
With happy feet and a great look
Analia Wainer
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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While there are many child actors that we see for a film or two, it takes real talent, perserverance (and a good agent!) to constantly work in the film industry on quality projects. The icing on the cake for chucks enthusiasts is when these talented actors wear chucks in their films. And even better is when you discover that these actors really like their chucks, and wear them off camera all the time.
Anton Yelchin is climbing the heights of Hollywood in black high top chucks.
One of these rising young stars is Anton Yelchin. He has now appeared in four major films wearing black high top or low cut chucks. In Hearts in Atlantis Yelchin appeared with Anthony Hopkins as a young boy who comes of age one hot summer. In Jack, he plays a young high school student who goes through a family and personal crisis when his parents break up because his dad reveals that he is gay. In Fierce People he plays a teenager who learns the hard way that the mores and life styles of very rich have a lot in common with those of an aboriginal tribe his anthropologist father has been studying. And in Charlie Bartlett Yelchin plays a teenager from a very wealthy family who must learn to cope and fit in with regular people when he has to attend a public school for the first time. Each of these roles is a major leading part, and Yelchin has handled them with style and a screen pressence that commands your attention. Yelchin already has a very impressive list of performances and should continue to develop into a major star. Let's hope that he keeps on lacing up his chucks in future roles.
Michael Angarano is the young man in black high top chucks in the 2007 release Man in the Chair.
Michael Angarano is another promising young actor who like to wear chucks on and off camera. His first major film role was Sky High, where he lit up the screen in red high top chucks as the freshman son of two superheroes attending a special high school for kids with superpowers. His only problem: he didn't know what his powers were. Recent appearances in black high tops have been in The Final Season and Man in the Chair where he plays a budding young filmmaker who enlists the aid of old retired Hollywood professionals to help him make a film for a contest. Angarano has already shown his abilities in a wide variety of roles and he has a bright future ahead of him. Let's hope he continues to stay laced in chucks on screen wherever possible.
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In the last dozen years, we have noted that many people who train by lifting weights have been doing so in pairs of high top chucks.
One such weight lifter, Jason Ferruggia, offers these tips:
"Flat soled sneakers such as Chuck Taylor's are great for allowing the lifter to spread the floor and place most of the emphasis on his posterior chain."
Wear Chuck Taylor's for leg days -- a running shoe is unstable and potentially dangerous. A shoe with a heel puts you in a weaker position because the focus is shifted to the quadriceps and not the stronger hamstring and glute muscles. If you feel more comfortable with an elevated heel it is because you have poor flexibility and or weak hams and glutes. Old school Ponys, Pumas, and Adidas Campus also fit the bill for shoes to train in. And whichever shoe you choose, tie them."
It seems that too many people dismiss chucks as a leisure shoe and not appropriate footwear for sports training. Yet somehow all of those basketball players did great things in their chucks, and chucks have been acceptable footwear for many other traditional and extreme sports as well. If only Converse was aware of the potential they have here...
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Chuck Taylor All Stars. If they're not on your feet maybe they should be in your display case!
How many of the 600 million plus Converse All Stars have been bronzed?
My mother never had a pair of my baby shoes bronzed. I decided when I was in my thirties to bronze a pair of my All-stars and send them to my mother. I got them back from the bronzer and they were so cool I kept them. I am in my middle fifties now and still have them.
I have been all over the world and worked, played, explored and even made sandals out of them. The fastest I wore out a pair was walking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up.
A picture says it all.
Best regards, Dorman Nelson
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Recently we received this e-mail from Brian McLaughlin:
Being a wearer of chucks since the single digits, I absolutely love your site. I have worn them off and on my entire life and am even wearing a pair right now as I type this e-mail.
My production comany is about to release an indie feature I shot in Central California. It is entitled "Inspiration Point" and is a coming of age story about an Irish American teen who, while trying to avoid confirmation, ends up bringing his town together, disguised as a polar bear. It's a fun family film.
Bo Bo at the Inspiration Point lighthouse.
Because the main character is autobiographical, I had him wear chucks in most of the film. Converse sponsored us for product placement and ended up getting more than imagined--they made it front and center onto the poster art and DVD case. We had a great time doing this film and I loved getting Chuck Taylors into the picture!
DVD cover insert for Inspiration Point.
The ChucksConnection will keep you posted on this the status of this new film and when it is released will let you know more.
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Now that Converse has released a number of double upper models of chucks high tops, the question remains, how should you actually wear them? There are so many options, as these shoes come with two sets of laces and have double tongues as well. Do you lace up both uppers all the way, or one up all the way and the other partially, or do you just lace up the inside upper, and leave the outer upper without laces?
Chocolate and sienna double uppers laced up on both uppers.
The latest models seem better made than the first editions. These chucks have the traditional piping and better color combinations than those first models. It takes a little bit of getting used to when you start to wear them. Once they are "set" in the way you like to lace them up, you will gradually figure out the best way to unlace them so that they are easy to put on again. Probably the easiest way is with only one set of laces and the top tongue folded down just past the lacing slot that is sewn into the upper tongue.
Black and brick red double upper high tops with one set of laces, and one tongue folded over.
Another variation would be to cut one of the long laces in half, and just lace the outer upper part of the way. That way you get some of the double laced look without getting in the way of where you actually tie the shoes.
Brown and navy blue double upper with the Chuck Taylor tag tucked inside.
Not using the second set of laces, or even if partially laced gives you some extra storage places in your chucks. You can take Chuck Taylor along by tucking the keychain tag that comes with each pair in between the two uppers. There are many more variations possible. If you have a cool way of wearing a pair of double uppers send in the information and a photo, and we will post it on the website.
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Jon from Montana sent in this report:
Chucks are an original American icon. I try to wear mine everyday. I have two active pairs right now, my old black high-tops and my new black high-tops. I usually only wear my new ones to school, it gets the girls! I wear mine in PE class, I can run really fast in them. Other than school, I don't wear my new ones that much, because when they look a little dirty they have more style!
Winter in Montana is a drag, there is three feet of snow on the ground and that makes it hard to wear chucks, because they let in the cold air, and moisture. No worries if I'm in the house. I wear mine like slippers just not outside! In the summertime I wear mine everyday, they are ventilated so my feet don't sweat.
When I used to have a paper route, if the weather was nice like in the summer I would wear my old navy blue chucks that were my first pair on the route. I think paperboys looked cool walking their routes with them, me and my friends wore them all the time. I still have the old navy ones that I used to wear on the paper route. I put them back in their box that they were bought in; now they sit up on my shelf enjoying retirement! I take them down and look at them now and then and remember the day I first received my first pair of Convese Chuck Taylor All Star shoes!
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The latest wrinkle, or should we say rip, on the Chuck Taylor high top is new model called the "tear away". The shoes come with two layers of print canvas. The top layer is a black and white print but there are some strategically placed holes on the uppers that can be grabbed to rip off the top layer and reveal a brighter print underneath. The inside ankle patch is placed on the inner layer but it is completely revealed by a circular hole cut in the upper layer of canvas.
The shoes come with a special new tag. On the front you see a Converse logo in black and white, with a little big of tear picutred in the upper right hand corner revealing a color print. The rear side has this inscription: "Chuck Taylor All Star Tear Away. To tear or not to tear: Customize your kicks by ripping away the top layer to reveal a second print."
To see a complete photo gallery of a pair of tear away chucks, click here.
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The ChucksConnection is always happy to receive a report from our correspondent John giving us the latest news about chucks from Australia:
Everyone who loves their chucks will have different individual elements of the beloved design they like most, or perhaps it’s the overall package. Some love brand new chucks while others love them through the various stages of wear, right down to what is known as trashed. Some people just wear them, get them out of the box and throw them on, others love that new smell and others will want to ensure that the laces are just right, no twisting, exactly equal or that both shoes are a mirror image of each other. We know that over the years, as well as the original chucks from the original Converse plant in the USA, Chucks have been made in Vietnam (most non-core colours still are), Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines and now of course China. In fact, while the USA and some other parts of the world had access to “genuine” USA made chucks, other parts of the market were supplied with chucks made elsewhere. For example, throughout the 80’s, Australia received chucks made in Thailand which were distinctly different in many detailed ways, for those of you who study these things, to the original USA made chucks. Then Converse was sold (or should that be rescued) by Nike and production was sent offshore to China and Vietnam .
Every now and then, probably to contain costs, the plants at which chucks are made are changed. This happened during 2006. Any of you who have chucks from early 2006, take a pair of hi core colour blacks and compare them to those supplied in 2007 will notice a distinct difference. The 2007 shoes are lighter, appear less chunky and less well made, are slightly off white, and for those who like symmetry, often distorted or misshapen, particularly around the black rubber piping. My personal preference is very much for the 2006 types but everyone will hold different views.
An interesting fact is that you can tell when your shoes were made by looking at the label under the tongue. The two middle sets of numbers on the top line are the year and month of manufacture (I believe). If you have a collection, have a look. For instance, I have identified that the last of the chunky 2006 variety were made in 06 08. By 06 09, the different shoes had come in, highlighting the changeover, probably of plants.
Look again, if you have a number of pairs from across this period, a lot of the non-core colours were and are made in Vietnam . These are different again in detail. Finally, check out the Distressed shoes and also the leather varieties – although made in China , they are different again (probably a different plant again). Examples of this difference are the soles which are often shiny whereas the core colours were matt and the detail around the toe cap, and particularly the heel patch, which can sometimes be swept inwards is quite distinct. Many will say, so what. But many, who find detail important, whether it is laces or soles will notice that not all chucks are alike, in fact, no two are the same.
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Just released for the fall season is a new pattern design, crossword puzzle high top chucks. The shoes are black and white, with a crossword puzzle design on the canvas uppers, black soles, black eyelets, black inner canvas, white laces, and traditional white foxing with black trim.
Printed on the insole for each shoe is a set of clues, with a different set for the right and left shoes. These don't actually correspond to answers on the uppers. Too bad. Filling in the crossword answers would be a new cool way to write on your chucks. Or you could do that anyway. Best suggestion for that, get a permanent marking pen with a fine tip.
Click on this link to see a complete photo gallery of the crossword high top.
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(Product) Red is a movement to join people and corporations in helping to fight disease and other causes. The Converse company has joined this team and developed a new line of of shoes called (Converse) Red. This line is designed to appeal to the Converse counterculture crowd. Shoes in the lines are being marketed with tag lines like "Do Not Wait for Other People to Change the World, Healthy Cultures Nuture Creativity, A Healthy Culture Welcomes Dissent, Healthy Cultures are Full of Artists," and "Indifference is the Enemy." All of the shoes in the line have some special distinctive features. They include coloring the top eyelet pair red, new boxes with red print, and red eyelets, and a special canvas shoe bag with a drawstring that you can use to store the shoes or even hang them up on a hook. Depending on the model, 5 or 10% of the net wholesale price of each shoe will be paid to the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in Geneva, Switzerland. This is a corporate donation and write off -- no part of the purchase price is deductible by the consumer under U.S. law.
In a recent supplement ad, Converse describes the (Converse) Red line of shoes as a "Weapon of Change." The line is described as "an original way of thinking about shoes, creativity, and doing good: basically, you buy the shoes yhou would've bought anyway, but you buy them red." The shoes come with special tags, one of which says "Change Your Sole." The brand is touted as "an extraordinary union of brands, people and ideas. Every season Converse will collaborate with designers, artists, musicians and filmmakers to inspire originality by creating products that preserve culture and celebrate creativity."
Three examples of the Converse Red line include a Ramones All Star high top (click here to see a photo gallery), a white Chuck Taylor high top with graphic designs, and a Chuck Taylor All Star leather low cut.
Some of the shoe models that Converse plans to release in the first year, besides the ones shown in the photos above, include a red and white high top (click here to see a photo gallery) and two models of red and white low cuts, a mend it yarn high top, mend it patch models in high top and low cut, and Ricky Powell and Kaiser Chiefs All Star high tops. Converse is also making Red versions of their Weapon line.
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Black high top chucks laced up using the Triangle Method.
Another method of lacing up your chucks has gained some popularity lately. This style is a cross between traditional lacing and the straight across lacing methods that you sometimes see people wearing or in advertisments. To create the triangle look on your chucks you basically do all of the lacing work from one side of the laces, so the laces start out at very different lengths. The look of the lacing is best when you start will a new pair of laces and you have a good contrast between the color of the canvas upper and the color of the shoelace. For a complete description of how to lace up your chucks using the triangle method, go to our article on shoelaces.
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Tuesdays are great at this job, because you can kick back in your chucks.
Recently The ChucksConnection received an email from Steve Fannin, who runs the IT department for SWCA, an environmental consulting firm. "A few of us wore chucks every now and then to work. We decided to have Chuck Taylor Tuesday to go along with our Hawaiian shirt Friday. Seems to be a great team bonding thing for my Information Technology department, not to mention a lot of fun. One of my employees has been working on spreading it across the company. We have about 20 offices and I have been noticing a lot more chucks showing up to work lately."
This department sports some cool footwear.
Of course we thought that this was a great idea, and a great trend. More companies should encourage their employees to wear chucks to work. I know we do! We asked Steve to send us some photos and not only did he do that, they decided to have a photo contest. Then at their next group meeting, which was scheduled for Las Vegas, the plan was to take a group photo.
"Well we had our meeting in Las Vegas and everyone showed up wearing their chucks for a team photo. We have had a lot of fun with our weekly wear your chucks to work day. A lot of the other people in the offices have started wearing theirs as well. The Chuck Tuesday has definitely built some team spirit and someone always starts a thread saying lets see your chucks today. This inspired a photo contest before our meeting in Las Vegas. The winner received a gift certificate to a restaurant. Wear your chucks to work day has made all of our jobs a bit more fun. We always get lots of comments about how cool the chucks are and which ones are favorites."
SWCA IT Team Photo in Las Vegas
Steve also forwarded the chucks photo contest entries. Click on this link to see a gallery of the entries. The winner was chuckzilla.
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Jason and Ian wearing mismatched pairs of chucks.
You won't have much trouble picking out Jason or Ian Paige on the streets of Houston. The two brothers, who have been wearing chucks for about seven years now like to wear them in mismatched pairs. You know, one foot in a black hightop, the other red. Jason, the older of the two, started wearing them as a sophomore in high school; Ian started as soon as he had two pairs of chucks, while he was in 7th grade.
According to their mother, Ruth, "Wearing mismatched pairs is just another way to individualize the shoes as they became more individual themselves! (They are really unique!)" This style is "Just an extension of individualizing shoes with different laces, [Jason and Ian] took it a STEP further, you might say!"
Jason has three pairs of chucks and probably nine pairs of different laces; Ian has two pairs of chucks now and another on the way. Ian also has several different pairs of laces and has taken to inventive lacing techniques. Both brothers have large feet, sizes 13 and 15 in other brand shoes. Ruth jokes with them that since they both have "clown" feet, why not wear their chucks in a fun and colorful manner.
The brothers like wearing chucks because they are popular, comfortable, customizable by different laces, affordable, durable and available in large sizes. No matter what size your foot there is a pair or two of chucks for you.
There are other people out there who like to wear mismatched chucks. If you are one of those people send in a photo to The ChucksConnection. and we'll add it to our new photo gallery of People Wearing Mismatched Chucks on the website. Maybe there will be enough interest to start a nationwide trend! Punky Brewster lives!
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Look for this cover soon at your bookstore!
The ChucksConnection and Skyhorse Publishing of New York have published a new full color book all about the Converse All Star 'Chuck' Taylor basketball shoe, the world’s most popular athletic shoe, and a shoe that has influenced the lives of generations of people since it was first manufactured over 80 years ago. Based on many of the features contained in this website, the book explores the reasons why chucks wearers are so loyal to the product, what people like so much about chucks, and how chucks have helped to change the world of fashion. The book examines the art and design of chucks, and what makes them the classic American sneaker. More eye catching than any other shoe, chucks occupy an important place in our media, and the book looks at films and television shows where chucks have a role, and how chucks are used in print media.
Entitled Chucks! The Phenomenon of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, the book takes a look at the history of the shoe, providing information about Chuck Taylor and how he changed the history of the athletic shoe in America and eventually the world. Chucks are constantly being reinvented; hundreds of different color and pattern combinations are available for sale. Yet all chucks pretty much look the same, because the brilliant simplicity of their design allows so many variations. The marketing of the Chuck Taylor shoe has always been somewhat unconventional, and the book takes a look at the relationship between the Converse Company and its retailers, featuring interviews with two long time dealers, Corky Fulton of SageSports and Gary Church of Amercian Athletics. And what does the future hold for chucks? The book presents the opinions of some people in the know.
Most importantly, this book will take a look at the wide variety of people who choose chucks as their only or main footwear. From film celebrities to the kid next door, business executives to the musicians in rock bands, guys in college to teenaged girls who cruise the mall looking for the latest models, chucks are “the great unifier”, proudly worn by people in many different age groups and demographic categories. The book presents some of their stories, opinions, and photos as the topic “Why do so many different types of people share the chucks lifestyle?” is explored.
Chucks! The Phenomenon of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars is a hard cover full color publication with over 150 photos and 160 pages of text. Priced at only $14.95, this book is a must have for any fan of Chuck Taylor shoes. Take advantage of our WEB EXCLUSIVE. Order from The ChucksConnection and you will receive a personally autographed copy from author Hal Peterson and a special Chapter 1 text insert not available from other vendors.
Books are in stock and ready to ship. Click here to place your order.
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At last a well-researched book about Chuck Taylor.
Most people know very little about the actual life of Chuck Taylor. Some people may even think that he was a fictional character for Converse, like Betty Crocker was for General Mills.
Chuck Taylor was a real person, and an inductee into the basketball Hall of Fame. But until now, there has never been a proper biography written about him. Indiana author and journalist Abraham Aamidor spent three years researching Taylor's life, and now has published Chuck Taylor, All Star, the first definitive work written about his life.
The ChucksConnection has reviewed Chuck Taylor, All Star on this website, and you can order a copy from our online store.
Click here to go to the article. Click here to order a copy.
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Everybody remembers that great scene with Clint Eastwood playing San Francisco Dectective Harry Callahan where he gives that "look" to a scuzball bad guy who is thinking about taking him on. "Make my day," Harry says, and how quickly did that guy back off.
As I go through life and think about the good and bad things in life, there are certain pleasures that are really important to me, the things that "make my day." One of these pleasures is lacing up my Chuck Taylors every day. I have been wearing them on a pretty regular basis since I was in junior high school. Yeah, I have occasionally strayed away from wearing my chucks, but as I get older (I'm now in my mid-twenties) I realize that they are my favorite shoe and probably always will be.
Like any long term chucks fan, I have my favorite black high tops (of course!), but now I like to get into wearing some of the other colors like red and navy blue. I am fortunate to have a job where I can wear my chucks every day if I want to, and one of the great things about today's world is the fact that you can wear chucks every day, and it's not a big deal. I enjoy the compliments I get from time to time on the pairs of chucks that I do wear and I like our current life style where chucks are considered normal daily wear for more and more people.
So lace up those chucks and make your day. There is nothing like the feel of Chuck Taylors on your feet.
Editors Note: If you have a story about how wearing chucks makes your day, send it in to us.
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Since this website opened up in 1998, we have been looking for, classifying, and writing reviews for films where one or more of the main or supporting characters wear chucks. Although we just started with a few films, the number identified has now grown to over 500 films. Along with information about the plot and characters, we have been keeping statistics on exactly which models appear in the films.
To no one's surprise, the most popular model used is the black high top. It has appeared in 63% of the films so far, and its popularity of all the Converse models is unsurpassed. Part of the reason is because its distinctive look and styling photographs so well. Another is that this shoe in particular is used to set the scene for films about the 1950s or films about youth or young people in all decades. Most important of all, the black high top Chuck Taylor shoe is the classic American sneaker. Some cinemaphotographers really like it when a character wears chucks and shoot film accordingly, while others show them more sparingly, but in almost every film where there are chucks, there is at least one good closeup view of them. This fact we have documented in our Best Chucks Scene feature in the film reviews we have completed. If you combine films with black high tops and low cuts together (and only counting films where both models appear once) the total is a definitive 74%.
In a distant second place is the white high top, which has appeared in 20% of all films, followed by the red high top in 12% (14% if you include maroon with red). Black low cut chucks also appear in 13% of the films. Blue high tops appear in 6% of the films. White low cuts appear in 3%, red low cut in 1%, and all other models (high top or low cut) represent 10% of the total. You can check out our films pages by clicking on this link.
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Do you have some things to say about Chuck Taylors? If you have an article or other information about Chuck Taylors to submit to this website, please contact us at chucksphotos@chucksconnection.com. Please Note: Similar messages may be combined and your content may be edited. Although we try to accommodate everyone, submission is no guarantee of posting on this page. This site is not affiliated with the Converse Company.
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To order a pair of core color high top
or low cut chucks, click on the image of the shoe you want. |
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Black
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Monochrome Black
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Navy Blue
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Pink
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Red
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Optical White
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Natural White
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To see the complete selection of seasonal Chuck Taylor high tops, low cut, or youth and infant models currently available, click on the image links.
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Click on the image links to purchase flat athletic, fat or retro, novelty shoelaces like multi-color weave, narrow, graphic print, and reversible, or knee high shoelaces for your chucks. You can also order socks, tee-shirts or baseball caps to wear with your chucks, totebags to carry your gear, or books about chucks.
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High Tops
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Low Cut
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Youth and Infant
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Flat Athletic
Shoelaces |
Fat or Retro
Shoelaces |
Novelty Shoelaces
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Knee High Shoelaces |
Socks
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T-Shirts
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Baseball Caps
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Totebags
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Books
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