this is what we want to do to your runners. espaciovictor photo.
As I made my way back to Vancouver from years living abroad, I spent a week in New York where I noticed a strange new trend. It literally had me laughing out loud in NY, so I was shocked, appalled and pretty disgusted to this trend thriving and seemingly accepted here in Vancouver.
I don’t have a vendetta against running shoes. I jog, and when I do I put on my running shoes for protection, comfort and appropriate arch support. The issue I have with running shoes is that they’re EVERYWHERE! They’re in pubs, shops, restaurants and on people who I can safely bet have no intention of running. They’re being worn with jeans, dress pants and even skirts! They don’t look cool, match what people are wearing or make any sense at all. It drives me crazy, as I really like shoes. Comfortable or not, I like my feet to look good. I’ve spent that last year in London walking 40 minutes to and from work in heels. Why? Because they look great and after a while, you get used to them. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey…and you never know who you might meet on the journey. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be caught in running shoes.
Active gear in general has far too large a presence in Vancouver. I recognize that it is a very active city. Everyone seems to be riding bikes, hiking, smoothie drinking and generally keeping in good health. I wonder what came first – Vancouver’s natural orientation towards an energetic and healthy lifestyle, or lululemon?
It appears lululemon is in with the government. A secret underground partnership that ensures the sun rises in the east, perhaps? EVERYONE wears lululemon, and more often than not when they have no intention of exercising! When I exercise I sweat, go red in the face, and I don’t smell good. Why would I want to spend $200 on an outfit to get yucky in? Oh wait, because I’m not actually going to sweat in it? Well that makes even less sense. Maybe I should start wearing a swimsuit to do my grocery shopping. After all, they say it might rain this week.
I’m not saying London and Sydney don’t have their own faux pas’ because they do. Sleeveless t-shirts on would-be hot Aussies….you get what I mean. London suffers from metrosexual overload. I like a guy who gets ready to go out quicker than I do and that’s not easy to find over there. But the point is, Vancouver needs to smarten up about this athletic wear obsession. Establishments should tighten up their dress codes, and violators should seek help from their quasi-fashionable friends and invest in some decent pairs of footwear.
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Very interesting post. Points well taken. Vancouver is very much a lifestyle city. We are active lifestyle fanatics just like other cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and even Miami. That perception of “health” and “lifestyle” translates easily to “casual” wear.
I too wonder why a woman would spend $100 bucks on a pair of stretchy pants only to walk in them. Or why a man would spend on a pair of white trainers and wear them pretty much with anything.
It all boils down to the perception of the word “comfortable” and the lack of an understanding of the word “propriety”. You ask any person wearing stretchy pants why they’re wearing it with a pair pumps or flip flops, and they’ll say its comfortable. Tell them its for exercise, and not necessarily for work and they’ll give you this blank stare.
It’s the same problem I have with guys that dress jeans and runners. They wear runners only because to them its comfortable but not necessarily appropriate.
As a stylist, I have this conversation every time. The key is to show alternatives for comfort and propriety.
Well said. The aggravating thing is the holier-than-thou attitude these runner-wearing people will spout off at you when you suggest that they wear better-looking shoes: “Your heels and your flats provide no arch support and will ruin your feet!” Um, okay…how can I ruin my feet in a low wedge if I’m not doing anything more strenuous than walking?
I agree. Leisure shoes are one thing, but wearing scuzzy runners (or even brand new ones, I don’t discriminate) everywhere just screams laziness. This borders on the whole crocs debacle, which I don’t even want to get into. There is a line, and if your footwear has swoops and swirls or anything like ‘air’ in the label, you’ve probably crossed it.