elleven Magazine Issue 1 | Page 11

Are a pair of New Balance or Nike trainers currently portraying themselves as your best friend/the perfect accessory when you’re slipping on your jeans or getting ready for work? If not they definitely should be. My Vans are teamed with every outfit I own. I would personally even shove them on when preparing for a Friday night out – who says you cant rock trainers with your skort? But I can’t deny, it does make me feel a little bit sick when I see a pair of Nike Blazers covered in little sparkly gems. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against a little bit of bling, however I much prefer loading up my fingers - so many rings. A friend of mine recently started up her own personalised trainer business, and like me, she’s not to keen on the whole look, however after scrutinous market research there seems to be very much something there. People are paying up to ninety pound for a pair of these Blazers. A pair of hand painted trainers will cost you upto seventy pounds, simply for the painting alone. Is it bad that I don’t think this is a great look? Earlier in the year Nike released the Air Yeezy II Red Octobers by Kanye West, they sold out in a staggering eleven minutes. In 2013 Liberty London collaborated with Vans trainers to create their very own unique collection of printed Vans. Converse met Maison Margiela with a bucket load of white paint last year in 2013, Margiela covered the sneakers in white paint. For it to crack and reveal the colour underneath over time. The PALACE Skate Reeboks that simply had the laces and colours changed, these were going for an astounding eighty-five pounds. So there is a difference between shoe customisation and collaboration, but when getting down to the nitty gritty it’s all about having something that’s limited edition, something that’s not going to be around forever and your probably going to pay way too much for it. But lets talk about doing it for a good cause, that’s what Vans are doing for ASPCA, cat Vans! Forget the pug, think a cat collage all over your feet. They’re actually pretty cute, won’t cost you a fortune and the print comes in a backpack too. Already on sale online, these will definitely look awesome with your skort. rhinestones And runners With the sports luxe trend taking over the fashion world it would seem, the runway is cluttered with sporty ladies that look like they’re about to go for a job. But what do we think the designer would say about shoving some diamanté on there, or perhaps even a cats face? – maybe the cats face wouldn’t be so bad. Kirsty Fedrick investigates. 12