Recent text message to Ms. S&C, from her younger brother:
“Hi. In Williamsburg [as in Williamsburg, Brooklyn]. You
remember Keds you wore way back when? Apparently
those are replacing Chucks amongst the hipster crowd…
Became too mainstream. Ha ha.”
Ms. S&C likes to tease her younger bro about being a hipster — mostly because he lives in Brooklyn, wears Chuck Taylors and skinny jeans, hangs with an artistic crowd, and insists that he’s not one. :-) Regardless, he was on to something when he spotted the Keds. They are popping up everywhere. And, I think I’m glad about it.
Keds classic Champion style
Footwear News covered the Keds comeback in an article earlier this week. FN says the company is going after the 24-year-old man and woman with new adaptations of the classic Champion style (there’s an organic label and options to customize them), and will push to get them into premium stores (i.e. Barneys). Keds’ President, Kristin Kohler Burrows, went on to say, “We really feel like that consumer is a large part of the reason why [the country] is in a more optimistic era now. They helped usher in the new president, and this collective spirit is what their generation represents, and that’s what Keds represents.” Ms. S&C would agree that is a worthy demographic to capitalize on. It also helps when celebrities like Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame and singer Katy Perry have been donning the styles.
But, whose to say Keds are just for the optimistic 24-year-old? Washington, DC’s new man-about-town, Rahm Emanuel, was spotted wearing them at the Woolly Mammoth theatre over the weekend. But, he’s a little bit hipster, no?
Have you spotted the latest trend? Share it with S&C! If you are out and about and run across something spectacular, inventive, or delicious — email shoesandcocktails(at)yahoo(dot)com, or find us on Twitter @shoescocktails.
posted by Ms. S&C
Shoes & Cocktails 
I loved Keds when I was a kid and only wore them without shoelaces and then ended up either writing or puff painting all over them. Good times.
The Bata Shoe Museum had a crazy exhibit of artists who each decorated/rethought a pair of Keds. I’ll have to find the pics.
It was hard to have just one pair of Keds — kind-of like Swatch watches.
I’d love to rock these again….I can picture my last month of summer (sad) with a pair…thanks for the heads up Ms. TrendSpotter ;-)
Awesome. I do have to say, I appreciate Brooklyn’s trust fund hipsters for being mindful of a bear economy.