Where I grew up it was all about he shoes. Boys in JR. high and up would talk all day about shoes. Nike, Jordan’s, Fila, Reebok’s, Vans were the most popular. I knew some kids that got new shoes every month. In elementary school no one seemed to care, but that all changed by 5th grade (late 80s). Even the little kids had the name brand shoes. You were judged by the shoes you wore and kids that wore Payless or K-mart shoes got it the worst (mainly in junior high). I think it started as a war with parents trying to have their kids look better than the rest. Going barefoot was a rare sight, so was the wearing of sandals and flip-flops. In fact many kids I knew even wore their shoes in their house. Even some of the girls started wearing boy’s shoes instead of their usual Keds. Of course we still had the kids that wore combat boots and shorts which was also a trend in the early 90s. Others totally ignored the trend. Some people were getting robbed and killed over their shoes as you may remember.
I always had no name shoes up to the 6th grade when I got my first pair of Nike Air shoes on sale. They lasted me much longer than the cheep ones. Yes I had a pair of Pro-Wing from Payless when I was in elementary. My parents would never spend more than $60. I wore Nike ever since with the exception of a pair Kappas and a pair of K-Swiss. I got my first pair on Nikes that cost over $100 in 10th grade. They were Deion Sanders and cost $110. I had to beg my dad to buy them.
Kids switched to Polo brand shoes in the late 90s and now flip-flops, sandals and shoes with no show socks seem to be the thing. Even at the age of 31 I still wear Jordan’s. I guess I’m not ready to let that period of time go.
I always had no name shoes up to the 6th grade when I got my first pair of Nike Air shoes on sale. They lasted me much longer than the cheep ones. Yes I had a pair of Pro-Wing from Payless when I was in elementary. My parents would never spend more than $60. I wore Nike ever since with the exception of a pair Kappas and a pair of K-Swiss. I got my first pair on Nikes that cost over $100 in 10th grade. They were Deion Sanders and cost $110. I had to beg my dad to buy them.
Kids switched to Polo brand shoes in the late 90s and now flip-flops, sandals and shoes with no show socks seem to be the thing. Even at the age of 31 I still wear Jordan’s. I guess I’m not ready to let that period of time go.
System
79987 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
I remember when I was in elementary school (1998-2000) there was a shoe for kids that had a timer or something,don't remember the name. I wore ol' school high top reeboks,and not old white people playing tennis in a gated community reeboks either.
gustogummi
2602 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
In high school I wore combat boots.
In middle school I wore Vans and Converse.
I never really cared about any stupid trends however. Then again, I was never into fashion.
In middle school I wore Vans and Converse.
I never really cared about any stupid trends however. Then again, I was never into fashion.
The "popular" shoes I wore as a kid and teenager were:
•Air Jordans
•LA Lights
•Sketchers
•Air Jordans
•LA Lights
•Sketchers
System
79987 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
I always had the cheapest sneakers through out junior primary and primary. Then in 1993 in my first year of high school though I got a pair of Adidas Mutombos for my birthday and became the coolest kid at school for a week.
Later on I went back to the cheap sneakers...
Later on I went back to the cheap sneakers...
DK1988
843 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
retroguy78281183
The "popular" shoes I wore as a kid and teenager were:
•Air Jordans
•LA Lights
•Sketchers
[FONT=Impact]yeah me too and i wore filas and nikes alot but i had a few pairs of each of those brands[/FONT]
light up shoes were popular when I was in elementry I had 3 pairs of light up shoes
I remember liking Zips a lot when I was little. Anybody else remember those? I also remember wanting Nikes when I was around four or five years old, because that was what my brother wanted after seeing a Who concert where Pete Townshend was wearing a pair. Truth be told, I still love Nikes.
HoneyBrown1976
167 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
Keds, LA Gear, Nike, Doc Martans, and some others
I have always had freakishly small feet. When I was little, I would generally wear some type of oxford style shoe or athletic shoes. That is what seemed to be common at the time. When I was older, Nikes were popular. I never had a pair. I did have a light blue pair of Reebok running shoes and I had some black & red BK's with lace insets on them. I generally wore some kind of flat shoe or tennis shoe in high school. I've two pairs of "jellies" in my life.
What are you people!? On dope!?
Video_Jukebox
I remember liking Zips a lot when I was little. Anybody else remember those? I also remember wanting Nikes when I was around four or five years old, because that was what my brother wanted after seeing a Who concert where Pete Townshend was wearing a pair. Truth be told, I still love Nikes.
I remember those. I wanted some when I was little (before I went to school). My mom says I was talking to some kid at a baseball game about his Zips.
I remember in 1st grade I wanted these patent leather oxfords the ones with the wide ribbon laces that were popular back in 1991. I really liked those shoes.
wow, some of you were lucky, I rarley got anything brand name growing up probably because my grandparents raised alot of us on a budget. I do remember my parents sent me a pair of LA Gear sneakers that had neon pink and green laces. I loved them.
Shoes were always the way kids judged each other but also the watch was important. In my elementary school if you didn't have at least 3 Swatch watches on your arm you were nothing.
sadley my daughters popularity did go up last year when I bought her a overpriced pair of Etnies. They were cheap made so I had to turn around and buy her Vans which have no support. Now she is into what is supportive because she is a runner and now I have to buy her saucony sneakers. I feel much better about that cuz they are at least a good shoe.
my point is I remember that pressure of junior high and I want to help make it a little easier for her. I know that is wrong but when my parents said "you are just paying for the name" it sure as hell didnt make the kids any less cruel.
Nikes use to be what I wanted badly in school now I like columbia or newbalance.
Shoes were always the way kids judged each other but also the watch was important. In my elementary school if you didn't have at least 3 Swatch watches on your arm you were nothing.
sadley my daughters popularity did go up last year when I bought her a overpriced pair of Etnies. They were cheap made so I had to turn around and buy her Vans which have no support. Now she is into what is supportive because she is a runner and now I have to buy her saucony sneakers. I feel much better about that cuz they are at least a good shoe.
my point is I remember that pressure of junior high and I want to help make it a little easier for her. I know that is wrong but when my parents said "you are just paying for the name" it sure as hell didnt make the kids any less cruel.
Nikes use to be what I wanted badly in school now I like columbia or newbalance.
AlexKidd
5 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
I was never into the whole fassion thing, but my parents were. They bought me the best/popular clothes that i diddnt really care for. I remember having these Air Jordans, they had a clear part on the bottom where you could see the inide of the shoe. I ended up just pushing a pencil through them to see if the air would explode (it diddnt).
Also I had what i think was called "Pumps". On the tounge of the shoe there was a half a basketball that you could press(over and over) to get your shoes "pumped up". They just made the shoes tighter...yeah i poked a pencil through those too =/
Also I had what i think was called "Pumps". On the tounge of the shoe there was a half a basketball that you could press(over and over) to get your shoes "pumped up". They just made the shoes tighter...yeah i poked a pencil through those too =/
AlexKidd
I was never into the whole fassion thing, but my parents were. They bought me the best/popular clothes that i diddnt really care for. I remember having these Air Jordans, they had a clear part on the bottom where you could see the inide of the shoe. I ended up just pushing a pencil through them to see if the air would explode (it diddnt).
Also I had what i think was called "Pumps". On the tounge of the shoe there was a half a basketball that you could press(over and over) to get your shoes "pumped up". They just made the shoes tighter...yeah i poked a pencil through those too =/
awww man. I remember those shoes that pumped up. I wanted them too. I forgot untill I read your post.lol
AlexKidd
I was never into the whole fassion thing, but my parents were. They bought me the best/popular clothes that i diddnt really care for. I remember having these Air Jordans, they had a clear part on the bottom where you could see the inide of the shoe. I ended up just pushing a pencil through them to see if the air would explode (it diddnt).
Also I had what i think was called "Pumps". On the tounge of the shoe there was a half a basketball that you could press(over and over) to get your shoes "pumped up". They just made the shoes tighter...yeah i poked a pencil through those too =/
You ungrateful spoiled little bratt lol j/k.
I knew lots of kids who's parents bought them nice clothes, then when they become teens they tried to see how sloppy they could dress.
I know what you mean those "pumps" were pretty pointless. It was just a ploy to compete with Nike.
i remember this one pair of shoes form the 90s that i had that were really cool. they had this colored shiny goop in the sides that when you pressed it it changed colors i think. but the box was really cool and everyone at my school had them...
...anyone remember what these were called?
...anyone remember what these were called?
AlexKidd
I remember having these Air Jordans, they had a clear part on the bottom where you could see the inide of the shoe. I ended up just pushing a pencil through them to see if the air would explode (it diddnt).
Man, I'm jealous, wish my parents woulda bought me Jordans when I was a kid. Instead all I had when I was a kid was this Air Jordan T-shirt. Sneakers were always Vans. I collect retro Air Jordans these days and I've spent over a thousand dollars on 'em this year. lol. On the 22nd they're rereleasing the Aqua VIII's from 1993, I'm real excited for those, gonna go to the mall early in the morning to make sure I get a pair.
jennicky1977
1 Posts
17 years, 9 months ago
omg, my husband and I were just talking about this, i grew up in south miami and bobos or pro-wings were unacceptible, starting in elem. school for me. all of what i'll mention were easily over $50-60. Elesse', lotto's, m&m's then your nikes addidas etc. Then there were decks, which were kinda a boy version of keds, basic canvas, but these came in a variety of solid colors, so you could match them to your solid color "silk" tees. I'm pretty sure alot of these brands were a "miami thing" because my husband was raised on the other florida coast and had no idea of the brands. decks were around20-30 bucks