It’s a yes from me, says Rupert Uloth
They can be classic, sporty, formal, black, colourful and even high-heeled
IN the beginning, there was Dunlop Green Flash. I remember wearing them at university, in the 1980s, when I wasn’t actually playing sport. They had the advantage of waterproof soles. Holes in leather shoes had been the leitmotif of undergraduates for centuries, but I thought my involvement in theatre at the time gave me an artistic excuse to break the mould—and also to have dry feet. I admit they were the same shoes I wore for my occasional foray onto the squash court and I would now deem this dual usage completely unacceptable on grounds of odour, hygiene and cruelty to flatmates.
A recent survey found that trainers are the most popular style of shoe. Commissioned by shoe retailer Deichmann, it concluded that they are favoured over brogues, ankle boots, sandals and moccasins—and this popularity isn’t simply because people are playing more sport. Far from it. This type of footwear is now ubiquitous at parties, in the streets and even at work.
When I tested whether this was a welcome development with a few acquaintances, the reactions ranged from the opinion that this free-and-easy way with footwear was a threat to the very edifice of Western democracy, to the view that trainers enabled a release from pain, bunions and blisters. In between were those who felt there was a time and a place to wear them and that the practical benefits made for a more comfortable life.
Let’s take the work issue. Clearly, if you’re Roger Federer or Joe Root, turning up to work in trainers is a statement of intent, but what about those on the Tube wearing them with smart suits and stylish skirts? A couple of decades ago, their footwear would have been sensible, lace-up leather Oxfords or teetering high heels, neither of which is really ideal for negotiating the hazards of public transport. Heels become stuck in pavements and have you ever tried to re-do a pair of round laces (an occupational hazard) amid a tide of sprawling humanity, unable to see you as you bend down? The zero-tolerance brigade says that you may as well go to work in a singlet using this excuse, but that’s missing the point.
Isn’t it better to arrive in the office stress-free? No one will have scuffed your smart shoes, which you can either leave in the office or carry with you in a bag, ready for any important meetings. If you’re in the creative industries, advertising or journalism, then you don’t need the leather shoes anyway.
Like everything in our consumer-driven economy, the massive increase in demand has raised the quality and variety on offer. No longer is it a question of donning an ugly, manmade confection of garish nylon material with the absorption qualities of a sheet of plastic. Now, the choice ranges from leather and suede to high-quality materials that protect and support the foot. They can be classic, sporty, formal, black, colourful and even highheeled, but, above all, supremely comfortable. I used to be in the camp where trainers seemed a poor substitute, but now, there’s no excuse. You can choose a pair to suit all occasions.
It’s notable how trainers have been enthusiastically adopted by the elderly. It’s not only ageing rockers such as Mick Jagger, either. Other Reebok fans of my acquaintance include a late Highland chief and an octogenarian Old Etonian Yorkshire squire, who swore by them. By all means, wear your favourite suede slip-ons, driving moccasins or patent leather with black tie, but, for those in the know, trainers should be part of your main wardrobe.