Jackie Kinney

The first time since it’s opening in 1908, Converse features an in-depth revamp of its Allstar shoe. There have been minor changes in the 107 years, sure, in color and smaller details, but the mainstream shoe introduces its latest endeavor, the Chuck II, in response to comfort.

Originally made for the basketball court, the ‘Allstar’ shoe was coined by Chuck Taylor, a basketball player who took a liking to the style. Now, they’ve reached stages, workplaces and streets as well. In 2003, Nike bought the bankrupt company, and bringing new life to an old tradition.

The look of the Allstar Chuck Taylor, with the Converse patch and the high top feature, is irreplaceable, but the comfort level? That could do with some reinvention – enter the Chuck II. With a padded tongue and matching shoe laces, the shoe comes in both low and high top. Online, the featured pictures display a look at the new and improved cushioned insole in the bottom of the shoe.

The difference in appearance is nothing traumatic, so die-hard consumers have nothing to worry about. This isn’t a good-bye to the original Chuck Taylors but merely a see you in the back of the store. Will they make their way into athletics again? Doubtful. But the added comfort will certainly improve their worth. Based on its history, the shoe will always appear in atleast one genre of society. But based on its newly introduced practicality, the shoe is focused on the  reaching for an even wider audience.

Almost Famous brings the ‘70s to screens today as a true testimony to music and an inclination towards intoxication—ah, yes, real rock and roll. But even through the melodies, the Quaaludes and the occasional plane trouble, what the movie never fails to serve is a commitment to the fashion right from the decade itself. We’re talking cropped, we’re looking at fur, and we’re admiring exposed chest hair. In the Cameron Crowe original, there’s no separating the two screaming cultures of humanity: the sound and the clothing. So it seemed only fitting to throw together our favorite outfits with some of the best songs off the soundtrack to form a union so sweet that even Elaine Miller might approve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoskDZRLOCs

The Fall 2015 Couture shows just finished up in Paris on Thursday, so after a quick Eiffel Tower picture here, a Karl Lagerfeld quote there, and in the case of this year’s shows, a casino night, there’s finally a chance to sit down and wrap up the week for ourselves:

Starstruck:  Zuhair Murad found stars atop every model’s head, in a headband paired with a shimmering, complimentary gown. The stars found their way onto the dresses and most repeatedly onto the small belt around the waist that featured several of the silver spectacles in the front. Oh, but the stars weren’t just on the clothes, as Gwenyth Paltrow, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Julianne Moore had seats in the front row. Gwenyth in Valentino red, Rosie in cutouts at Versace and Julianne at the casino table of Chanel.

Master of the Arts: There were plenty of graphics—sure, the models wore the designs, but the designs took the spotlight on statement skirts and dresses. In Viktor and Rolf, their pieces resembled the wallpaper and molding of a living room and the portraits inside a frame. Schiaparelli also used faces and eyes on its designs.

Damsel in Distress:  Valentino took a holiday, treating its guests to a fashion show in Rome. And Rome they embraced, looking just like royalty. Those knee-high gladiator sandals that continue to pop up? Valentino made sure they’re here to stay—complimenting black, soldier-like designs with the strappy shoes. And they embraced the darkness, contributing mystery and elegance to the the longer, sheer designs, just like Versace, who went from the flowing damsel to stark gloom. Sharper necklines and chokers contrasted the sparkling, demure gowns.

Tarred and Feathered: Giambattista Valli went with feathers or tulle on almost every piece of the 2015 Haute Couture collection. But the real commitment to furs, that awards goes to Fendi. Every model was bundled up in furs, taking on Cruella de Vil in some designs and Black Swan in others. And don’t forget about Kendall Jenner’s finale walk down the aisle—or runway—in bridal tulle as designed by Karl Lagerfield of Chanel.

It’s Electric: Blue, pink, or red, it had to pop, and pop it did, in pantsuits, on shoes and with face paint. Maison Margiela did it all, featuring the blue in eye makeup, shawls and shoes. Valentino matched Paltrow in the front row to the runway in a pop of red in the middle of the show. Armani Prive used consistent color, beginning the show with a hot pink jacket complimented by the pink lighting in the background. He finished it in similar fashion, with a shimmering gown of blues, pinks and purples.

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We live surrounded by a whirlwind of options. Every element of our lives and relationships change, disappear, evolve, and transform at a rapid pace. Today, it is customary for our Snapchats to disappear after 10 seconds, our workouts to only survive 10 minutes, and our men to ditch after 24 hours. We search for something constant, something steady, something classic – something with a longer life than 50 Cent’s career in baseball or the Green Bay Packers’ future in acting.

We can be saved. Our consolation comes from those denim wonders, that loyal companion, the gift from God in every woman’s wardrobe — a perfect pair of jeans.

But even in the classic line of denim clothing, things are quick to shift. So we’ve taken it upon ourselves to show you some of the stand-out options and the array of shapes. And NYDJ helped us out. Amid all the hype, we’ve broken down some of the possibilities in every style—from boyfriend jeans to crops to skinny jeans—and picked the best.

Here’s to your newest relationship with your jeans. Because when the man doesn’t fit, your jeans will.

Stuck on the First Date

He’s almost got something—but there’s a huge part of the spark missing. He’s halfway there, if only he could read a few more dating self-help books to really put him over the edge. He’s like that movie that continues to come back for yet another sequel that can never touch the original, or the turkey that won’t quite brown.

The jean version of the mid-way man? Cropped jeans, a few inches below the knee. Only halfway to your ankle but all the way to your heart, giving you a look that covers both polished and casual.  Like these cropped skinny jeans.