SPERRY TOP SIDERS – OLD SKOOL PREP AT ITS BEST

TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY
Images of current collection, courtesy of LaForce + Stevens
This year, indulge your old Skool tendencies, and celebrate the Fourth of July American Style, with a pair Top-Siders on your feet.
Back in the Seventies, in Junior High, you were a NOBODY if you didn’t own either a pair of Top or Dock Siders. There was a mini-rivalry between the Top [round toe] and the Dock [Square toe]. Most went with Top-Siders.
I’ve still got a pair in my closet in the classic chestnut brown because they’re as comfy as a pair of well-worn slippers. Never mind that I haven’t pulled on a sail or acted as dead weight on a Hobie Cat for decades.
Just because they’re “iconic” does not mean that these shoes have been relegated to museum status, like John Travolta’s ‘Saturday Night Fever’ wide lapelled white suit. To the contrary, this is a brand that continues to keep on going strong.
Five years ago, I spent the 4th with a college gal-pal at Tulsa’s Cherokee Yacht Club. Every guy there was wearing Top-Siders and they didn’t look like they had stepped back into a time capsule – at all.
When I got back home to CT, I went to www.sperrytopsider.com, and put in an order for the brown pair I wear on “just kicking around the house” days.
My only regret – I’m dying for the Hermes orange ones I don’t currently own. I’ve got a bet with myself. If the Nederlands win the FIFA 2011 World Cup Games, I’m logging on again and ordering the orange pair.

Sperry Top-Sider is an icon of American fashion and a summer wardrobe staple. The makers of the classic boat shoe have been outfitting Americans since 1935.

KEDS – THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A CLASSIC!

BY VIVIAN G. KELLY-VAN ZUTPHEN

LIKE THE INIMITABLE “COUNTESS LOUISE ESTERHAZY, AKA JOHN FAIRCHILD, as of late, we’ve found ourselves nostalgic for the golden oldies. Our G.O. list includes: KEDS [in navy blue canvas], Chanel No. 5, Docksiders, skinny wale cords, Adidas track suits, emerald cut diamond rings and oval sapphire rings.

At the top of the spectrum is Grace Kelly’s spectacular engagement ring from HARRY WINSTON. Prince Rainer proposed with the 12 carat emerald cut diamond ring with two baguettes, mounted in platinum. The ring makes an appearance in the movie “High Society” which Grace starred in that year.
Quality, does NOT have to be expensive though. We got the ring of our dreams – a 4 ½ carat Ceylon sapphire ring, mounted in 14k white gold with 2 tiny diamonds flanking it for under $500. The real savings was the stone – found in a jewelry store in Puerto Vallarta for a whopping $92 US.
That though, was the find of a decade.
KEDS- A CLASSIC YOU CAN GET - NOW
Most accessible though are those iconic KEDS. We’ve been wearing ours 5 days straight since they arrived on our doorstep. They’re repped by NY PR powerhouse, LAFORCE + STEVENS.
We’ve picked-out some of our favorites for guys and girls. Amazingly, none of them will run you more than $60 this spring. They even have a customization program in which you can design your own shoe. For you eco-minded fashionistas, you can pick from their eco line. With that kind of choice and price-point AND the fact that “BELLA” of the TWILIGHT series wore them in “Twilight” and “New Moon”, it’s only a matter of time until you’ll start seeing them on every tweens’ feet come this spring. Who knows? They may replace the much more expensive ubiquitous UGGS.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

Keds – A little History
In 1916, Keds created an American Classic: the first shoe with a soft rubber sole and coined the term "sneaker." This original sneaker, called "the Champion" has remained a style icon for over ninety years and a fave of style icons Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O. Today, a new generation such as “Bella” has discovered the Keds brand.
ABOUT PRO-Keds
PRO-Keds is the shoe you wear when you're BBQing in the backyards and dropping in on a pickup game. The PRO-Keds classic Royal comes in both canvas high and low tops, and features a red and blue power stripe on the midsole - the unmistakable PRO-Keds signature.
To learn more about Keds, visit the official website, www.keds.com