The Great Trainer Debate

the Great Trainer Debate by rachel-the-hat featuring converse trainers

Trainers (or sneakers if you're from across the pond) have fast become the fashionables favourite choice of footwear, swapping heels for comfort and pairing them with everything from girly dresses to boyfriend jeans.

As an avid shoe lover i have to admit it has taken me a long time to actually liking the thought of a pair of trainers in my shoe arsenal, i spent most of my teenage years in trainers(lots of the above

infact!)and the thought of returning back to trainers felt like i was somehow shunning my beautiful shoes and returning to the practicality of my youth! But when you see trainers been rocked and looking awesome everywhere i started to think, maybe there is something in this for me? As you all know i am a mum who often spends weekends and summers in big parks and play gyms and generally non-heel pleasing places. I hate to admit it but i have spent many a morning wondering what shoes to wear trying to stay stylish and myself and also practical for that hike with the kids and the dog, often opting for a not -very-comfy, blister inducing ballet pump. Well not anymore. With the inspiration from some of my favourite bloggers and pintrest i have now decided that maybe a great trainer could be the answer to all my weekend dilemmas. 

And once i started looking, well,  i literally couldn't decide which would be best to go for.  The choices are vast and great. But i've narrowed down a few of my favourites . here goes

Adidas Stan Smith
£64.99

very  popular with the fashionable, the Stan Smith offers a comfy white trainer with a pop of green. Classic trainer orginating from the 70's making it great for rocking a bit of that 70's trend.

New Balance Trainer
 £64.99

Going for a more classic trainer shape, NB look like they could be slippers they're so comfy looking.  You could quite easily break out in to a jog in these and be in the perfect shoe, although jogging isn't really at the top of my must-dos (except for when Cassy, our dog, makes a run for it across the field to go play with another dog/person/random object, which literally leaves me dapping it full pelt across the field after her every time.. entertaining for anyone watching i assure you, as i scream her name and she blatantly just ignores me... the little madam!)

Adidas Gazelle

£66.99

I owned a pair of gazelle's back in the 90's when i was a teen rocking frayed jeans down at the skate park. I still really love these, they definitely have a masculine air to them.. i actually think Neo would rock these.

White Converse All Star 

£44.99

The classic Chucks, i have a pair in red that are really really well worn. I have been fancing upgrading my oldies to a new crisp white pair. Worn with ripped jeans a white tee and a black blazer they can look chic, or with cut offs and a summer vest top for perfect weekend wears. Converse will forever be a favourite in my household, with both my son and step daughter wearing theirs regularly.

Adidas

 Superstar Black & White

Superstar in mono

Pharrell Super colour

And lastly the Superstar or what we used to call them; The Shell Toe. I wore these back when i was 15/16 which in my mind feels like only a few months ago (crazy time, where have you gone?!)

I remember loving them back then and nagging my mum constantly for a pair. I first had them in white with red stripes and then for my second pair i had baby blue stripes.

I have to say 15 years on i still think the shell toe Superstars are my favourites. The black and white are totally rocking my world and now i can't help but think how perfect they will be for all the dog walking/child-friendly days out. 

Pharrell recently launched a whole super colour rainbow shoe theme too, so they now come in practically every colour imaginable. But for me? I think it's the classic black and white. And i think i may have found what i have been looking for.

Here's a few of my fave bloggers that i'm inspired by:

My BBFF (blogging bestie friend forever) Catherine  styling up her chucks with a vintage skirt; genius right?

Francis showing us how Stan Smiths can look tres chic

Kat knocking it out the park with all white cracked leather Stan Smiths and a breton top...love!

Jane   showing us that trainers are not just for with trousers, they also look UH-MAZING with dresses.

So there we have it i am totally converted. 
And i *think* i may have to invest in the Superstars.

What are your thoughts on trainers? Are you a fan?