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Chuck Talk—Winter/Spring, 2026

 

Hello Kitty, From Chuck

 

Did you know that Hello Kitty is canonically British and weighs three apples? She is also not technically a cat. There is a very detailed and strict lore for Hello Kitty and all her friends that Sanrio insists on maintaining, but it all leads to the kawaii aesthetic that the character helped pioneer. This aesthetic has been one of the biggest cultural exchanges between the US and Japan over the last 50 years, and this British not-a-cat is partly to thank. It then only makes sense that Sanrio would partner with a brand that is true Americana: Converse.

 

CTAS Hello Kitty high tops. L: Hello Kitty Chuck Taylot; R: Chuck 70 with Swarovsk crytals.

 

The Converse x Hello Kitty® and Friends collection is made up of quite a few designs, the brightest of these being the Converse x Hello Kitty Chuck Taylor 70 with Swarovski® Crystals. These $352 off-white chucks feature a premium canvas studded with Swarovski® crystals arranged in a visage of Hello Kitty, and exclusive Hello Kitty Chuck Taylor patch and All Star license plate. For those looking for a design in the everyday price range, the Converse x Hello Kitty and Friends Chuck Taylor All Star Charmed are also a highlight. They feature a friendship bracelet-inspired print that includes all your fave Sanrio motifs and Kello Kitty charms. Meanwhile, the Converse x Hello Kitty and Friends Chuck 70 Stickers showcase a bold sticker design that proudly and loudly displays Hello Kitty, Bad Badtz-Maru, Tuxedo Sam, Chococat, Pompompurin, and more. The collection also includes customizable prints to showcase your favorite character, and kids’ designs that let you and your little ones match. So young or old, you can celebrate Hello Kitty in chucks this Spring!

 

 

Chucks Are Rooted in Sports

 

Every now and then it’s worth a look back at the history of the Chuck Taylor All Star and its important relationship to the history of sports in the United States. While some people disparage them as shoes for teens or kids, they ignore the storied history of the Chuck Taylor high top in sports. First and foremost in their history, chucks are a basketball shoe and not any basketball shoe but the one the was the preferred model by professional teams, college teams, and high school teams for five and one half decades from the 1920s through mid 1970s. This was mainly due to the efforts of Chuck Taylor the man, who traveled around the country giving clinics on basketball and alway having a trunkful of chucks in his Cadillac. His thoughts and opinions about the sport of basketball influenced the entire world of sports. For decades Converse would publish a basketball yearbook that all the college and high school teams vied to be included in photographed wearing their pairs of chucks in team shots.

 

These chucks are an important part of our history.

 

The two most popular models of chucks today have their origins in two signficant events. The optical white model was originally developed for the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin. In those days they didn't have the technology to make the bright white dye you see today on a new pair, but those shoes were white, something new in the world of basketball shoes then. They are the only core model that uses both red and blue racing stripes, part of the USA design of the shoe that remains today. Converse basketball shoes were worn at every Olympics game by the USA baskball teams until 1976. The black high top model was designed to celebrate the merger of the two professional basketball leagues, the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball league into the the modern National Basketball Association in 1949. This model remains today the most popular Chuck Taylor model, not just for sports but for everyday wear. So when you attend or participate in a sporting event, proudly wear your Chuck Taylor sneakers, a shoe rooted in the past, present, and future of our sports culture.

 

 

A Recap of Some New Chucks for Women

 

There have been a few new releases to start out 2026, specifically for women. The first of these new releases is the Chuck Taylor All Star Scarf Bow. This new design combines the classic chuck with a popular fashion accessory over the last few years: the bow. The rise of the coquette aesthetic over the last few years, which celebrates a hyper-feminine, romantic, and playful style, means that bows are back in a big way. The Chuck Taylor All Star Scarf Bow features a miniature satin scarf that can be untied and tied, allowing you to dress it up or dress it down depending on the occasion. The flexibility means these chucks can be paired this Spring with a wide variety of outfits, such as sundresses, jeans, shorts, or skirts. The Chuck Taylor All Star Scarf Bow is available in two colorways: deep burgundy and blue grey. There is also a platform version available in navy blue and a low top in a grey pinstripe.

 

The Chuck Taylor All Star Scarf Bow high top.

 

Another big recent release is the all-new Chuck Taylor Lo. Billed as the “lowest chuck ever”, the Lo features a premium suede upper with a full-grain leather heel collar. The suede upper bleeds into the sidewall, allowing it nearly touch the ground when you step and creating a completely new visual profile for chucks. This sleek silhouette is finished with both flat cotton and elevated fleck pattern laces, which allow for single or double lace styling. This model is another example of Converse trying to make everything a Chuck Taylor, even when the shoe has no real resemblence to the classic Chuck Taylor basketball shoe look or design. The Chuck Taylor Lo is available in two classic colors: Egret and Black, as well as four Limited Time colors: pink, red, green, and blue. The Limited Time colorways are saturated shades that are able to go with anything, and will look great as the weather warms, and we head into Spring and Summer. Both pairs will make great additions to freshen up your look this year.

 

 

Articles and Features:

See the 2026 Chuck Taylor All Star seasonal color high and low tops when they are released on our Shoe Outlook page. Our latest addition to the Honor Roll for Actors Wearing Chucks in Films and Television Series is Mason Thames.

For more articles:

 

Film Reviews:

Regretting You, I Wish You All The Best, Sweethearts, Xeno, East of Middle West, Mamma Mia!, Work It, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Turtles All the Way Down, A Minecraft Movie, Young Hearts (2024), The Shed, Monster Summer, Survive, Fall, The Marvels.

New listings: Whistle, Jim vs. the Future, TeenageGirl: First Wheels, Toy Story, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Night of Wrath, I Can Only Imagine, You Can’t Run Forever, Saint Clare, Till Death, Rage: Midsummer’s Eve, The Electric State.

All of the alphabetical film pages, The Chuck Taylor in Films - A, etc., are accessed from the main Chuck Taylor in Films Page at the top of each alphabetical listing. More banners have been added to our Coolest Chucks Moments in Film gallery.

For more film reviews and listings:

 

Music Video Reviews:

Stateside, Luther, cliché, I Want You Back, Spring Into Summer, Risk, Rubber Band Man, Growing Pains, Day One, Call Off the Day, Eternity, Grave, Cleats, Bully, Give You Love, CUDN’T B ME, Giver/Taker, idk I Just Work Here, West Like, Birds of a Feather (Bastille).
More links to our music videos reviews have been added to the Musicians Who Wear Chucks page.

For more music video reviews:

 

New or Updated Photo Galleries:

Light Saddle High Top Chucks, Berry Smoothie High Top Chucks, Stills from Cruella, Actors Wearing Red Chucks in Films, Dominic Pike, Kid Laroi, Teen Boys Wearing Chucks, Teen Girls Wearing Chucks, Zendaya, Converse x Barriers Black Chuck 70 High Tops.

Most of our Musicians Who Wear Chucks photo galleries have been re-edited with improved links and captions.

For a complete listing of our photo galleries:

 

TV Page Features:

New listings with an article: Dark Winds, Wonder Man, Stranger Things Season 5, Peacemaker, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, The Last of Us Season 2, Food Network Tournament of Champions 2025, The Rookie, Eyewitness, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder.

Other recent listings are: Hal & Harper, FUBAR, Mees Kees, Harlan Corben’s Shelter, Son of a Critch, Deadtime Stories, Sweet Tooth, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Lockwood & Co., Reboot, Night Sky, The Last Bus.

Many listings have been updated with streaming information.

For a complete listing:

 

Videos and Short Films With Chucks:

Scraps, Do You Ever Miss the 80s?, Pop!, D Squared CRU, Conan Gray The Story, The Grandpa, Levitating Dua Lipa, Elijah Woods January Eyes and Sunshine, Glee Footloose, Olly Pearson Guitar, Prora, Semicolon, Dirty Laundry, The Great Scout Adventure, Greatet Joke Ever.

For more videos and short films:

 

How to Participate in Chuck Talk.

Let us know what you think! We are also happy to try and answer your questions and inquiries about chucks, and listen to what you are thinking about. If you have some opinions, information, pictures, suggestions, an article or other interesting information to submit, please contact us at mail@chucksconnection.com.

 

More ChuckTalk Articles

 

Weave A New Look in Leather

 

Chucks are known for their canvas walls. It’s an iconic fabric that sketches through history, offering millions the ability to make chucks their own. That hasn’t stopped chucks from implementing different outer fabrics over the years. Leather has been a longtime favorite and has brought some incredible new designs while also providing a sturdier material for more rugged weather. The latest design combines leather with the classic weaving techniques that created the canvas all those years ago.

 

Chuck 70 Woven Leather High Top.

 

The Chuck 70 Woven Leather is a rugged yet refined update to the classic silhouette that keeps craftsmanship front of mind. The upper is a woven premium leather that adds a new dimension, drawing inspiration from one of the oldest forms of human creation: weaving. Weaving has been around as long as humans have been making things and the use of it here creates a beautiful texture that stands out amongst the other leather options currently available. The look also includes a varnished, off-white midsole and toe cap, and tonal laces to match the leather perfectly. These being Chuck 70s, they come equipped with OrthoLite cushioning soles for extra comfort, signature leather Chuck Taylor ankle patch, and the classic All Star license plate. The Chuck 70 Woven Leather is available in two colorways, Warm Tan and Mudguard Brown, for $105. The Woven Leather collection also includes a Chuck 70 De Luxe Pointed Woven Leather and a Chuck Taylor All Star Dainty Mary Jane Woven Leather. The De Luxe is available in Black and Egret colorways for $155, while the Dainty Mary Jane is available in Totally Fudged Brown and Black for $75. So weave your own story in new Woven Leather chucks.

 

 

Get Off the Bench and Join the First String

 

The idea of “premium” chucks is an oxymoron that somehow keeps coming up. The Chuck Taylor has been a shoe of the everyman for well over a hundred years now, first in basketball, then in everyday settings. This has stopped Converse from trying to make premium chucks a thing, as all the past attempts have been unsuccessful in the marketplace. Their latest attempt may be the boldest yet. The Converse First String is a new premium top-tier collection that reinterprets the iconic classic silhouette of chucks with elevated materials, design elements, and enhanced technical features. With this design, there was a heavy focus on high-level craftsmanship, premium materials, comfort, luxury, and exclusivity.

 

The First String high top collection.

 

The Converse First String Chuck Taylor All Star is an elevated take on Converse’s iconic Chuck Taylor high-top sneaker. There are three designs, and each features a different upper made of a unique material: the black vintage canvas, brown premium leather, and leopard pony hair. Each has a contrasting “multi-line canvas heelstay with deco-stitch detail” that Converse says is borrowed from 1950s archival silhouettes. Converse has also pulled a “new” All-Star patch and license plate from the archives, and the thicker midsoles also have archival design details. Not everything is from the archives, though, as the new comfort sock liner uses CX + Nike Air technology with quality topcloth and has a leather-lined interior. The models also delete the iconic black racing stripe on the outer foxing and toe caps which takes them away from the normal outer foxing look of the classic and most new Chuck Taylor models. The shoe is also equipped with a Vibram outsole for increased durability and traction, premium vintage woven cotton laces and upgraded brushed nickel eyelets. The exclusivity element comes in a few forms, firstly, from the fact that only a small sector of upscale retailers worldwide are selling them, with Converse not being one of them. The second thing keeping these chucks exclusive is the fact that they cost $220, over three and one half times the price of a classic pair of chucks. The refined features are certainly classy, but that price tag puts these chucks in the same bracket as many high-fashion shoes which just seems wrong and not worth the cost.

 

 

New Winter Boots to Save Your Feet This Winter

 

2025 is officially behind us, which unfortunately means that the worst month of the year has arrived: January. Yes, January, the long, boring month that is nothing but cold, freezing Winter and seasonal depression. This is also probably the worst time of year to wear standard chucks in most places where there is snow, sleet, rain, and the cold because the classic canvas won’t protect you much. That is why it’s the perfect time to break out your Chuck Taylor boots if you’ve got them! If you don’t, then let's take a look at some new drops that may be perfect for you to add.

 

CTAS Malden Street Boot is built for the cold.

 

The Chuck Taylor All Star Malden Street Boot is a great addition if you’re looking for something a bit classier, while not sacrificing functionality. As a leather boot, they feel more sturdy and proper than canvas, but they are comfortable enough to wear to a function or date night with the OrthoLite cushioning and warm lining. You also get a traction outsole you'd expect from your favorite pair of boots, while the synthetic leather outsole is stylish in multiple colorways. For something a bit more ruggedly designed, get the Chuck Taylor All Star Water-Repellent Hiker Boot. These boots, as the name implies, were “inspired by hiking”, and you can see that in their features. The rugged rubber traction outsole is very reminiscent of actual hiking boots, but the design is pure Chuck Taylor, complete with the sidewall and All Star patch. The water-repellent faux leather stands up to the rain, while a Thinsulate bootie and fleece collar help lock in warmth when the temperature drops. Both of these will definitely keep you warm and dry during January, so which to get is solely up to your design preferences!

 

 

Venture to the Upside Down One Last Time

 

It’s taken ten years with a few multi-year breaks in between, but the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is finally here. The Netflix phenomenon has been criticized for the fact that it has taken ten years to produce 42 episodes of television, but let us not forget how much of a cultural marvel this show has been over that decade. The first season combined sci-fi, fantasy, and horror elements and wrapped it up in an ’80s nostalgic package. To mark this momentous last season, Converse has partnered with Netflix to release a new collection of chucks and designs that celebrate the show’s history.

 

Black Stranger Things Chuck 70 high top.

 

The new Converse x Stranger Things collection combines different elements and themes from the show. The Converse x Stranger Things Chuck 70 is the heart of the collection, and is based on the pirate radio station Robin and Steve run in the newest season, WSQK (aka “the Sqwuak”). The distressed canvas upper and burnished midsole create a well-worn look, and features an embroidered “Rockin’ Robin” call sign and radio waves. There are also details inside, such as the “Beam Me Up This Place Sucks!” liner and “HellFire Lives” inner tongue print. A Hawkins Hawk lace jewel, a rubber chicken key chain, Vecna-inspired laces, a Demogorgon All Star ankle patch, and an “Upside Down” license plate complete the look. The rest of the collection features a batch of new designs for the Converse By You customizer that pulls inspiration from all five seasons. This includes elements that feature the Demogorgan, the Hellfire Club, Mind Flayer, and Vecna. You’re able to create your own unique design using these elements just in time for the second part of Season 5, when it drops on Christmas.

 

 

Valentine’s Day Chucks for Kids

 

Converse has just dropped several new models of chucks meant for little kids in time for Valentine’s Day. Chuck Taylor All Star Valentine’s Day chucks are available for big kids who wear youth sizes form 3.5Y to 6Y. There are two high top models, one in black with white foxing and red hearts on the shoelaces, and the other in Days Ahead Red with white trim and pink hearts on the uppers. Other features include a red heart over the star on the ankle patch and on the heel patch. These models retail at $55.00.

 

CTAS Valentine's Day black high top for kids.

 

For infants and toddlers there are a couple of low top easy on models in red and white colors priced at $47.00 and with features like easy velcro strap ons. If your child’s feet are already into adult sizes there are models for them as well (see below).

 

 

Catch Feelings This Season in Chucks

 

Love is everywhere right now. In the air, on the streets, and in your homes. It’s a regular love infestation, and no one is safe. If you have been hit by this wave, you may be wondering what to do about it, especially with Valentine’s Day just a month away. Well, Converse has released its annual Valentine’s Day collection, and it has plenty of stylish options for everyone. Let’s start with the flagship Chuck Taylor All Star Valentine’s Day. There are a couple of different variations of this model, with each design having a unique focus on hearts and love. The colorways include black, white, and pink high tops and a red low top. The black and pink colorways include an eyelet charm, while the white one includes studded hearts on the canvas.

 

Break some hearts in new Valentine’s chucks.

 

The other highlight here is the Chuck Taylor All Star Lift Platform Valentine’s Day. This model comes in white with red accents that include a red bottom outsole and red eyelets shaped like hearts. The tongue has a stitched heart, and Chuck Taylor is a beautiful cursive. This year's Valentine’s collection also includes some love-themed customizable designs. There’s a wide variety of hearts in different styles and colors that can be used to truly personalize your message of love. This collection also includes child-sized chucks so that everyone can celebrate love this month, and some apparel options. These chucks make a great gift for someone special in your life, or as a way to show some love to the world. Whatever you do this next month, let the people in your life know you love them and spread some joy.

 

 

A Lookback at All Things Chucks in 2025

 

2025 was a banner year for chucks, as they continue to prove they are an icon in pop culture 103 years after their inception. We saw Converse collaborate on new chucks with many big fashion brands and designers. Chet Lo, OUR LEGACY, Marc Jacobs, Naruto, Bluey, Stranger Things, and Coca-Cola all had featured collections that blended these iconic brands and properties with chucks in a way that fans went crazy for. We also saw new releases of styles, colorways, boots, platforms, and more.

 

Happy New Year and Cheers to 2026!

 

In the world of popular culture, chucks were as ever-present as they’ve always been, appearing in major films, hit TV shows, and superstar music videos. A Minecraft Movie and Jurassic World: Rebirth were two of the year’s biggest films, and each featured one of their main characters wearing chucks throughout the whole film. On the small screen, Stranger Things finished off their run with multiple characters in chucks and The Last of Us returned with Ellie still wearing her iconic chucks. Artists like Alex Warren, FINNEAS, Hanumankind, Kid Cudi, and Gracie Abrams all wear chucks in music videos they released this year. In the world of sports, Converse athlete Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won an NBA Championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder and became Finals MVP, opening the door for a possible chucks return to the Association. Legendary professional wrestler AJ Lee made her long-awaited return to the ring, still wearing chucks instead of wrestling boots and winning her comeback match in September.

 

 

Happy New Year

 

As our calendars turn to 2026, The ChucksConnection looks forward to providing you with another year of information and features about Converse All Star Chuck Taylor basketball shoes. These timeless and classic sneakers, originally the standard wear for basketball teams over five decades and now popular as a leisure shoe and a fashion statement for generations. We will continue to provide you with information about the latest models as they are released, along with our documentation of their appearance in the media. Film listings and critiques, tv series features, music video reviews, and articles about their impact in everyday culture continue to highlight our coverage.

 

Put your best foot forward in 2026.

 

As always, we thank the many people who help us document our media pages with photos and information. Keep up the great work! And we will continue to be an affordable and first class resource for you to purchase Made in USA shoelaces for your chucks.

 

 

Bluey Meets Chuck

 

Children’s television programming has nearly always been viewed as lesser. It’s not real TV; it’s simple cartoons aimed at babies that parents are forced to watch so their toddler stops screaming. There are, of course, a few instances where a show transcends the age gap. Sesame Street was famously programmed for all ages so that families would watch together, and because of this it continues to be a staple of all our lives to this day. These days, in the age of absolute “brain-rot” trash that kids are fed on the internet, the shining light that appeals to everyone is Bluey. Everybody loves Bluey. Bluey is an animated kids' show from Australia that has been airing for over 150 episodes since 2018. It follows Bluey, an anthropomorphic six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy who is full of energy, imagination, and curiosity about the world. She lives with her parents, Bandit and Chilli, and younger sister, Bingo. She regularly joins Bluey on adventures as they use their imagination and creativity to play together. The show’s themes include family life, growing up, and Australian culture. Bluey has crossed over all over the world, becoming a global phenomenon in under a decade. This means there is no better time than the present for Bluey to meet Chuck Taylor.

 

Bluey high top chucks.

 

The Bluey Collection from Converse aims to celebrate the playful and creative spirit of the titular puppy with sizes and styles for all ages. The flagship piece of this collection is the Converse x Bluey Chuck Taylor All Star. This classic chuck features the entire family wrapped around the heel on a baby blue canvas upper. These also include a embossed Chuck Taylor ankle patch, black pinstripes, and a vintage license plate. The balloon-covered sock liner is inspired by the episode “Keepy Uppy” and the inside of the tongue lets you write exactly who these shoes belong to. The collection also puts a heavy focus on the Converse by You tool, as you can create your own Bluey chucks with different graphics, styles, and design elements at your disposal. The collection also obviously has tons of kids' options, with the highlight being the Converse x Bluey Chuck Taylor All Star One Strap Easy-On, which are furry and feature Bluey and Bingo faces on the front. This whole collection is an incredible opportunity to get matching chucks for you and your little one for a fun outing where you can let your imaginations soar together.

 

 

Introducing Chucks To The Next Generation

 

Getting a new pair of chucks for the first time is an important step in a kid’s life. In the case of the most popular model, the black high top, with its distinctive white stitching and outer foxing, black racing stripes, and iconic ankle patch, this is something that has been going on for for over 75 years. Lacing up and wearing that first pair is something that will always be remembered, and hopefully there will some pictures to record the happy event. Every kid should get an opportunity to have that first pair, the earlier the better. These days you can get a pair of black high top chucks as an infant, toddler, and in speical youth sizes, before their feet are big enough to step into the standard sizes for big kids, teenagers, and adults.

 

Two young boys sporting their first pairs of black high top chucks.

 

The brand of sneakers that kids wear is always a big deal, because sneakers are such an important part of kids’ lives and their preferred dress code these days. Converse All Stars continue to be a very popular choice generation after generation in America and many other countries around the world. And the desire to wear them no longer ends at formal adulthood. These days wearing sneakers is popular at all ages and for all different types of people. The best things about chucks is they are a unisex shoe, everyone can wear them. So what are you waiting for? A pair of chucks makes a great gift for any age of kid you know!

 

 

What Does Your Chucks’ Color Say About You?

 

Colors are a basic building block of life on this planet. They define our world, bringing our surroundings to life and they, along with shapes, define the things we see. However, have you ever thought about how colors can define your mood to those around you? Color Theory, and more specifically color symbolism, is the idea that colors can carry significant cultural symbolism, or even have immutable, universal meaning. This extends to emotions, and you may recognize this idea best in its use for mood rings. However, the use of color like this doesn’t have to stop there. Who's to say that you can’t let your chucks or even your whole wardrobe express your mood via color?

 

Colors speak louder than words on chucks.

 

Let’s take a look at some different colors and what they say about your mood, and explore the different shades these colors come in chucks. Let’s start with the boldest: red. Red is the color of love and passion, but also the color of danger. Wearing red sends a powerful message that you are passionate and meant to be seen. Pink falls on the same spectrum of love, but its cooler tone sends the message in a less blunt way. Blue, the color of the ocean and sky, is often associated with calm, serenity, and wisdom. Green takes its color from nature and it too represents wisdom along with healing. These two colors and their hues let people know that you are someone at one with the world and yourself. Neutral tones like brown and white represent a grounded nature and peace, wearing them tells everyone that you are down to earth and understated in your style. These are just a few examples, but every color has a meaning and says something about you. The only question now is, what mood are you in?

 

What does wearing these colors of chucks say about you?

 

 

Dress Up Your Chucks with Retro Shoelaces

 

Retro shoelaces fit in width between classic shoelaces and fat shoelaces. At 1/2 inch wide, they are the shoelaes that were shipped with new pairs of vintage chucks. If you want to make a color splash with your chucks, dressing them up with a pair of retro shoelaces gives them a bolder look. For example, by using either navy blue or red shoelaces, you can match the trim color on these optical white high top chucks. See how retro shoelaces look on various pairs of high top chucks. See how retro shoelaces look on various pairs of low top chucks.

 

Optical white high and low top chucks with red and navy blue retro sholaces.

 

Retro shoelaces are hard to find these days; luckily The ChucksConnection has a large inventory of the red and navy blue laces shown here in both 45 inch and 54 inch lengths. Go to our shoelace home page for links to purchase retro shoelaces in these and other colors. Now our collection of retro width shoelaces has been expanded to include a 63 inch long white retro shoelace. Now chucks wearers with nine eyelet pair shoes have access to a white retro shoelace. Also chucks wearers with eight eyelet pair models can get retro shoelaces in a longer length. Go to our Shoelaces Home Page for full details, general information, lacing guides, and access to our entire selection of shoelaces for your chucks.