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Chuck Talk—Summer/Fall, 2022

 

Remembering Bill Russell

 

Hall of Fame basketball legend Bill Russell recently passed away at the age of 89. No matter what level he played at he was always a champion, starting with state basketball championships at McClymonds High School in Oakland, then with the University of San Francisco Dons where he led them to two NCAA championships, an Olympics gold medal in 1956, and eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics. He has many great career highlights which are well covered in the numerous obituaries by sportswriters who covered his career. We'll mention just one: his record in deciding championship games throughout his career, where one more victory was needed to secure the prize, was an amazing 21-0. Besides his athletic accomplishments, off the court Bill was a strong advocate for civil rights in a nation and sport still rampant with discrimination. He took a lot of criticism for this but refused to back down.

 

Bill Russell court side, in a game, and his favorite pair of low top chucks.

 

Throughout his career, Bill always wore Converse All Star Chuck Taylor basketball shoes, with his favorite being the black low top (or Ox as they were called in those days). In the early 1970's Converse even marketed a special leather edition of Bill Russell chucks, surely a great collectors item if you have a pair today. Bill Russell will always be remembered, especially now that the NBA championship trophy is named after him. Sadly he won't be with us any longer to present it to the championship team at the end of the finals.

 

 

Converse x Barriers Create Chucks with a Voice

 

Barriers doesn’t make passive fashion. The New York City fashion brand aims to amplify messages of anti-racism and progress. It tries to teach, learn, and make a statement through fashion. Spearheaded by the designs of Steve Barter, the brand was founded in 2015 and has earned quite the following with its Dripping Logo and Phrases that speak to its mantra Create Your Opportunity. This mantra is transcended through their blog, vlog, and the spotlighting of upcoming figures of influence in their respected fields. They’ve partnered with Converse to create a limited edition collection. This collection features a bold and empowering Chuck 70, that blends street style and amplifies stories and voices of the unheard.

 

A bold and striking design that combines unique elements and the classic chucks silhouette.

 

On this Chuck 70, the NYC-based brand draws inspiration from The North Star, a 19th-century anti-slavery newspaper. The shoe is adorned with embroidered text, co-branded details, and custom star graphics that all tell this story and unite it with the two iconic brands. The canvas upper is in a striking black that helps the colors really pop. The design features the Barriers logo stitched onto a woven patch on the tongue. Inspirational slogans appear on the outside uppers. There’s also hand-stitched embroidery on the left and right lateral and embroidered eyelets on left and right medial that add an extra dimension to the classic chuck design. The custom All Star patch is woven on and there’s a custom graphic on the sock liner. Finally, there are two weave shoelace options in red/yellow/green or red/green plus a cowry shell-inspired lace jewel. The Converse x Barriers collection also includes a Converse One Star, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and shorts. Converse x Barriers chucks are available now for $110 on Converse.com. Click on the link to see a photo gallery.

 

 

Expand Your Chucks Footprint With New Colors

 

If you are dedicated wearer of chucks, you have a favorite color that gets worn the most. But the great thing about chucks is that there are so many models and colors to choose from. Every year Converse issues seasonal colors, issues of high top and low top Chuck Taylors in new colors besides the standard black, white, red, charcoal, or blue. You should treat yourself to some of these seasonal colors, as they are usually a one time issue, although if a seasonal color is popular, it most likely will continue to be made. Maroon is a perfect example of that. It used to be considered a core color, but for some reason that designation was taken away. But maroon still remains very popular and maroon pairs of chucks still are made every season, a renewal rate of over twenty seasons.

 

Sand Dune and Snorkel Blue are two of the latest seasonal high top chucks.

 

Converse has recently mad it eay to peruse available models of chucks, along with variations like platform and slip on models by color. Here are some of their recommendations: If you like orange choose orange or fire opal; for yellow lemon chrome; for green midnight clover or amazon green; for blue snorkel blue; for purple electeric purple or pale amethyst; for brown choose sand dune; and for pink thre is a pink clay color. Go to our Outlook Page to see images of all these models in high top and low top. As always with seasonal chucks, if you see a color/model you really like, buy it right away as it may never return.

 

 

Articles and Features:

See the latest Chuck Taylor All Star releases including the new summer prints on our Shoe Outlook page. The Chucks Life comic strips have been reformatted for easier viewing on mobile devices. Johnny Knoxville has moved into second place in our Honor Roll for Actors Wearing Chucks in Films and Television Shows with the release of the latest Jackass film Jackass Forever. Our latest additions to the Honor Roll are Charlie Heaton, Maya Hawke, and Finn Wolfhard.

For more articles:

 

Film Reviews:

Creed II, Words On Bathroom Walls, North Hollywood, Journey of the Heart, Hairspray, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Adam Project, Three Months, West Side Story.

New listings: Spontaneous, My Babysitter the Super Hero, Clara and the Secret of the Bears, Where the Scary Things Are, Swinging Safari, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Dunning Man, Better Nate Than Ever.

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.

For more film reviews and listings:

 

Music Video Reviews:

American Pie, From The D 2 The LBC, Make It To Christmas, hooligan, Best Days, N95, Glad You Came, Especially You, Every Summertime, favorite crime, Crisis, Louder Than Words, In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company, Fight for Your Right (Revisited), The Less I Know the Better.

For more music video reviews:

 

New or Updated Photo Galleries:

Converse x Barriers Black Chuck 70 High Tops, Kava Bliss Washed Canvas High Tops, Guys Wearing Red Chucks, Zendaya, Chucks In The Film Three Months, Ads for Chuck Taylor Shoes, Actors Wearing Chucks in Television Series. 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: Ruby and the Well, Stranger Things Season 4, Ms. Marvel, Heels, Kim’s Convenience, Never Have I Ever, Första Kärleken (First Love), The Hardy Boys (2020).

Other recent listings are: Night Sky, The Last Bus, Lab Rats: Elite Force, The Conners, The Wonder Years (2021), A. P. Bio, Diary of a Future President, Generation, The Unicorn.

For a complete listing:

 

Videos and Short Films With Chucks:

Bus 89, Man of the Harvest, Star Wars Generations, Eddie and the Alternate Universe, The Attic, The Funspot, Remember When, Brotherly Love, E.L. R.O.N.A.L.D.O., Rocket Boy, Broken Leg.

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

Fun Kids Prints to End the Summer

 

It’s the middle of July which means we are about halfway through the summer season! Kids everywhere have been enjoying their time off from school but as we head into the second half of the summer that fun is coming to an end. School shopping is around the corner and with the new year starting the kids in your life will need something new to stand out amongst their friends. If you’re in the market for new chucks, there are some different, fun prints and designs your kid might love rather than the solid colors or staple black and white pair.

 

Sweet Scoops, Unicorns, Frozen Treats, and Dinosaurs give kids some new pep in their step!

 

The first fun print for kids this summer is the Sweet Scoops print. This print features two designs that showcase beautiful and colorful ice cream treats, with one focusing on old school ice cream shop graphics and the other bright and vibrant cones. The second print features colorful dinosaurs that include T-Rex, Stegasaurus, and Triceratops on either black or white canvas. There’s also a Unicorn print that has pink, blue, purple, and yellow unicorns on either pink or white canvas. Finally, we have the Frozen Treats prints that has popsicles, ice cream bars, and cones in bright blue, pink, and teal color palettes. All of these prints are customizable using the Converse customizer tool, and are available in sizes ranging from toddlers to big kids. They also have varying styles between high and low tops, and laces and easy on velcro. So if the child in your life is looking for some new chucks to close out the summer and start the new school year with, check out these fun prints!

 

 

From the Dirt to Your Feet!

 

Chucks have often been used to bring about change and positive impact on the world, and the latest limited edition chucks from Converse are no different. In partnership with Sky High Farm, Converse is dropping a new Chuck 70 that uplifts their message and lets every customer support the farm’s mission to expand access to healthy, fresh food and invest in pathways towards food sovereignty. Sky High Farm was founded in 2011 in the heart of the Hudson Valley in Ancramdale, NY by artist Dan Colen. The farm tried out its fashion-to-food hypothesis, proudly collaborating with creatives, artists, and organizations to raise funds through limited-edition apparel releases. This led to the creation of Sky High Farm Workwear, the brand built solely to help support the farm where Colen serves as creative director. The brand exists exclusively to donate its profits to the Sky High farm to further its mission. Every customer becomes a donor, and their dollars pull double duty as the farm gets the funds to do its work, and customers get the gear to do theirs.

 

“Born from the dirt and the hands that tend it.”

 

The brand emphasizes that its collections always highlight “sustainable products and fabrication processes, including the use of vintage, deadstock, and recycled fabrics, and earth-friendly production technologies”. They also require all their partners to commit to a guaranteed donation to Sky High Farm and encourage them to only buy what they can sell. This collection was made in partnership with Sky High Farm Workwear and features one model of Chuck 70 that costs $150. The chuck features the Sky High Farm Workwear “Strawberry-Moon” logo which is strawberry and moon hugging. It also features a Custom Sky High Farm Workwear chuck patch and license plate and a Custom co-branded sock liner. These chucks are very cool style wise and really fit with the summer vibe, and they help a wonderful cause!

 

 

Chuck Taylor All Star Marbled High Tops

 

Want a slightly new look for your summer footwear? Then check out the newest variation on the classic black Chuck Taylor high top from Converse. As they describe it, you will get a “bold, nostalgic redesign that puts '90s expression first. The cotton canvas upper features pop-color binding details that add a retro touch to the iconic” Chuck Taylor design. The main new design features include an expressive marbled ink pattern on the tongues, star ankle patches, and rear heel support piece.

 

Left inside patch and angled rear views of the CTAS Marbled high top.

 

In addition to the marbled ink patterns decribed above, there is light blue edging on the uppers and the tongues of each shoe. These chucks come with black shoelaces and a black heel patch. Other details like the rubber toe bumper, toe cap, and diamond pattern outsole remain the same as you see on classic black pairs. Marbled high top chucks come in mens half sizes from 3 to 13 and retail at $65.00, which has now become the new standard retail price for high top chucks.

 

 

DRKSHDW Chucks Shine Bright

 

We all know Chuck Taylors are classics in every way. From the silhouette to the All Star patch, the chucks we all know and love are known the world over for their classic design and their long history of not changing said design. This poses a challenge to designers working with Converse on special collections: How do you make an iconic piece of Americana your own? Well if you’re fashion designer Rick Owens you distort and reshape the classical lines of this iconic silhouette.

 

The DRKSHDW TURBODRK Chuck 70’s are unlike any chucks that have ever been released.

 

The TURBODRK Chuck 70 is the newest creation from Owens and references his past DRKSHDW designs on a limited-edition Chuck 70. The design aims to both celebrate and distort the classic Chuck Taylor design in a few different ways. First, it stretches and elongate the tongue so that it is several inches longer than normal changing the height of the chuck. The design also features the first square-toe execution in the century long existence of the shoe. This bold design choice complete reinvents the profile of the chuck as the molded rubber dual toe is completely unique and unlike anything seen on a pair of chucks. Finally, the design features a custom DRKSHDW license plate and wrap around TURBODRK woven label. The chucks in this collection come in a high-shine lacquered-denim finish and are available in both high top and low top options. The high top is available in a shiny black while the low top is available in a sparkly silver. This limited edition collection also features two mini backpacks that feature the DRKSHDW logo in black and off-white. The TURBODRK Chuck 70’s are available for $165 and $170 for the low top and high top respectively and are perfect for anyone looking for something completely new and unique.

 

 

Converse Celebrates Found Family for Pride 2022

 

June is Pride Month, an annual celebration that supports positive social change and amplifies voices from the LGBTQIA+ community. During this time of year, there are celebrations worldwide, and many companies and brands attempt to offer a welcoming space to those in the community. While many corporations just slap a rainbow flag on their logo for the month and do nothing more, Converse uses the month to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and contribute to numerous charities that support a wide range of causes in the LGBTQIA+ community. This year these charities and organizations include the It Gets Better Project, The Theater Offensive, The Ali Forney Center, Out Metrowest, Skate Like a Girl, the Las Fatos Project, and BAGLY.

 

The Chuck Taylor All Star Pride high top features a rainbow bandana graphic.

 

Converse also releases a yearly Pride collection featuring both pre-designed chucks and new Pride elements for the Converse by You customizer. The theme of this year’s collection is “Found Family” and “Unity”. “Found Family” is described as “the ones you meet who surround you with support and acceptance”. The designs have been created by LGBTQIA+ employees within Converse to “represent the diversity and unity of the community”. The collection includes a wide variety of designs featuring vibrant and unique graphics that have a little something for everyone. There are also new uses of iconic Pride flags in both the designs and Converse by You design elements. Available in both Kids and Adult sizes, there’s a pair of chucks for everyone. As Converse perfectly sums up: “Come together with love and with Pride”.

 

 

Converse x Peanuts High Top Chucks

 

Good grief! Of all the chucks in the world, these are the Charlie Brown-iest. The Peanuts gang has been gracing the pages of newspapers across the country for 72 years now and has been described as “arguably the longest story ever told by one human being.” The comic strip centers around the lives of a group of young children, who have parents that are never seen. The main character is named Charlie Brown, a bald, meek, and nervous young boy with self-confidence issues. He’s joined by his ever-faithful and adventurous dog Snoopy. The Peanuts gang have been a staple of American pop culture through their entire run, with their holiday specials being a yearly tradition for many. It’s no wonder that they’ve now teamed with Converse to release a limited collection that celebrates their fun-filled 72-year history.

 

White Peanuts high top.

 

This collection contains a quite a selection of chuck designs to choose from. This includes a red design that features all the characters in white outlines and a white design that features Snoopy and Woodstock in full color. These both have special Peanuts features incorporated into their designs, such as a Converse x Peanuts woven tongue label and custom Snoopy doghouse license plate. Then there’s the custom Chucks by You option where you can out your own Peanuts spin on classic chucks. There you can add any of your favorite characters, choose from classic Peanuts colors, or even emblazon the sides with classic Panuts comic strip panels. Finally, this collection also includes other shoe options such as slip ons and One Stars, as well as clothing options like a fun Charlie Brown bucket hat. The chucks though range in price from $70-$100.

 

Other models of Peanuts high top chucks.

 

 

Chuck Taylor All Star Archive Paint Splatter High Tops

 

Another addition to the seasonal lineup of chucks for 2022 are the two models of Chuck Taylor All Star Archive Paint Splatter High Tops. Described by Converse as an expressionist icon, these sneakers feature uppers with a paint splatter design in black, white, and yellow. These models have most of the standard features we like in pairs of high top chucks: white outer foxing and toe caps with black racing stripes, diamond patterned toe guards, the classic outsole in brown, canvas uppers with two silk screened paint splatter designs, two eyelet holes on the inside upper panels for breathability, and Ortholite insoles. The ankle patches are printed in white on black circles.

 

Black and Amarillo Yellow Chuck Taylor All Star Archive Paint Splatter High Tops

 

The two models are described as Black/White/Amarillo and Amarillo/Black/White, with Amarillo referring to the shade of yellow used in their color design. They come in half sizes from 3 to 13 and retail at $65.

 

 

New Chuck Taylor All Star Summer Print High Tops

 

With summer rapidly approaching, Converse has released two new print models built on the foundations of their two best selling models of chucks, black/white and optical white high tops. Built on the optical white high top design, the Chuck Taylor All Star Archive Flames updates the flames graphic that was a popular seasonal model a decade ago, and redoes it in a bright design that features colors like Baltic blue and washed teal, along with a touch of orange and purple. The Chuck Taylor All Star Lightning Bolts high top is built on the classic black model of chucks. The uppers on this sneaker are black with a design of lightning bolts in Baltic blue, washed teal, orange, and purple.

 

Chuck Taylor All Star White Archive Flames and Lightning Bolt high tops.

 

These chucks will give your summer wear look a bright pop of color when you lace them up while still fitting in with the clothes you like to wear with your favorite black or optical white high tops. These chucks have the original Chuck Taylor ankle patch in red, white and blue, white toe caps and outer foxing with black racing stripes, and gradient colors in their print designs. They have mesh-lined canvas uppers to help you stay cool, OrthoLite cushioning for all-day comfort, and a recycled mesh lining along with the traditional pair of eyelets on their inside uppers for breathability. These chucks come in men’s whole and half sizes from 3 to 13 (women’s 5 to 15) and retail for $65.