Dirt on Your Shoes: Guys, and not just the hipsters who can't afford a new pair, are sporting shoes smudged with dirt this spring. Even sneakerheads who used to wear only the brightest, cleanest sneaks and tossed out pairs once they had a speck of dirt on them are going for a more "lived in" look. Notorious sneaker aficionado Kanye West sported some less than clean white canvas shoes in the March GQ "10 Most Stylish Men in America" spread, as did Jason Schwartzman and Ed Ruscha. But it's not just in the pages of magazines that this trend is taking hold; the streets are notably lacking the blinding effect of super clean shoes as the mainstream-grunge look expands beyond plaid.
Pleather Pride: Pleather, the brunt of many a fashionista's jokes, is going by a new name these days - vegan. Imitation leather used to be perceived as a way to save a few bucks, but these days it's being rebranded as a way to save the earth. Stores like New York's Moo Shoes are selling pleather, canvas and hemp shoes and labeling them as vegan/cruelty-free specialty items. While a vegan label on a pair of pleather heels might actually clarify that customers are buying faux cowhide, the same label is a bit obvious on a pair of canvas shoes. But, consumers feeling their pennies pinched by the current economy are looking for "added value" in every purchase they make. Although most savvy shoppers already recognize synthetics as vegan or cruelty-free, such labeling can help alleviate shoppers' guilt by reminding them they are making a conscious choice.
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