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Picture this: it’s 2015, the streets outside both London and New York’s Dover Street Market stores are wrapped around the block, everyone is wearing a slinky striped shirt and carrying a Celine Nano Luggage bag (with a Fendi Monster keychain hanging from their purse).
They’re all waiting for one thing; the newest drop of the COMME des GARÇON Play x Converse collaboration.
Indeed, the youthful PLAY red heart logo saturated the street, adorning Converse’s beloved Chuck Taylor All Stars and low-top silhouettes and sported on the feet of nearly every member of the celebrity style set. Meaning, any brunch, boutique visit or bar hopping voyage wouldn’t be complete unless you sighted a pair of these viral sneakers like a sartorial game of spotto.
Yet, with the hypersonic speed in which the trend cycle moved, this playful (no pun intended), style somewhat faded into oblivion. But with 2023 being the year of unexpected comebacks (see, capri pants and denim maxi skirts), I wasn’t surprised to observe one of menswear’s biggest trendsetters inadvertently ushering in the silhouettes resurgence through one innocuous walk through the streets of SoHo.
I’m of course referring to Timothée Chalamet’s recent footwear foray, a pair of navy Converse high-top decorated with PLAY’s black peek-a-boo heart.
If it wasn’t for the date of the image, or the fact Chalamet was also sporting the new-season spring green Apple AirPod Max, I wouldn’t have second-guessed if you told me it was a photo from eight years ago.
Unlike Chalamet’s ‘soft boi’ approach to suiting on the red carpet, his off-duty ensemble was all the part New York ‘It’ boy. For his outing, the five-time Academy Award nominee cut a casual figure in a slightly baggy black long-sleeve shirt and utilitarian-style basketball shorts.
On his arm, a carry bag from NoHo-based vintage boutique, Looks. You can take the boy out of Manhattan (transporting him to Wonkaland or Arakis), but you can’t take Manhattan out of the boy.
And with two upcoming films to promote, what better way to make headlines than by pulling on the heartstrings of the fervent, unwavering and artthrob-loving Gen-Zs behind him?
By the way these images were picked up and circulated by Chalamet’s valiant adherents, it’s an unequivocal assumption to believe that this ‘vintage’ footwear style will soon supplant the Adidas x Wales Bonner sambas as the shoe du jour.
After all, if there’s someone who can bring back COMME des GARÇON PLAY Converse, it’s Timothée Chalamet. His credentials? Wearing Converse to the Met Gala (alongside his Rick Owens sweatpants).
But for those amongst us who remember lining up for our very first pair of COMME des GARÇON PLAY Converse, it may be time to check the bottom of your wardrobe or in the nook between your bureau and your wall for an original pair. Perhaps this will be the easiest revival trend to follow.
