Shoes as a hallmark of subcultures

Attributes of various subcultures

Although nowadays individual shoes are no longer reserved exclusively for specific subcultures, in the past they were their hallmark. Today, no one is surprised by the sight of Doc Martens, casual shoes, boots or Adidas on the street and is not necessarily associated with more or less rebellious groups. 

In this article, we present the history of selected types of shoes, focusing on using them to express one's identity. If you are interested in such topics, we hope you enjoy reading!

High boots for rebels

High, heavy shoes made of leather quickly stole the hearts of many rebels around the world, becoming a symbol of individuality. Boots dominated the streets in the 1970s and 1980s, when they were worn mainly by metalheads, punk rockers and skinheads. The latter paired them with white laces, which they intertwined to create the shape of a characteristic ladder.

Skinheads often wore jeans with straight or tapered legs, polo shirts and Harrington jackets finished with a black and red check. In turn, punks combined these shoes with colorful checked trousers, T-shirts with intriguing prints and leather biker jackets decorated with studs and rhinestones. Metalheads, on the other hand, could be recognized by black boots and a black, monochromatic outfit with long hair falling carelessly.

Today, bovver boots decorate the streets regardless of subculture. Both women and men love these shoes and wear them with a variety of styles. Classic black boots go perfectly with jeans and combat boots. You can successfully wear them with dresses, for example by choosing a little black dress and black, transparent tights. Currently, bovver boots are also available in various colors and patterns. No one is surprised by the multi-colored bovver boots with flowers, which perfectly complement timeless dungarees and airy dresses. Beige shoes in this style have stolen the hearts of many fashion influencers, who combine them with white or cream styles, creating impressive style combinations. classy chic with a delicate claw.

Dr. Martens boots in the underground

In terms of appearance, Dr. Martens shoes are similar to boots, which were initially created for health-promoting purposes. The creator of these shoes - Klaus Martens - after breaking his leg, decided that the standard military boots he had to wear due to the ongoing World War II were simply not comfortable. To recover faster, a German army doctor decided to create soft, leather shoes whose sole was lined with... a fragment of a tire.

Although initially this solution did not bring him any particular fame, over time it became popular among postmen, policemen and other workers who spent long hours on their feet. Representatives also loved this trend underground – fashionistas who combined them with flashy, provocative and avant-garde outfits and military coats with hoods. Grunge fans also like Doc Martens. They wore these shoes with straight jeans and plaid shirts.

Rock'n'roll in Converse

Grunge people also often wore classic sneakers, such as Converse. Interestingly, these shoes were designed for playing basketball and football. The most popular model - Chuck Taylor All Star - comes from amateur basketball player Charles Taylor, who popularized these sneakers while playing for a team sponsored by the brand.

Initially, converses were available only in a black, monochromatic version. Over time, however, white and colored versions of these shoes appeared. Although, as we mentioned earlier, these shoes were intended for sports, they were promoted among subcultures by popular music bands such as the Sex Pistols, Ramones and Nirvana.

The popularity of conversation classes is still not decreasing. Today, in addition to canvas models, there are also those made of leather, which are increasingly seen on the streets in combination with jeans of various cuts, as well as cotton dresses ending just below the mid-calf. By choosing beige platform sneakers, you can optically lengthen your legs, which will certainly please fans of shorter dresses.  

Adidas sneakers for street style lovers

In the American culture of New York street style lovers, Adidas has played a huge role. Originally, these shoes were popular among volleyball and basketball players, which quickly inspired hip-hop fans. Representatives of this subculture combined their favorite Adidas models with loose trousers and oversizedt-shirts, often complementing such combinations with a cap with a characteristic, straight or curved brim.

Currently, Superstar shoes have become one of the hottest trends that can be seen almost everywhere on the street. They are loved by representatives of both sexes, who wear these shoes not only for sports purposes, but also combine them with stylish clothes business casual. More inspiration for styling Adidas and other sneakers can be found in this article.