Shoes as a hallmark of subcultures

Attributes of different subcultures

Although nowadays individual shoes are no longer reserved exclusively for specific subcultures, in the past they were their hallmark. Today, the sight of Doc Martens, converts, combat boots or Adidas on the street does not surprise anyone 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 your own identity. If you are interested in such topics, we wish you pleasant reading!

High boots for rebels

High, heavy boots made of leather quickly stole the hearts of many rebels around the world, becoming a symbol of individuality. Boots dominated the streets in the 70s and 80s, when they were worn mainly by metalheads, punks and skinheads. The latter matched them with white shoelaces, which they intertwined, creating the shape of a characteristic ladder.

In the group of skinheads, jeans with straight or tapered legs, polo shirts and "Harrington" jackets finished with black and red checks were often worn with them. Punks, on the other hand, combined these shoes with colorful checked trousers, T-shirts with intriguing prints and leather jackets decorated with studs and jets. Metalheads, on the other hand, could be recognized by black boots and black, monochromatic styling, on which long hair fell carelessly.

Today, bovver boots adorn the streets, regardless of subculture affiliation. Both women and men love these shoes, wearing them with a variety of styles. Classic, black bovver boots go well with jeans and cargo pants. They can be successfully worn 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 multicolored bovver boots with flowers that 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 stylizations, creating spectacular combinations in the style classy chic with a delicate claw.

Doc Martens in the underground

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

Although initially this solution did not bring him particular fame, over time it appealed to postmen, policemen and other employees who spent long hours on their feet. Representatives also loved this trend underground – mods who paired them with flashy, provocative and avant-garde outfits and military hooded coats. Doc Doc Docs were also liked by grunge fans. They wore these shoes in combination with simple jeans and plaid shirts.

Rock'n'roll in Converse

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

Initially, conversions were only available in a black, monochrome edition. Over time, however, white and colored versions of these shoes appeared. Although, as we mentioned earlier, these shoes were intended for sports, but popular music bands such as Sex Pistols, Ramones and Nirvana promoted them among subcultures.

The popularity of conversions still does not decrease. Today, apart from canvas models, there are also those made of leather, which are more and more often found on the streets in combination with jeans of various cuts, as well as cotton dresses ending just below the mid-calf. Thanks to the selection of beige sneakers on the platform, you can optically lengthen your legs, which will certainly please fans of shorter dresses.  

Sneakers for lovers of street style

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

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