Converse: a personal, socioeconomic, politically-fashioned, historical commentary

A pair of hot pink high tops at 6, 'frappe' low tops at 16, and some close encounters with my sister's pair of the classic black low tops somewhere in between.

And now...

Before I left for Sverige, another recent American transplant to Sverige informed me that these are wildly, wildly popular here.  Especially the white pair for girls.  Really?  I guess I'm due for the next decade's pair soon...oh and they cost $100 in Sweden?  OH OK.  Despite having absolutely no room in my suitcases and a carryon that already secretly weighed 50 lbs, I tossed $39 onto the nearest mall shoe store countertop and wondered if TSA would make me remove them in the security screening out of principle since they would be tied securely to my hands.*

Last week I was strolling through the city with a girl friend and I exclaimed how funny it is to see nearly everyone in Stockholm walking around with the same shoes, not because they had to (communism) but because they wanted to (fashionism).

-But doesn't everyone also wear summer shoes in the States?
-Haha, yes... but they are not all the same white sneakers!
-But you have trends, yeah?
-Yeah, of course.  But usually by the time the whole city is wearing them, it's over.  I mean, I was worried that in the time it took me to board and change plans that they would no longer be popular.  I'm surprised because despite everyone wearing them, they continue to be so popular.  And when I think about how each person paid over 600kr for them...it's not a casual purchase!

It's not really that unbelievable that imported items are double the price they would be back home---but Converse have always seemed relatively non-commital, inexpensive, and positively Americana.  Maybe it's their popularity that surprises me despite the growing domestic and international sentiments of disillusion in social, political, and economic spheres...I know that may sound cliche, but I'm writing it less as a profound accusation and more as a quiet, well-precedented acknowledgement.  Perhaps my surprise comes from recent immersion into social climate where being like everyone else is considered not only normal, but ideal.  Where striving for individualism is considered more of a threat to society than an asset.

Ergo, trends last longer here.




*So why not put them on my feet?  Because I was already wearing a pair of high heels tucked into running shoes tucked into winter boots.  Speaking of layering...