Four years ago, when they were still a quartet and I regularly drooled over their rack at Barneys, Trovata teamed up with Vans on a pair of limited edition, corduroy and leather Eras. They came in a wooden box and had sneaker heads and yours truly scrambling to pick up a pair. I missed the boat because I couldn’t shell out hundreds of dollars on eBay for them, but I still think about them til this day.
And so, I’m conflicted about seeing a nearly identical pair on Urban Outfitters this weekend.
On the one hand, I finally get to have the pair of shoes my younger self would have sold my soul to have, and better still for a mere $55 (sadly, those are not my feet, at left). And yet, I think I would see John Whitledge’s face staring back in shame every time I looked down at my pretty low tops.
So, what to do? Do I pick up the shoes and run (after all, the originals cannot be purchased anymore)? Or remember them fondly and stick with my beat-up authentics?
Also, it’s weird that Vans is really just reproducing an old Vans shoe that a designer made for them, expect, without the designer name. Think Whitledge is getting a paycheck for these?
—BRETT KANE
posted by louis
Oct 14, 2008 1:17PM
Get the Shoes!!!
If anything, they would be in homage to the ones you loved and lost.
Besides, they are awesome shoes.