Back to the Future Day!

Of course way before the specialization of the bike shoe, there was the "high top" tennis shoe.  The first ones that I remember were black canvas the exclusive domain of boys - that changed in a hurry, however!

Today's High-Top Tennies - Pencil, .8 black Micron pen, and Faber-Castille Indian ink on 300 series Strathmore mixed-media paper.  Click on image to enlarge

Right at the ankle bone there used to be a circle about 1.25 inches in diameter, and it carried the brand logo.  Of course the first wearers of black high top tennis shoes tucked the tongue in flat and straight, up the front and always laced them up snuggly with bow ties at the top in the front.  The laces were white. 

Today's High-Top Tennies - Pencil, 8 black Micron pen, FW acrylic ink and Faber-Castille Indian ink on 300 series Strathmore mixed-media paper.  Click on image to enlarge

This is one shoe that has been S.C.A.M.P.E.R.ed multiple times.  While the profile of the shoe is relatively unchanged, the color of the body and laces, texture of the sole, and material have been substitutes.  The tongue has been puffed and elongated, the lacing is left untied more than tied, and the tread on the bottom creates fabulous squeaks and squeals on any varnished wooden floor.  Add a little moisture, and the sound is the next best thing to a tire burn-out for the wearer!!   Did you notice, this is one of the few models of shoe where, most of the time, the logo has gotten smaller instead of larger! 

Today's High-Top Tennies - .8 black Micron pen, FW acrylic ink and Faber-Castille Indian ink on 300 series Strathmore mixed-media paper.  Click on image to enlarge. 

Be sure to check out the self-tieing Nike high-top shoes in Back to the Future, Part II.  They appear in the first 10 minutes or so of the movie and look tremendously similar to the green beauties above.  Differences include color (in the move they are metallic silver and white,) and the laces are more like ski boot bands, but theyself close.  There is a digital logo on the uppermost band - looks very much like a digital watch.  What fun to look at the futuristic ideas about the future in 1985 and compare to what is real today!!