A month back we told you about a very exciting collection being released by Converse Japan, the Dress Code 1/2 Collection. It’s always interesting to see the classics successfully reinvented; whether it be Terence Koh‘s version of the Chuck Taylor, or the patent Jordan 1‘s from late last year. The challenge in messing with a tried-and-true formula is that the end result almost never is as good -when you’ve reached near-perfection, the only way you can go is down. Sometimes though, you get it right…
Quick history lesson here for you shoe buffs; Jack Purcell was a Canadian World Champion Badminton player back in the late 1920s, winning 5 Championships in a row and remaining unbeaten until his retirement. Just like nowadays, back then when you were the camp, the marketing offers piled up. In collaboration with the BF Goodrich Tire company, Purcell pioneered a rubber-soled canvas shoe for the courts. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that Converse bought the trademark rights to the sneaker they still produce to this day. Slightly different, perhaps even more classy than a pair of All-Stars, they evoke a vintage/retro look and usually become a staple in anyone’s wardrobe.
By far my favorite of the Dress Code 1/2 collection, the Jack Purcell S MDLN is a perfect hybrid dress shoe/sneaker. Taking elements from a classy, black-tie wingtip, and mixing in the vintage Jack Purcell silhouette, the overall aesthetic is clean, sleek and timeless. The shine off patent leather sparkles, and the lime-green lined interior gives you a slightly modern touch to an otherwise very classic sneaker. The only issue (for you) is that these beauties are only available in limited numbers, and only in Japan. Shout out to Shaun for shipping me over a pair!
Personal note: If you follow my personal feed at all, you’ll know that I’m getting married this summer. I had written a post a while back about finding the perfect shoe to wear on that special day. While I originally wanted a pair of all-black Common Projects, but after trying on these Jack Purcells with my Tiger of Sweden Tux, there’s no doubt these are the ones. Now all I have to find is a clean white shirt and skinny black tie to complete my look.
