Feet the world over rejoiced when Converse revealed the redesign of its famous Chuck Taylor All Star.
The new model, called the Chuck Taylor All Star II, features completely redesigned innards (using parent company Nike's Lunarlon foam impact-absorbing technology), a padded tongue, and micro-suede lining. They're like a stealthy luxury version of the retro original.
Beyond feel and performance, stylistic changes include better materials, color-matching shoelaces and grommets, and replacing a glued-on vinyl patch with a stitched cloth version.
For the most part, though, the All Star II looks the same as the original. And therein lies the problem: The All Star may be iconic, but it sure is ugly.
Don't get me wrong — the II is a vast visual improvement on the classic All Star. The subtle tweaks and use of higher-quality materials certainly help, but the shape of the shoe is still a problem.