I’m a huge fan of Converse sneakers, better known as Chucks or Chuck Taylors. They make life as a conference speaker so simple. I’m always concerned about what to wear to conferences. Everyone seems to have their own sense of fashion at most events I attend. I’ve seen people wear hilarious shirts and I’ve seen others in sharp business suits in the same room.
The more I’ve traveled and spoke, the more I’ve been able to find a style I’m personally comfortable displaying at any conference. A major part of my style is Converse shoes, my official conference kicks. Here are my top 50 reasons why Converse is the best conference shoe of the year.
Comfortable
Converse are comfortable! I’ve always wondered how they can make a shoe that looks so bare on the outside, soft and comfortable on the inside. I can walk all over SxSW with a pair of Converse and never stop for a much needed foot break. Those who’ve been to SxSW know exactly what I’m talking about.
Made for Everyone
If Ellen DeGeneres can rock Chucks on her show, I can definitely rock them to a conference. Converse shoes are for everyone. They look great on my grandma, they look even better on me, and they look hotter on my little sister. Their styles transcends the age-limits that are readily identifiable in most shoes, like Nike or Adidas. Created before I was born, and passed down through many generations. Talk about bridging the gap!
Customizable
I love art and design. So, I tend to treat my fashion as an art canvas. Everything matches perfectly. My shoes match my shirt. The color of my jeans blends in with the tones of my shoes and shirt. My shades and shoes are the art pieces that cause people to stare at me 3-5 seconds longer than usual or do a double-take at my outfit. They stand out and bring a unique flare to my style. Because of this, I have a ton of colors in my closet that are really difficult to match with a great pair of shoes…except Converse. They have so many colors to choose from, you’re bound to find one that you like from the classic all-blacks to more flashy colors. Converse also offers more personalized options on-line, like customizing your own pair with your choice of colors, and even adding some text on your shoes!
I love that fact that I can also design my own Converse sneaker. I can choose the colors and mix-match them as much as I like. I don’t have to go to the mall and shop for hours for something that fits the outfit I have in mind. I can simply go online and create it on the official Converse website.
Affordable
I currently own 10 pairs of Converse, and bring at least 3-4 pairs to any conference I attend. I have a personal goal of owning 50 of these babies. While I don’t need 50 pairs, they’re so inexpensive that I always buy 2-3 at a time. Essentially, I can get 2 pairs of Converse for less than the price of 1 pair of Air Jordans. Sounds like good math to me.
Bottom Line: Simplicity Overlooked
These are just a few reasons why I love Converse shoes and how they’re a no brainer when it comes to traveling to conferences. They offer so much that it’s easy to overlook their simple solutions. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase, have a passionate fan base, and just look good! You could start your next conversation at a conference on these shoes and no one would think twice.
