The Olympics are winding down, so I thought I’d give another shout-out to the golden shoes (Puma, of course) Usain Bolt, now officially The Fastest Man in the World, kissed after winning the 100 and 200 m races. The shoes were customized to bear his nickname “Ugo” and were prominently displayed by a clownish, giddy Bolt after he won in style (also setting world records in the process). Apparently, there were complains about Bolt’s unabashed displayed of his sponsor’s logo, which Puma rushed to dismiss (”We didn’t tell him to kiss the shoes!”)–oh so much drama! Truth is, with or without the shoes, he’s a phenomenon any which way.
The History part of this post comes now: the previous world record holder in 200m was Michael Johnson (at the Atlanta Olympiad) also wore gold athletic shoes. He also won the 400-meter race, setting an Olympic-record, then tossed his gold shoes into the crowd. These are those famous gold shoes (Nike this time) which helped make Michael Johnson a legend at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996:
I believe it is clear by now what you’ve got to do if you want to run just a bit faster–right?

Sneakers (or trainers, as they say on my side of the Pond) get a bad rap way too often.Think of all those giant clunky white ones that have no style and way too much substance.Or the image of the professional woman walking to work in some great-looking suit, well-dressed head to… oh wait… not toe, because she’s wearing a truly unfortunate pair of kicks.There’s no reason for this bad reputation, of course, because there are TONS of trainers out there that are comfy and stylish at once.
Case in point, Creative Recreation, which is an LA-based brand with a name that really couldn’t be simpler.This is a line of sneakers that will never leave you with that blah feeling about your footwear.Feeling like a hi-top?
There are bunches of great color and pattern combos to choose from.  Personal faves include this blue/white/gold Cesario and this pleasingly vintagey Gallow.

Low-top kinda gal?  Then there’s an adorable gingham and patent version of the Gallow or a grapey, stripey, corally version of the Cesario.

But really, they’re all funky and cool.
And there are plenty of options.  So peruse and pick the one you like, and you’ll always be that awesomely cool woman walking to or from work with your snazzy suit and equally snazzy sneaks.
 

Athletic shoes are worn by just about everyone in the world. Whether you are buying them for functional athletic purposes or for fashion, walk into a shoe store or search online and you will see the millions of choices to pick from.
There are some simple aspects to consider to help you choose the best shoe for your need. The first question to ask yourself while shoe shopping is, "What will I be wearing my sneakers for?" Are you going to be running errands in them or wearing them for a night out? Or, are you using the sneakers to play a sport or workout at the gym? The purpose will help direct you to the right section of the shoe store or website.
Functional Purposes
If you are purchasing shoes for an athletic purpose, determine which sport or activity you will be doing. There are shoes for running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, and plenty more. The athletic shoes vary in design, style, and comfort to fit each sport or activity.
Running sneakers are built to support a forward motion with support where the balls of your feet hit the pavement. Walking shoes are the most cushioned with added flexibility to support a full heel to toe motion. Cross trainers, for aerobic or weight training activity, add in lateral support for side to side motion. And basketball or tennis shoes combine all aspects to support moving front to back, side to side, and up and down.
No matter which function, the shoes should be made of a breathable, comfortable fabric. Leather and cotton are the most common and do the job well! A rubber sole with the appropriate amount of cushion and support is important as well. And, remember to allow time for your sneakers to break in. After a few days or weeks, the proper shoe will mold to your foot for combined flexibility, comfort, and support.