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Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II: Product Review

Converse has revamped their classic All Star silhouette. And we like it. In this post I will address the similarities and differences between the new Chuck II and the original Converse All Star.

The first big change is the new box. The construction is sturdier and the box just seems more solid. The branding on the top of the box is a nice change from the plain black top on the old boxes. Once we popped the box open, another little change took us by surprise; The All Star II’s we got included an extra pair of laces. Little touches make all the difference, don’t they?

the new Chuck II with extra pair of laces and the new Box.

the new Chuck II with extra pair of laces and the new Box.

The most noticeable change between the classic Chuck Taylor All Star’s and the All Star II’s is the extra padding all around. From the new insole that’s included, to little bits of extra padding on the tongue and around the heel; the Chuck II’s are definitely more comfortable. The basic construction of the shoe hasn’t seen much change. So, anyone who is used to the old silhouette of the Chuck Taylor’s and is worried about the new style of the All Star II being too different can rest easy. Also, the sizing has remained the same, which is good news for fans of the classic Chuck Taylor’s. For the uninitiated, click here  to see our sizing guide for converse chucks.

Let me stress that these Chuck’s are much more comfortable. They are now sporting Nike’s Lunarlon insole, which is a lightweight, removable option as opposed to the old model’s unwavering, flat footed insole. Another addition is perforated micro-suede padding on the inside of the tongue, as well as on the sides and heel of the foot bed. Not only does this provide an extra layer of comfort, this also keeps the foot in place a little better inside of the shoe. Another little change that goes a long way is the addition of an elastic band to the tongue of the shoe. Again, this keeps the tongue from shifting around as you wear them and helps keep the foot in place, as well.

The biggest aesthetic changes are incredibly subtle, if not downright unnoticeable. The tongue on the All Star II’s now has less of a raw edge, and instead has a heavier lining stitched to it. The solid piping on the sole is now striped. The eyelets seem to be a little sturdier. They look practically identical. Practically. Somehow, the All Star II’s look more solid. Perhaps it’s the higher quality canvas they used, or maybe the extra padding adds an extra layer of support for the shape of the shoe.

All of these changes do come with a price, though. The Chuck Taylor All Star II’s are about twenty dollars more than the classic Chuck Taylor’s. They are also not available in all of the cool colors and textures as the classic All Star’s. They are also only available at select retailers right now. Right now the options for the new model are fairly limited. However, fans of the classic black and white, grey and white, or white on white Converse have nothing to worry about.

Overall, these are a great addition to the Converse family of shoes, and will be a great addition to my collection .

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Chucks for Chicks – Converse Sizing Guide for Women

If there’s one thing women know, its shoes and Converse know how to do shoes. Since 1920, they have been whipping out all kinds of styles and designs in every color imaginable. We want you to look you best in your Converse, so heres some info that will help you find the perfect size.

If you look at the label on the Converse shoe box, you will see a couple of important things.

1. Both mens and womens sizes are shown.  Although most Converse shoes come in both, it could be helpful to know how to convert from one to the other. If you (the chick) wear a size 8, that would be equivalent to at men’s size 6. See what I did there? Just take your size and subtract two. Its simple.

2. US, UK, and EUR sizes are shown. Here’s a nifty chart that’s puts all the conversions in one place:Converse Size Guide

 

Different styles of Converse have their own unique fit. For instance, most of the Chuck Taylors will run a half-size larger than your normal shoe size. If you usually wear a 7.5, you would feel right at home in a size 7 Chuck. The only exception is the Dainty and Lux Wedges which run true to size.

The eaiest way to know if a pair will really fit, is to go to a local Converse retailer and try them on, then hit up our website and find the pair thats right for you.

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Toms Shoes Sizing Guide – Finding the Right Size

Since 2006, Toms has come out with a variety of footwear styles for men, women and kids and has given more than 35 million pairs of shoes to children in need.  Here is a guide to finding your perfect-fititng pair so you can help Toms help others.

Toms Shoes run true to size which means that they are sized according to the US standard. This also means that Toms don’t fit smaller or larger than a standard shoe and are only available in medium width. When looking at the insoles of a pair of Toms, you will notice a letter and a number on the inside sole of the shoe. The number indicates the size and the letter indicates whether it is sized “M” for men, “W” for women or kids (“Y” for youth or “T” for tiny).   The “W” does NOT stand for wide.  Below is a detailed shot of one of each of the different size of Toms. If you zoom in the pic you will see the letter.

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If you are usually in-between shoe sizes, I recommend going with the smaller size because within a few days they will stretch slightly to conform to your feet.

Knowing how to go from men’s to women’s sizing and vice versa. For example if a guy wants the Women’s Classic Toms in Pink Glitter (don’t worry you’re secret’s safe with us) you would add 1.5 to your size to get the women’s size. So if you, the dude, wear a 10 you would need to order a women’s 11.5. Get it? Just reverse it if you want to go from women’s to men, subract 1.5 from the women’s size to get the men’s size. Keep in mind that men’s shoes run slightly wider than women’s shoes.

To give you a better idea on sizing I interviewed a couple people at work to see what size Toms shoes they wear and what size do they normally wear with other brands.

The Dude, AKA Fafa: Normally wears size 11 for most of his branded shoes. Also wears a size 11 in Toms.

Chopra (Female): Normally wears either a size 7.5 or 8 in all her shoes. She is a size 7.5 for toms (possibly because of the stretch factor!)

Monica (Female, seems obvious but you can never be too sure these days) :  Normally wears a size 7 in all her shoes. She is still a 7 in toms! Unless you want to hook her up with a free pair in which case she can go up or down half a size.

Anonymous male co-worker : Wears 12 for everything, including toms.

The general consensus between the staff here at Dress Code: order the size you normally wear for most of your shoes and you should be ready to stomp!

You may also need to compare sizes in other countries. Here is a chart for US, UK, EU, and Japanese sizes for men, women and kids:

MENS SIZING CHART
US/CA UK EU JP
7 6 40 25
8 7 40.5 26
8.5 7.5 41 26.5
9 8 42 27
9.5 8.5 42.5 27.5
10 9 43 28
10.5 9.5 43.5 28.5
11 10 44 29
11.5 10.5 44.5 29.5
12 11 45 30
13 12 46 30.5
14 13 47.5 31.5
WOMENS SIZING CHART
US/CA UK EU JP
5 3 35.5 22
5.5* 3.5 36 22.5
6 4 36.5 23
6.5 4.5 37 23.5
7 5 37.5 24
7.5 5.5 38 24.5
8 6 38.5 25
8.5 6.5 39 25.5
9 7 40 26
9.5 7.5 41 26.5
10 8 42 27
11 9 42.5 28
12* 10 43.5 29
YOUTH SIZING CHART
US/CA UK EU JP
12.0 11.0 30.0 18.1
12.5 11.5 30.5 18.5
13.0 12.0 31.0 18.9
13.5 12.5 31.5 19.3
1.0 13.0 32.5 19.7
1.5 13.5 33.0 20.2
2.0 1.0 34.0 20.6
2.5 1.5 34.5 21.0
3.0 2.0 35.0 21.4
3.5 2.5 35.5 21.9
4.0 3.0 36.0 22.3
4.5 3.5 36.5 22.7
5.0 4.0 37.5 23.1
5.5 4.5 38.0 23.6
6.0 5.0 39.0 24.0
TINY TOMS® SIZING CHART
US/CA UK EU JP
6.5 5.5 23.0 13.4
7.0 6.0 23.5 13.8
7.5 6.5 24.0 14.2
8.0 7.0 24.5 14.7
8.5 7.5 25.5 15.1
9.0 8.0 26.0 15.5
9.5 8.5 26.5 15.9
10.0 9.0 27.0 16.4
10.5 9.5 28.0 16.8
11.0 10.0 28.5 17.2
11.5 10.5 29.0 17.6

Check out all our styles and sizes here and find a pair that’s right for you. Also, be sure to check out our article on how to properly rock your toms. 

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Sun’s Out, Guns Out

Summer time means looking cool and staying cool and you can’t go wrong with a colorful tank and a great pair of shorts. Here are some stellar style combos that will get you noticed and keep you on top of the summer scene.

RVCA has a lot of great tanks but none leave a mark like the Horton Biter Tank. Pair it with these G-Star Raw shorts and no one will question how brave you are.

RVCA Horton Biter TankG-Star Raw Shorts in Ketchup

 

If you are the kind of guy whose weekends always end up a little fuzzy, then the Benny Gold Party Animals Tank was made for you. The bright colors will get you noticed and the Hurley Block Party Boardshorts will make it a night to not remember.

Benny Gold Party AnimalsHurley Block Party Boardshorts

 

It may be bright outside but if you are a little darker grab the Iron Fist Loose Tooth Boardshorts and Rook Veiled Tank. You will still be noticed, even in the shadows.

Rook Veiled TankIron Fist Loose Tooth Boardshorts

Girls have guns too and there will be no arguing your power over the guys with the Metal Mulisha Bomb Tank and Tripp Highwaisted PVC Shorts. The combination is lethal and the boys will be left drooling.

Metal Mulisha Bomb TankTripp Highwaisted PVC Shorts

The waves are strong and the sun is hot, so pack some tanks and shorts to show off what you’re working with this summer and don’t forget your sunglasses and sandals.

Hater Blockers

Sweet shades are a summer essential and we have all the colors and styles to make sure you are seen.

One of your favorite street wear brands is taking eyewear to the next level. Stussy’s retro syles will add sophistication to even the most casual outfit.

Stussy Louie SunglassesStussy Zoey Sunglasses

Oakley is a very well know brand and their sleek and dynamic styles will make you feel like you are always in the fast lane.

Oakley Chainlink SunglassesOakley Crankshaft Sunglasses

Neff has a lot of bold colors and patterns to choose from and at these prices you can afford a pair for everyday of the week.

Neff Bang SunglassesNeff Daily Sunglasses

 

 

Theses sunglasses are so cool, you’ll even be tempted to wear them at night.

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A Diamond Supply Summer

The newest styles from Diamond Supply  are keeping streetwear at the top . Diamond’s summer wear makes it easy to go from the street to the skate park and their classic color scheme will keep you looking fresh.

The geometric design of the Simplicity Jersey  is anything but simple. Pair it with a pair of Diamond Minded Joggers  and the Diamond Blue DL98  Socks for a hot look on a cool summer night.Simplicity JerseyDiamond Minded JoggersDL98 Socks

 

Bucket hats are making a come back and Diamond Supply is making sure that they come back with a bang. The classic Diamond colors make these hat easy to wear with any of the new tees this summer.Micro Diamond Bucket Hat Micro Diamond Bucket HatSimplicity Bucket Hat

 

Speaking of new tees…check out these bold graphics. Diamond Supply brings a new level of sophistication to summer streetwear with new classy designs to make you shine.

Poppin Bottles T-shirtTokyo Life T-shirtCuts T-shirt

 

Diamond Supply’s classic color schemes and bold designs make them easy to wear and even easier to enjoy your summer by staying cool and confident. Check out the rest of our Diamond Supply collection to stay on top of things this summer.

Iron Fist Bringing Back the Originals

The new drop from Iron Fist Summer 2015 is banging with some of their classics that put the brand on the map. The original wishbone is back strong this season for both Mens and Womens.

Iron Fist – Womens Wishbone Skater Dress

 

Iron Fist – Mens Wishbone T-Shirt

 

My other top pics for this season’s drop from Iron Fist includes this Zombie chomper tank top. This can be easily paired with your Zombie Stomper platforms for the night out.

 

 

Lastly, the Slayer tank dress that they released this season is definitely a home run for any metal fan. It’s got the right look of bad ass and metal for your wardrobe and can easily be paired with some black platforms or boots.

 

 

The brand has taken a step back to its roots this season and focused more on the prints that put them originally on the map. Staying loud and focused on detailed graphics and the rock scene.  Be sure to check out the rest of our Iron Fist collection.

The 100% Cotton Nightmare

download (1)Cotton is comfortable, breathable, natural….and it shrinks. We all know the horror of buying the perfect cotton tee only to have it fit like a child’s shirt after the first wash. Here’s how to avoid the nightmare that is 100% cotton:

1. Avoid heat and warm water.
Heat is the main cause of shrinking in cotton. Most people use hot water to knock-out stains or odor but we must not let the entire garment suffer for one spot. Instead, use soap and cold water. This should get most of it out as long as its not too far gone. If you’ve used warm water to wash the gament even once, it might be too late.

2. Use a slow and delicate cycle.
A gentle cycle will prevent the cotton fibers from breaking, therefore; ensuring that the garment lasts as long as possible in its current state.

3. Avoid the dryer.
A hot dryer will shrink any cotton shirt that is not already pre-shrunk. Lying the garment on a clean, flat surface will allow it to dry on its own. For fast drying, place a fan next to a hanging garment and allow the cool air to blow it dry.

The ultimate question is: Can you reverse your already shrunken shirt? And I hate to tell you the answer is no. It is important to look at labels when you are shopping for clothes because finding a preshrunk shirt can save you a lot of time and heartache.

The only alternative we have to keeping your stuff looking fresh and prevent the shrinking other than the topics above is dry-cleaning. That and never washing your clothes!

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Vans Shoes Fit Guide – Finding the Perfect Size

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Vans has been in the business of making sweet shoes for years. If you are looking to invest in your first pair of vans shoes, this helpful guide will aim to help find the perfect fit pair of Vans for you.

BrannockDevice__56388_zoomVans shoes claim to run “true to size.” What does this mean? Vans are sized according to the US standard which is determined on a Brannock device. This means that the shoes don’t fit smaller or larger than a standard shoe. So the best way to choose your vans shoe would be either get your shoe size measured or alternatively if you usually buy size 9 in most shoe brands, then a Vans 9 would fit the same.

In addition, all Vans Classic shoes come in men’s sizing and women’s sizing (regardless if the style seems to be women’s style with a bunch of sparkles and pink ribbons on it). Basically, the company does not gender bias its customers. If you are a dude and enjoy plenty of glitter and ribbons on your shoe– that is your business. And if you are the chica that wants to roll with the chunkiest skate shoe in the industry. Well, have a blast! This is why on our site you will see all vans shoes listed with the mens size and the women’s size equivalent.

 

Sizes displayed on our site depicting both the mens and womens sizing equivalents.

Sizes displayed on our site depicting both the mens and womens sizing equivalents.

 

In some cases it is also important to know the conversion between US, UK, and Mexico and European sizes. Here is a nifty size conversion chart direct from vans that may be helpful for our friends outside the USA. The first column displays the US Size.

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Other Useful Information:

Some Vans styles can waver a bit from true-to-size. For instance, Slip-ons fit tighter at first but will loosen out with wear. In addition, high performance skate shoes tend to fit snugly. It could also help to know that all Vans shoes are manufactured in medium width so if width has been an issue in the past, it could benefit you to order a half size up to make up for the difference.

Sometimes we find our feet falling between two sizes. One of the easiest ways to fix this issue is with a pair of insoles. Say you go to try on a pair of Van’s slip-ons but it turns out that an 8.5 is too small and a 9 is too big. Instead of throwing in the towel and settling for a less awesome pair of shoes, buy the 9s and an inexpensive pair of superfeet deluxe insoles to make up for the space.

Happy shopping!

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Converse Size Conversion Guide – From UK, EUR, CM, USA

This article hopes to help you convert your Converse shoe size between the many different measurements used for shoes. Hopefully this short guide will help you choose the right size for your upcoming converse shoe purchase.

converse2First off, I pulled one pair of shoes from our massive warehouse so you can take a look at the sizing guide written on the outside of the shoe box. You will notice that the shoe size and conversion is actually indicated on the shoe box. Directly below the USA size the UK, EUR, and CM measurements are indicated.

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In addition, if you look at the inside tongue of the shoe, the same size conversion will also be indicated. In case you already own a pair and need to simply purchase a new pair– simply reference the markings on your existing pair to make your purchase seamless.

For those of you that do not already own a pair please refer to the sizing chart shown below. Please note that this size chart only applies to the classic chuck taylor style which is any of the converse shoes that follows this silhouette for the low top version and this silhouette for the high top version. The size chart does NOT apply to any other version of the shoe including: jack purcell, slip-on, skate line, etc…  For the best fit we also recommend that you try on a pair at your local store. However if this is not an option, this chart provides the same information indicated on all of the shoe boxes.

 Converse size conversion chart between US, UK, EUR, CM,

US Men’s Size UK Size US Women’s Size European Size Centimeter
3 3 5 35 22
3.5 3.5 5.5 36 22.5
4 4 6 36.5 23
4.5 4.5 6.5 37 23.5
5 5 7 37.5 24
5.5 5.5 7.5 38 24.5
6 6 8 39 25
6.5 6.5 8.5 39.5 25.5
7 7 9 40 26
7.5 7.5 9.5 41 26.5
8 8 10 41.5 27
8.5 8.5 10.5 42 27.5
9 9 11 42.5 28
9.5 9.5 11.5 43 28.5
10 10 12 44 29
10.5 10.5 12.5 44.5 29.5
11 11 13 45 30
11.5 11.5 13.5 46 31.5
12 12 14 46.5 32
13 13 15 47.5 33
14 14 16 48.5 34
15 15 17 49.5 35
16 16 18 50.5 36

One thing you may notice is that the US and the UK version of the sizes are the same.  For all US Shoe buyers we recommend that you read our blog post on Getting the Right Size. This article provides additional vital information for US converse buyers.