I'd Rather Jack

When people talk about their Converse sneakers they invariably mean their Chuck Taylor All-Stars, a basketball design that dates back to 1917. I have an acquaintance who wore a red pair on his wedding day, and so did the Best Man. Like the Doc Martin boot, they are a rock and roll standard - the 'Johnny B Goode' of footwear.

These days you can buy Ramones, AC/DC and Clash themed versions and even the fact that the company was bought out by Nike in 2003 doesn't seem to have harmed the alternative kudos.

Still I have an extra fondness for the Jack Purcell design. It was named and designed by a Canadian badminton champion and supplied the players of 1935. The shoe has an endearing 'smile' on the toe, a light blue sole and a tidy, preppie demeanour. They were originally made by the tyre company Goodrich, but Converse brought them into the fold in the Seventies

I got my first Purcells in 1999. Off-white leather the 3V Ox variation. They don't look so cute these days, but my children refuse to let me bin them. Apparently when ancient sneakers come out, it means that summer has arrived. So I avoided controversy by purchasing a matching black pair, with the red smiles. I took them off to the Fleet Foxes gig at Custom House Square at the weekend and got some indie dirt on them. I think we'll get on just fine.