Sak For Converse

This might be the coolest pair of shoes I've seen in a while.  They are handmade leather riffs on Converse's Chuck Taylor All-Stars, designed by Japanese (but Florence-based) designer Ryusaku Hiruma.  Hiruma is collaborating with Converse to create high-end versions of their classic styles, with only 64 pairs made for each style.  The Chuck Taylors are made in black and off-white, and are retailing for $600 at Opening Ceremony.  I hope Converse introduces similar styles (at more affordable prices) for those of us who are ready to wear nicer shoes than sneakers but don't want to wear dress shoes casually (or those dopey sneaker/shoe things that I see guys wearing around Soho all the time).

See more at Opening Ceremony's blog.

Hentsch Man slip-on shoes

Saw these nice shoes made by Hentsch Man on the store BBlessing's blog.  Not so sure about the pink and baby blue, but I definitely like the black and wonder what other colors they come in (unfortunately the Hentsch man website isn't very helpful in that regard).  If these slip-ons can last longer than the Converse All-Star slip-ons, then they have me won over.  The Converse slip-ons last about five months before they disintegrate on my feet.