Pippa x Vans Authentic Lo Pro; Sydney

We all have them, we all love them and for Pippa her weekend throw-on shoes of choice are these simple yet elegant Vans Authentic Pro Lo's.

Sometimes it's hard to look past the newer, shinier, showier, flossier shoes in your wardrobe rather than relying on your old worn in classics so this weekend let's all make an effort to show those old shoes some love.

Whatever you're up to on your weekends - partying, catching up with friends or mushroom foraging (that's what Pippa does) don't be ageist - liberate your old shoes and breathe some new life into them!

Super Sally x Rachel Zoe; Sydney

Super Sally as she's known to her friends works in PR for some impressive fashion clients, so needless to say she takes her kicks quite seriously.

These 'Jeni Jogging Shoes' are from the famed US stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe, and offer Sally all the comfort and style she needs, which are considerations she likes to cater for in equal measures as she's pregnant (huge congrats Sally!).

It's part of her movement to buy less things but have pieces that have a bit more quality about them, which is an approach that more and more people seem to be embracing at the moment.

Super Sally wouldn't lie - her friends call her this as she's so friendly, reliable and helpful, so be inspired by her and next time you're looking for some kicks take a look at some premium product as it's becoming more and more popular and doesn't always have to break the bank!

Beno x No Brand Vans; Sydney

Originally from Austria, Beno is now based in Sydney due to his career in Scientific Research.

His days are spent in the lab In lab doing research, but rather than being tied to wearing white lab coats and science wear (whatever that is), he brings with him a free-spirited approach that comes from his roots in Europe and Action Sports.

He feels the Action Sports world resonates with Australia and see's a freestyle approach to fashion and street wear here which suits him perfectly.

When it comes to shoes he has a variety of kicks from different brands for different occasions, including specialist Vans and Element skate shoes for skating.  

When it comes to the weekends and hitting the streets for some food when hungover (yes, he was hungover when we met) he's not so fussy and doesn't even see the need to spend extra money on branded shoes when so many brand free shoes are out there nailing the styles and looks of Vans and other more expensive shoes.

I like Beno's free-spirited approach to shoe wearing, largely because it dispelled the myth I had that most Scientists wear Crocs.  Thanks for straightening that up Beno.

Pete x Vans Old Skool; Sydney

It was the bright sunlight that caused Pete to shield his face in these shots but there is some irony to him covering up, as for his job his patients literally have nowhere to hide.

Working in Ultrasound (can you see what I did there?), Pete is on his feet all day investigating aches, pains and problems for all manner of patients so he requires shoes that can keep up with his hectic schedule.

There is no great dilemma for Pete though searching through wardrobes full of shoes for the right pair each day as his shoe collection is limited to what you see above, this one pair of Vans Old Skools.

He wears these shoes for work and play, and when they are trashed he simply replaces them with another pair.  The same style, the same colour he is the ultimate repeat customer as their cheap pricepoint and extreme comfort give him everything he needs.

Maybe I'm becoming something of a shoe story ultrasound specialist....my diagnosis, there's no complex shoe story to find in Pete, what you see is that you get.

Sam x Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+; Sydney

Sometimes you never know what you'll find hiding in the shadows, and while purchasing my morning coffee last weekend this is exactly where I saw Sam and his multicoloured Nike Flyknit Lunar +1's.

As an Investment Banker, Sam's weekly wardrobe is pretty formal and repetitive, so at the weekend he likes to break out his sneaker collection.

As we heard in Matt Powell's 'In Their Shoes' interview on the site last week, shoes have a value on a number of levels for a number of different people.

For Sam it's about following trends, and he's constantly looking for new and exciting styles minimal clean lines that offer him the kind of footwear freedom and expression he doesn't get in his 9-5 office job.

He only get's 2 days each week to rock his kicks so he's using his investment skills to constantly add to his collection.  My only advice is don't hide them any more Sam - get those kicks out there!

Ambroze x Nike Roshe Run; Sydney

I recently met Ambroze for a test shoot I was working on and when he rocked up to the shoot I couldn't resist asking for him to pose for IDYSM.

He moved to Sydney from Paris only 2 months ago, and was quick to hunt down some kicks that would work for any occasion.

He had no other kicks with him when he arrived so needed to find something that could keep up with his hectic life.  

As a model he races around town to castings and shoots each and every day, but by night he works in bars and restaurants so is on the go the whole time and some trusty Roshe's have become his staple shoe, able to tackle everything that life in Sydney throws at him.

You'll see more of Ambroze on the site soon - watch this space as he's going to help me start a whole new section that I hope you'll love.

Carolina x Vans U Era Leopard; Sydney

Caroline's Vans U Era with Leopard detailing represent something of a contradiction in her approach to fashion.
She likes to (in her words) 'dress like a boy' with her combo of tee, jeans and sneakers becoming a daily staple, however she likes these shoes as they are pretty.

Walking contradiction. 

Clae Nathan 2014

The Holy Grail of fusing comfort + style is hard to come by, but yet again US brand Clae show their amazing ability to nail the ultimate sneaker equation.

I've been a fan of the brand for a few years now, and while they consistently rate highly among the top Independent brands, it's not until you've worn their product that you can see why.
This Nathan silhouette, is up there among with their best, and in the Black Nubuck is a real winner that is bang on trend with Nike's Roshe, and adidas' Flux as classy streetwear gleaming a firm nod in the direction of running shoes.
Lightweight, comfortable and red hot to look at; well done Clae, you've done it again.

In Their Shoes; Matt Powell, Sneakerologist

Did you know that Americans bought 300 million pairs of shoes last year?  Did you know what e-commerce sales were up by around 20% in 2013?  Did you also know that the average price of men's footwear in 2012 was $72?
You may not know the answers to any of the above questions, but Matt Powell of Princeton Retail Analysis has made it his business to know these and countless other fascinating other economically related sneaker facts in his role as a 'Sneakerologist', as he examines statistics, facts and trends about the industry that make sense of the past, and calculated forecasts of the future..
Understanding the business of the sneaker world has seen Matt become something of a sneaker superstar, with his name listed in Complex's 30 Must-Follow Sneaker Writers and Bloggers on Twitter”, and his LinkedIn profile is in the top 1% most popular profiles.
When Matt talks the sneaker world listens so I'm delighted to have him here as the latest name in my In Their Shoes interview series.

IDYSM: Hey Matt, thanks so much for your time. So, I don't think that I have ever spoken to a 'Sneakerologist' before. How did you get this title, and what does it mean exactly?

Matt: I gave the title to myself, as people were asking “what do you do?”  It means I study the business and culture of sneakers

IDYSM: Sounds like an amazing job.  Why did you start to study this area, and to what end do you continue to do it?

Matt: I was sociology major in college, so I’ve always been interested in consume behavior. As a retailer, you have to understand what make people buy.

IDYSM: On a day-to-day basis what does your work entail?

Matt: I write a lot.  I do research for the brands, retailers, the stock market and investment banks. I blog for Forbes.  I answer Twitter questions.  I get my data weekly at 9 east Wednesday and am constantly referring to what the data says, challenging my assumptions

IDYSM: What are those assumptions and why do you want to challenge them?

Matt:  I expect to see certain trends occurring.  If they do not then I have to ask myself where did my assumptions go wrong.

IDYSM: Do you purely factor in the financial value of sneakers, or is it important to also factor in the emotional attachment product can have to people too?

Matt: Tough to measure the emotional attachment. Often the emotions make small releases seems more commercially significant when they are not

IDYSM: Could sneakers act as a barometer of an economy’s strength or weakness?

Matt: Interestingly when the economy is tough, sneakers sell better.  I believe it is an inexpensive way to make yourself feel better.

IDYSM: True - not everyone can book a holiday to the Maldives or buy an Aston Martin, so do you see a value to sneakers being their 'feel-good factor'?
Matt: Without question.  Every time you put a new pair of shoes on, you feel better

IDYSM: This can go the other way though as we see some releases in the US create some pretty violent scenes over 'must-have' product.  Does this demand for limited edition product cheapen or heighten the industry?

Matt:  Those incidents are pretty rare.  The brands and the retailers work very hard to make sure their customers are safe. Unrequited demand drives more sales down the line.

IDYSM: How has the industry changed since you've been involved? Surely trends, mass production and the Internet have changed the landscape?

Matt: Without question the internet has been the biggest game changer.  Access to information and feedback has never been broader. The sneaker business is a premium business.  I think the internet has helped there.

IDYSM: You've rubbed shoulders with Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan and John Elway when you worked with MVP, how interesting was it to be around these names, who have such an influence?

Matt: They were all very smart business people and did not display a lot of ego.  Very involved in the concept of the business. Their vision was not just to sell products but to teach kids how to play the game better.  We worked really hard on this and I think achieved much of our goals. 

I think they picked me to help because of my broad merchandising background, and my vision of for the internet.

IDYSM: How does their influence filter down to what we see at a street level?

Matt: Their vision was that they wanted the site to help kids play sports better.  I think in a small way we were able to accomplish that.

IDYSM: Only a few years ago Vans and the Vulcanized movement seemed to be killing it - was low pricepoint x high volume sales a passing trend?

Matt: The Vans business has remained very good. Vans sales grew 25% in the US in 2013.  They focused on iconic products and kept distribution very clean.

IDYSM: Since about 2011 we have seen more and more high-end, high price-point produce arrive. How does the more expensive, aspirational produce effect the industry overall?

Matt: The sneaker business is a premium business. Much of the growth we have seen in recent years has come from premium price points.  I am very focused on watching the premium segment.  There does not appear to be any slowdown in sight.

IDYSM: How relevant is the study of Sneakerology in the current age?

Matt: I would say more than ever.  Brands and retailers can never have too much information

IDYSM: We seem to see retro, tech and premium as 3 hot areas right now, will any or all of these define the 2010's as a key era in sneaker history?

Matt: Retro is just fashion.  The tech advances that we have seen (and will see) are the real key. Consumers want technical products that can do more things than they ask.  I call it the “smartphone effect”

IDYSM: Finally, this is the question I end all of my 'In Their Shoes' interviews with, what's on your shoes right now, and were they a wise investment?

Matt: I don’t own any sneakers.

Follow Matt on Forbes here.

WAYDAT Exhibtion x RVCA Gallery Sydney

Sydney welcomed the amazing travelling 'What Are you Doing After This' exhibition recently as the cutting edge US group of artists and skater's whose work is taking the world by storm made the stop Down Under.

Based at Sydney's RVCA Gallery the artists showcased their work that dazzled, inspired and at times shocked the eclectic crowd in one of the most in-demand and rammed events I have seen in Sydney in some time.

Many of the artists were at the event, with some A List talent from New York and Los Angeles in the house to celebrate the amazing work from the likes of Curtis Buchanan, Jason Dill, Leo Fitzpatrick, Fuck This Life, Jerry Hsu, Atiba Jefferson, Todd Jordan, Kevin “Spanky” Long, Nina Long, Neckface, Alex Olson, , Tino Razo, Lele Saveri, Chris Shonting, Meryl Smith and William Strobeck. 

If it's coming to a town near you - check out WAYDAT!