Best of '11; Girls

 

 

Colour, style and panache; the ladies have yet again rocked it this year with an International showcase of urban style at it’s chic-ist!

I think the thing I’ve learnt most from these pics is that it’s not so much what you wear, but how you wear it that counts, with these pics showcasing my fave finds from '11.

Thanks to each and every who posed for and followed the site this year – I hope things get even bigger and better in 2012!

See you soon and have a good one.

Sole Digger

Best of '11; Locations

Melbourne; One of my favourite cities in the world, I love Melbourne's easy going vibe, and eclectic approach to style.  Every twist and turn offers something fresh and new and I happy to be able to bring you more from this great city in early 2012.

Bondi Skate Park; Not just because of it's close proximity to my house, but also due to the diverse and action packed style finds that are always ever present at this skating site.  The skating world has embraced my work in a big way, and I look forward to more skate related work in the new year.

Singapore; This unique country has a unique tone and feel, as it effortlessly combines old colonial influences with fresh and innovative contemporary design.  Visiting Singapore is always an effortless and inspiring experience, something I hope to experience more of in 2012.

Aspley Bowling Club: This Brisbane bowling club opened their doors to the magnificence of their beautiful retro shrine to the 10 pins.  I loved the shots (see the post here) and it allowed me to see how footwear isn't just a style choice but also something people rely on for all manner of activities - something I will definitely explore more of in 2012.

Rosie's Found Her Look; Sydney

Rosie is something of a style chameleon, latching on to different looks and styles all the time, and after immersing herself in a number of looks including goth and Scene Queen she has now settled for rocking a Japanese Street Fashion look that she is loving.
She tops off her eye-catching look with these copies of some Prada creepers that she picked up in Singapore.  She wears the shoes as often as possible and they have played a big part in helping Rosie feel at home in her current look, a look that she isn't planning to change any time soon.

Ray Loves Lazy Loafers; Sydney

Ray is from Singapore and is currently visiting Sydney through work, and in his beloved Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Slips he feels he has found the perfect travel shoe.

The shoe goes with any possible outfit, has great comfort from it's insoles that give great arch support, and most importantly is quick to put on, which as a loafer lover he likes the lazyness of as he can simply slip on the shoes and not have to fuss about with laces.

He has 4 pairs of the shoes in a variety of colours and is preparing to enjoy all the free time in Sydney he will have saved from not having to have messed around with laces!

Goodbye Singapore...for now.

So I hope you've enjoyed a quick look at Singapore's street style.  It's a fascinating city fusing old with new influences and I hope to get back their soon to look further into this great city where people seem to like making bold and colourful statements through their sneakers.
To end our series of Singapore shots here are some candids that showcase the colour and vibrancy that is a clear trademark of Singapore's street style.

Stick around as later today I have some great shots coming your way from a great event in Sydney last night - they're hot off the press and you won't want to miss them!

SD

The World At His Feet; Singapore

This young Singaporean student barely spoke any English, but thankfully the universal language of sneakers allowed us to communicate.
Like a walking homage to the UN, his Adidas kicks bring the whole world together with their collection of international flags.
The combination of a simple retro shoe with a wacky design & colourway typifies the style of sneaker that many of the Singaporean youngsters are going for as they look to inject some personality and individuality into their appearance with their sneakers.

Silver Feet; Singapore

These eye-catching sneakers were my first spot in Singapore, and their shiny appearance embodies the values that put this hometown at the forefront of the world's most modern cities.
This sneaker lover has a taste for Onitsuka Tigers, and picked up these Mexico 66 Lauta Silver kicks only weeks before we met.  Their understated yet futuristic finish give their owner's low-key look a stylish injection as they replicate the clean, sleek and sophisticated feel of Singapore.

It's All In The Details; Singapore

From the initial appearance of this sneaker lover's monochrome outfit, I wasn't expecting this to be one of my more colourful finds, but how wrong I was.
A photographer in his own right, the sombre appearance defied the larger than life personality of this sneaker lover who prides himself on his substantial Vans collection that has enough pairs of kicks to cater for all occasions.
In this instance he had been forced to swap one of his trademark colorful outfit's for something more formal as he was on his way to have his photo taken for a new passport, but even for this occasion he could call on some trusty Vans Old Skool's, and some colourful detailing in the form of some bright shades, belt and watch to liven up his look.

Starting A Revolution; Singapore

Singapore may have once been seen as a reserved place, but now a vibrancy seems to run through the city that effects everything from contemporary architecture to the clothes being worn on the street.
Whereas in Europe a monochrome outfit is commonly accentuated with more monochrome or simple metallic detailing, Singaporeans like to use colour, and this guys had chosen to use bold colours to break up his black on black jeans and tee.
The t-shirt was from a great Japanese brand called Graniph, who do great prints, check them out.
As for the kicks, these bold, red High Tops are a pair of Nike RT1s.  Launched at the beginning of 2009, the Nike RT1 (which stands for Revolution Trainer 1) was a limited release kick that initially had a fair bit of criticism, but as clean, crisp high tops go, I like it.

Sitting On Gold; Singapore

We've seen these Reebok Omni Lite Pumps before (see here), so it was great to see the shoes again as part of a very different look.
This very quiet Reebok fan is a big Pump lover, and had only picked up these kicks recently.
He was a man of few words, but it's easy to see how proud he is of his new kicks as he couldn't stop smiling!

Cry Baby; Singapore

2 shots of the same guy - 1 when he was walking towards me, then another just as he walked past.  I didn't think this guy's look was too bad, but the baby in the second pic doesn't seem to agree.

Unhappy Shoes; Singapore

I have always had a soft spot for Converse Jack Purcell's.  Their simple, preppy look makes them a practical and stylish shoe and I can see why they would be a popular kick for the streets of Singapore with their ability to convey elegance in sneaker form.
The shoe is now over 75 years old after being designed by Jack Purcell for Converse as a badminton shoe.  The design is very similar to that of the Chuck Taylor All Star but is slightly more built up, and you can see a cured 'smile' that runs over the toes.
The shoe usually offers a clean design with universal appeal, but this pair is so dirty maybe their signature smile has turned into a frown.

Check Mate; Singapore

Step by step and shoe by shoe, these close friends have identical tastes.  Check mate!

Waiting In Line; Singapore

It cannot be said that Singapore is not efficient, it's runs like clockwork.  Coming from London I'm used to busy streets with people pushing and barging their way past each other to catch buses or taxis, but in Singapore it's a much more reserved and organised experience, and I spotted the owner of these pristine Feiyue kicks in the most restrained taxi queue I have ever seen.  

Like everything else in Singapore his preppy look is clean and refined and his plimsoll from the French brand were a perfect lightweight shoe to cope with the humidity while at the same time looking chic.

Garden of Calm; Singapore

Seconds away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping mecca that is Orchard Road I found this small garden; an oasis amidst a sea of carrier bag carrying designer dedication (I hope you aliteration fans enjoy that sentence as much as I did!).
No sneakers, and not urban style related, but a reminder that Singapore's influences draw as much on it's past, as they do on modern styling and ground breaking innovation.

Yum Yum, Singapore

What I learnt about sneakers in Singapore is that colour is king - no matter what the style, Singaporeans love to inject as much colour as they can into their look, and this guy takes the award for maximising the colour in his trainers.

These colourful High Tops got my attention from quite a distance, but when I got up close I had to admit  that I wasn't familiar with the brand.  It turns out that neither was he, as they were purchased impulsively after he was won over by the colourway and quirky look of the shoe.

The shoes are made by Yums who are a US company was set up in Dallas, Texas by Howard 'Tex' Moon, a famous graffiti artist and designer who is heavily involved with the Hip Hop scene.  He wanted to share his street style in the style of kicks and clothing that used his colourful designs, and Yums are now being worn by a number of big music acts.

Hip Hop has such a strong influence on street style that I expect to see a lot more of Yums in the future.