Off the Wall! A True Blue Skating Shoe. (385)

Vans shoes suggest the originally intended wearer’s skater lifestyle. “Off the wall,” as indicated by all of the little skateboards on the top of the site, is the catch phrase of this company, which shows that the consumer might be attracted to the product if he or she is involved in extreme sports, specifically X-game type sports. Since the first day of March, 1966, Vans Shoe Company has been open for business. The company started out making a “classic” type shoe. It turned out that BMX riders and skaters became attracted to Vans shoes because of the wild colors. In more recent years, these colors have turned into wacky designs, from the checkerboard to stars and other designs.

The type of style you would see accompanying the shoes would be ripped jeans, which we can assume were torn from skateboarding. Another generalized look at the consumers of Vans is that they have a very laidback style for comfort to skate around in all day. Vans are actually very comfortable, as I have a pair myself and can wear and walk in them all day without my feet hurting at all. That brings me to the point that not all people that wear Vans skate. For example, Vans are my shoe of choice, but I only skated a bit when I was younger.

The way that Vans Shoe Company was able to attract people besides those who were into extreme sports was to heavily incorporate music into their marketing strategy. The Vans Warped Tour, which is a music tour sponsored by Vans shoes that goes all around the United States, is just celebrating it’s 15th anniversary this year. That means that 15 years ago, Vans Shoe Company made the important business move of expanding their market of consumers to not only those who skate and love the wacky designs, but also to those who love music and concerts. Although the fan base has expanded, the website’s news section still has stuck to its roots of skating.

It is very interesting to see how this company has evolved, but has stayed true to its beginning as well. Although very many people now wear Vans for all of the above mentioned reasons, one can still ponder and end up knowing that Vans shoes are true blue skating shoes.

Sucked In

One day, I found out that the HBO series True Blood was based off of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels. Later that day, I had the first two books. From that point on, I was sucked in. I began to read all day, the only interruptions to use the bathroom or grab some food. My bedroom is small, but I managed to make a little nook on my bed, stacking pillows and positioning the blankets to make a little nest for myself. I was able to sink into my own little world with the characters in the novel, so much so that I didn’t realize how much time had passed until I caught myself squinting at the pages because of the setting sun. I had to leave my nest shortly to flick on the light switch, but I quickly clambered back in and continued my life in Bon Temps. Shortly afterward, or as it had seemed to me, I began to feel my eyelids droop, and soon I was asleep, dreaming of my newly acquired friends that had so kindly allowed me into their deepest thoughts and most intimate moments.

As I awoke the next day, I was just as eager to start back up in my adventures with Sookie and Bill, and the rest of the gang. However, I was nearing the end of my first book! Luckily, I got the second one, too. I read on, and finished the first book within the first few hours of the day. I hardly took a break before starting the next one – I had so many questions! The next thing I knew, it was dusk, and I was about two chapters away from finishing the second book. A crisis! I knew the next day I would have to go back to the bookstore and buy more. The next morning I called my boyfriend to ask if he would go with me to the store to get the next books. He called me a fiend, but eventually obliged. As we got to the aisle, I ran over. Feeling triumphant, I got the rest of the series – except, the last book wasn’t there! Well, I’d have to make due. Over the next week and a half, I finished all of the books, thoroughly enveloped in Sookie’s world. I still never got the last book, as it is not out in paperback yet, but I still watch the show, and the Season Two finale is tonight!

I have found this to be a recurring experience for me, because almost everything I read sucks me in. Reading has actually shaped my life a lot, and when I have children in the future, I hope to share this with them, just as my bookworm mother has shared her love of the written word with me. Until then, I will remain sucked in!

BLOG 1 ASSIGNMENT

I am Emily Edelenbos and I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. I have lived in the same house for my whole life, and despite having a lot of heritage (I'm a European mutt, basically a blend of everything that can't tan), I often feel culturally barren. I associate mostly with my Dutch culture, mostly because my living grandfather was born in Amsterdam.