LA Gear

I had a giggle to myself yesterday morning on our walk with R (after stopping at Forest for the SAME bread again, and an anpanman custard roll for K, via the local grocers, where we got some fresh supplies for dinner, and before we stopped at the post office to FINALLY post a present I got in Aus for a friend in Oita*)I saw a man wearing an L.A. Gear** jacket. well, it had that written on it - I guess it doesn't mean it was the real McCoy..actually come to think of it, the design was a bit ダサい but still, it made me have a scary flashback to when I was in early high school, and I had an LA Gear watch. I am pretty sure it was pink. Don't know how I got it (my mum would never buy something that expensive, so it might have been from the flea markets or something) but it was my pride and joy for a while.

I always thought that I was never really a "brand-name" type girl. Never been interested in the Louis' or Chanels of the world. But after remembering about my LA Gear watch, I started thinking about all the other fads and name brands I went (and stil am going) through:

the Rusty stage. It was my first ever surf shirt. It was purple with a white and blue raised up Rusty "R" emblem on the back and I loved it. It took me so much courage to walk into the Brother's Neilson surfshop in the city (in the mall I think it was) and buy it! And at something like $55, more than 18years ago, it was a BIG purchase for a part time supermarket check-out chick like me.

the Oakley stage. Again, the "O" mark. I think it was a white t-shirt with the emblem in black, it may have been a rip-off from the markets, though. I still like Oakley stuff - and they are def. my favourite brand of sunnies.

the Nike stage. I remember my first Nikes too. Not what they looked like, but the excitement in buying them at footlocker, again probably in the city, in the Myer centre. I was super excited when I got to Japan and found Nike shoes at such reasonable prices - sometimes half of what we would pay in Australia (depending on exchange rate, of course). Nike are still my preferred running shoes - I haven't had a pair for a while tho ---no running = no need.
Also lurve the Nike outlets here in Japan (like at Gotemba outlet malls). Always get cool tees or 3/4 pants there. Once I am post-baby I plan on hitting them again for some summer gear next year - gives me a reason to get back in shape after tj-baby arrives! Oh, and I also have a bright pink nike hoodie that I love. Yep, am still a fan of nikes, even if I don't "JUST DO IT" that often anymore. (running, that is)

the Salamon stage. I am in this now. Again, it is shoes. Sport shoes for the oh-so-non-sporty me. But I do love these shoes. They have the quick lacing system - I haven't actually tied up a pair of shoe laces in years!! They are supposedly trail running shoes, (which, as an aside, I would love to get into one day, maybe next year....?) but I basically wear them around town, they are soooo comfortable.

So not quite the name brand fashion statements of the modern world, but they keep me happy!

*sorry Gaijin Wife, the present is not for you, it is for my friend, little Junko - you remember her? she has a son now, about 9months old, but he is too big/heavy for her to 抱っこ, lol.
** if anyone is interested in the rise and fall and return of LA Gear, check this out for a brief history lesson!