The Dark Feminine Staple You Need in Your Wardrobe
If the blue Converse is the fun, spontaneous one — the one you wear when you're feeling bright and a little bold — then the black high-top Converse is its older, moodier sister. The one who reads poetry, wears all black, and somehow always looks effortlessly cool without trying.
I've had a pair of black Converse Chuck Taylor high-tops for as long as I can remember. Worn, loved, slightly battered in the best possible way. And I genuinely believe they are one of the most versatile, most enduring pieces in any wardrobe — especially a sustainable one.
Why black Converse are a forever piece
Unlike trend-driven shoes that feel dated after one season, black high-top Converse have been cool since the 1950s and will still be cool in 2050. They transcend trends, aesthetics and occasions. Dark academia, Y2K, grunge, streetwear, soft girl — somehow the black Converse works for all of it. That kind of versatility is exactly what sustainable fashion is built on. One piece, worn a thousand ways, for years.
How to style black high-top Converse
Dark feminine / moody aesthetic — black wide leg trousers, black turtleneck, long black coat and your high-tops. Add a silver chain necklace and you have a look that is understated but completely intentional. This is the "I woke up like this but make it fashion" outfit.
Y2K revival — low rise jeans or a mini skirt, a cropped baby tee or graphic tee, and black high-tops. This combination was everywhere in the early 2000s and it's back in full force. Bonus points if the tee is second-hand with a faded print.
Dark academia — pleated trousers or a plaid midi skirt, an oversized knit sweater, a trench coat and your black Converse. Carry a tote bag. Look like you've been in a library all afternoon. This aesthetic was made for Converse.
Casual Cape Town cool — straight leg jeans, a simple white tee, denim jacket and black high-tops. It's the outfit that works for literally any occasion in this city — from Long Street to the Waterfront to a Sunday at the markets. Reliable, effortless, always right.
Finding them second-hand
Black Converse are one of the most commonly donated shoes you'll find at thrift stores and on resale platforms. People buy them, wear them through one season and move on. Check Yaga regularly — I've seen pairs listed for R80–R150 in excellent condition. The slightly worn-in ones are actually the best because they're already broken in and they have that perfect lived-in look that new shoes take months to achieve.
If you do buy them second-hand and they need a refresh: wipe the rubber soles with a damp cloth, spot clean the canvas with mild soap and a toothbrush, and replace the laces if needed. Fresh laces make a worn pair look almost new and cost about R20 at any shoe shop.
The worn-in beauty of a loved shoe
There's something about a pair of shoes that's been worn and loved that fast fashion can never replicate. The creases, the slight scuffs, the laces that have been tied and untied a thousand times — that's not damage. That's character. That's a shoe with a story.
And in the Re:dressed world, a shoe with a story is always more interesting than one straight off a shelf. 🖤
Got a pair of black Converse you love? Or looking for one? Check my Yaga store — I list shoes when I find good ones.
👉 Shop here: yaga.co.za/sloanes-store
— Sloane xo
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