As adored as they were loathed, gone is the love-hate relationship nearly everyone had with a pair of Chuck Taylors at some point in their life. Well... kinda. This past summer, Converse announced a redesign of their iconic sneaker. And it only took a brisk 98 years. Literally. The 1917 Massachusetts creation was an attempt at grabbing the basketball market’s attention by carrying the name of 20-year-old Charles Hollis "Chuck" Taylor, a well known player at the time. Blissfully unaware of the technology to come, the shoe thrived and continued being worn for both fashion- and sport-related function year after year.

But now in 2016, nobody is slipping on a pair of canvas, flat bottomed lace-ups for a game of one-on-one. Offering little support and a sole generally harder than the ground you’re walking on, the function previously associated with this footwear staple is long gone. “If it’s not broken, why fix it?” seemingly everyone at the Converse corporate office asked themselves for nearly a century. Despite advancements in support and comfort throughout the industry, the brand never truly suffered. Finding a home in every anti-authoritarian punk’s closet from the 1970s on, Chucks became a street style necessity.

The blog GayChucks.tumblr.com is exactly what you’d imagine; submitted photosets of cute guys showcasing how the iconic rubber soles work into their unique personal style. Oh, but that’s not all. HottiesInConverse.tumblr.com, AllStarBoys.tumblr.com, and Horny4Converse.tumblr.com continue the extensive list of this very specific foot fetish.

After Nike bought the brand in 2003, it was smooth sailing. Releasing shoes actually suitable for a game of basketball, slip-on skateboarding kicks and even boots, the acquisition meant big things as far as additional product lines. But it wasn’t until this past summer that there was a major change made to their main source of income. The Chuck Taylor II is seemingly the same at first glance. Absent from the classic canvas shoes are the white laces & threadwork, offering a monotone design with the signature All Star logo now stitched on (as opposed to printed). Not to mention the fully white sole makes for a fresh, modernized take on the original.

As our mothers have told us time and time again, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts” – which brings us to the real reason this change is so noteworthy... CHUCKS ARE COMFORTABLE NOW! The carefree aesthetic that comes with wearing a pair of Cons had been forever juxtaposed with the feeling of walking on cement all day. Somehow the “casual wear” brand became known for producing undeniably the least comfy sneaker we’ve ever worn. With the addition of a Lunarlon (ultraplush supportive foam) insole, perforated micro-suede lining throughout to avoid slippage, and a more substantial, padded tongue, it all feels so familiar, but infinitely more desirable.

Think about that fun-loving old friend of yours who drinks way too much every time you go out. It starts off great, but a few hours in, you’re wondering why you ever took them out of the house. That is the love-hate relationship I discussed earlier. Now imagine that friend assured you they’ve changed and someone (me) vouched for them. You would give it a shot, right? They have changed, and certainly for the better. Looking cool is now good for the sole. Pick up a pair of Chuck Taylor II’s and see for yourself. I mean, honestly, guys, there’s nothing punk-rock about Crocs.

Images: Footwear News, gaychucks, hottiesinconvers, allstarboys, horny4converse