Fashion vs. Performance

[achilleus]

After reading about a certain flower's preference for red shoes, and reading so many posts about uniforms with color, this question came to mind:

How many people out there prefer fashion over performance?

I hate fencing specific shoes. They cause me pain, so I wear court shoes. I was told by one fencer that such shoes make me 'look lame and ugly.' I responded, 'I may look lame and ugly, but I'll be the one that wins.'

So, how do you all feel?

[latenight]

I fence foil. It's all about looking good, baby!!!!!!!

[greenchick]

I definitely prefer that the other guy's mask be a nice shiny silver shade. Beyond that? Ehhh, whatev.

[cornflower]

Hahahaha! Well, man I'm not voting because neither of your choices applies to me. I'm not picky about shoe colour for fencing... I do care about how I perform... BUT, if I did have my choice, I would get the BEST shoes I could find, for my feet, and have them be red!

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I just wear sneakers. I dont think shoes make the fencer, but between two fencers of equal skill and physical characteristics, I'd put money on the one with the shoes. To me, the biggest detterent is the price. I'm not gonna go pay 50 bucks for some victory's that are going to last me a year, and hurt my feet. To me, a good pair of cross trainer is what I need. However, I have noticed that my back foot is beggining to take a different shape then my front. I might need to buy a pair of asyms.

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

I just wear sneakers. I dont think shoes make the fencer, but between two fencers of equal skill and physical characteristics, I'd put money on the one with the shoes. To me, the biggest detterent is the price. I'm not gonna go pay 50 bucks for some victory's that are going to last me a year, and hurt my feet. To me, a good pair of cross trainer is what I need. However, I have noticed that my back foot is beggining to take a different shape then my front. I might need to buy a pair of asyms.

This ain't about shoes. It's rather simple.

Are you more concerned with what you're wearing than your performance?

And Cornflower, we know your answer already...

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Its all about performance.... and price.

[cornflower]

I agree, shoes aren't everything that a fencer should be. For me, good shoes are IMPORTANT because I have collapsed metatarsals and a super-high arch AND I had surgery when I was 5 for overlapping toes; because of this, I have to wear arch support all the time. If I don't wear my arch support, my knees and feet will hurt more than usual because my arch doesn't allow for good weight distribution. SO, you see, good shoes are important for me. The major points that are needed for me are:

1. Well-fitting (I have narrow feet too, in addition to my other foot-maladies) BTW Adidas is GREAT for slender feet.
2. Tongue doesn't bother me
3. Good cushioning in the heel
4. Arch support - well, not really, 'cause I've already got my own prescription arch support.

5. oh yeah and most important of all, traction

[cornflower]

Originally Posted by achilleus

And Cornflower, we know your answer already...

Hey! What answer would that be?

[mrbiggs]

Style is great, but there's one thing I like better: form. Good form is rare, even in foil, where it's most important. I love seing fencers with classic enguards whose disengages are so small they're invisible, and who flick like it's a straight attack. If you can fence well, and with form, then THAT is style.

Style in term so of clothing is great, too. But there's not much of a choice.

Shoes for me: The cheapest ones Blue Gauntlet sells.

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

Style is great, but there's one thing I like better: form. Good form is rare, even in foil, where it's most important. I love seing fencers with classic enguards whose disengages are so small they're invisible, and who flick like it's a straight attack. If you can fence well, and with form, then THAT is style.

Hm...
Perhaps I made the poll too confusing...

[cornflower]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

Style is great, but there's one thing I like better: form. Good form is rare, even in foil, where it's most important. I love seing fencers with classic enguards whose disengages are so small they're invisible, and who flick like it's a straight attack. If you can fence well, and with form, then THAT is style.

Great point MrBiggs!

[electricepeeist]

I'd go for style as long as it meant comprable or better performance. My first pair of shoes were the basic BGs, but eventually they got completely worn out. Now I have a pair of adidas, (gold stripe, not asyms) which I bought partially because I thought they were pretty, (everyone else just finds them amusing) and partially because once worn, I realized that they're a LOT better than the BGs, (no offense to anyone who has BGs) plus fit my narrow feet a lot better.

[Army Fencer]

Red? Hmmm.... I know you're talking about THE cornflower, but I thought "cornflower" was a light blue.

[cornflower]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

Red? Hmmm.... I know you're talking about THE cornflower, but I thought "cornflower" was a light blue.

Yeah, it is light blue... I picked cornflower because it's a pretty flower and it's the name of a mouse from one of Brian Jacque's Redwall books.

[Army Fencer]

Originally Posted by cornflower

Yeah, it is light blue... I picked cornflower because it's a pretty flower and it's the name of a mouse from one of Brian Jacque's Redwall books.

Are you calling yourself mousey, then? Hmmm...

[cornflower]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

Are you calling yourself mousey, then? Hmmm...

Hehehe maybe, when I asked people what sort of animal they imagined I was. They would say either Cat or Mouse. Ironic, isn't it?

[broncofencer]

I am more of the Muhammed Ali approach I win because I am prettier than my opponent.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

Red? Hmmm.... I know you're talking about THE cornflower, but I thought "cornflower" was a light blue.

I think what she really wants aren't so much red shoes as ruby slippers...

Anyhoo, given that my right fencing shoe has a long tear in the upper which I have patched by sewing a piece of nylon webbing into the gap, and the left has a slightly smaller, as yet unpatched tear, and that they're cheap Blue Gauntlets to begin with, I think you can guess my preference, Achilleus.

OK, for those reading-comprehension-challenged among you:

Which would you buy: drab shoes that made you fence better, or shoes that made you fence worse but were ever so stylish and attractive?

[sabreur]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Which would you buy: drab shoes that made you fence better, or shoes that made you fence worse but were ever so stylish and attractive?

C'mon Quart, we know you have a hankering for those new silver Adidas--they'd match your mask and lame!

MR