"Courting Fashion Since 1936"

Reading Urple's Sneaker Search this morning reminded me of these French cuties that I've had in my "Drafts" folder for ages.

Love at first sight - G2 Punch Leather

The showroom/shop/office for the Australian distributor of Spring Court, classic French tennis shoes first made in 1930s, is just down the hill from where I live and I popped in some time ago and fell in love with these white punched leather numbers. I have a weakness for green shoes followed by white ones (very Essex Girl of the 80s but I don't care).

Also on the wish-list - M2 Glove Silver

According to the history blurb on Spring Court's American site, a French dude named Georges Grimmeisen, in 1936, revolutionised sports shoes with an upper of cotton canvas and an outsole with vulcanised rubber, featuring removable insoles with arch supports that incorporated ventilation channels. Beauty with substance. And tennis players then finally found comfort and "threw away their espadrilles".

Imelda and I can't wait to hit "cougar" status - we will be wearing these M2 Glove Leopard Skin when running after boys less than half our age (Edit-to-add: Imelda just left a comment so I have to clarify - we are both of "cougar" age but sadly (or happily, depending on how you look at it) we really do look 10 years younger, a result of good genes, not Botox or scalpels. We are waiting for the day when we actually look our age - where is the show-off fun of having a hot post-teen boy hanging off our arms when we don't look a day older than him?)

Spring Courts are "A classic design that has remained unchanged to this day. It was adopted by the Mods in the 1960s and 70s, with other famous fans including Serge Gainsbourg and of course John Lennon who sported a pair with a white suit on his wedding day in Gibraltar and the cover of Abbey Road".

Famous fans who are still alive and kicking them shoes around include Kate Moss, Jude Law, Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher.

These (only on the American site for now, I'm afraid) will go on my wish-list too...




















G2 Heart Punch Leather




















B2 Croco Leather




















And of course there has to be a green pair - B2 Punch Fluo

If you live in Sydney and are the sort who needs to touch-and-feel and try on shoes before buying, do go have a nosey-around in their showroom which is in a really cute old two-storey terrace. The lovely gentleman who served me really loves his products and it shows when you hear him talk about them.

Spring Court Australia
113A Commonwealth Street
Surry Hills
NSW
Phone: (612) 9281 8806
And they have a blog too: springcourtaustralia.blogspot.com