photo courtesy of Zappos.com
What wonderful memories I have of my many pair. A few stand out:
- The blue with whale print shoelaces (remember those???). I used to dance when I was younger, and during one rehearsal of our company's production of The Nutcracker, the director grabbed one in a pinch to represent the real Nutcracker. Our city's newspaper was there doing a photo shoot, and my blue Tretorn was all over the article! I was so proud!
- The pink. I worked as a waitress at Kanuga, in the mountains of N.C,during the summers of '85 and '86. This is the wonderful place my family has summered every year of my life (visualize the resort in Dirty Dancing ). The parties, the first real summer romances, the hikes around the lake, the "this is the BEST summer of my life - EVER!"
- The Madras. My college Tretorns that no one else had. A boy I had a crush on always called me Tipsy, for the book Tipsy in Madras. Alas, the flirting never evolved into anything else...
You see, these are not the same marshmallow soft shoes I remember. Gone is the scrumptious terry lining that enveloped your foot. Gone are the almost "waffle weave" thick laces. Even the logo has obviously gone on a diet as it is not the same robust "V" on the side. The picture above is pretty much what I see in person. I was heartbroken.
They are ok on the comfort end. They are acceptable. They don't offend me. And they are the originals. But they aren't my old, beloved Tretorns of the 80's and early 90's. So I ask, dear friends, What would you do?
***Update... Checked the website at Zappos.com and saw lots of different views of the shoe. They look just like mine. Also, read quite a few reviews by others. Those that remember the "good old days" had the exact same reaction I did. Doesn't seem to matter where you buy them.
Return. That's such a bummer! I would be upset! Great memories for me as well.
ReplyDeleteRETURN! Preserve your memories of the good ol' Tretorns and don't accept these imposters!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI love love loved my madras Tretorns. So many happy times.
Thanks for your sweet comment. I think Matt and I need to come visit you and Mike! There would be much fun & laughter (and bourbon!) :) XO
I tried on a pair at the local Land's End department of Sears and came to the same conclusion as you. They feel somewhat flimsy and "cheap" for lack of a better word. I agree with you about the plush lining. It's not there. I was wondering if this is a LE edition or if this is the case in all Tretorn's.
ReplyDeleteare the Land's End Tretorns different than the other ones?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zappos.com/tretorn-nylite-canvas-w-white-peacoat-navy?zlfid=111
these certainly look like they have the robust V... I wonder if the ones from LE are just slightly different...
Would you consider ordering a 2nd pair from somewhere else just to see?
I love mine. I got mine about 11 years ago and they definitely were cooshy... now the padding has all worn out so I have some Dr Scholls insoles in there for comfort.
I had a pair moons ago and I just bought a navy pair last summer.
ReplyDeleteDo you have an email address? I want to ask you a quick question. Thanks
Jo
if you don't like...return to Sears for free... no shipping. love your stories of old!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/shoes/sneakers/PRDOVR~18317/18317.jsp
ReplyDeleteJ.Crew has them! I'm not sure if they are different than the LandsEnd ones though???
I have a pair of the ones with pink V and I love them.
ReplyDeleteThey are just so comfortable.
They remind me of the shoes I wore back in High school and grade school.
Love.
Thank you for the memories. I had every color to match my shorts and then we would wear them with our Malia dresses. I tried on some Tretorns a few years ago but could not give up the comfort of my Nikes! They were fun but we did not know any better. I love your site!
ReplyDeleteClaudia
I would return them & call JCrew or others & see if they have the c ushy inset!
ReplyDeletehope you find them, I find that some things are never as joyful as we recall, memories, old age what have you have a way of making things more romantic -- but they were great shoes. Everyone has such great advice, makes me eager to get back to the US where you can return things...and Sears? have they made a comeback or something?
ReplyDeleteoh how sad you were disappointed...unfortunately on the TRETORN website they are quite pricey, but why don't you give that a try...
ReplyDeleteLOOK AT THE MADRAS V!!http://store.tretorn.com/US/details.asp?catalog%5Fname=tretorn&category%5Fname=WomensSneaker&product%5Fid=47178701&mainCategory=Women
I almost ordered them last year but heard this complaint from a few bloggers then. It is sad...I LOVED my Tretorns. ALthough the smallest size back then was still a little big...I wore them all the time.
ReplyDeleteUH oh. I would return them. If you don't love them, it's not worth having them. I'm sorry to see that they are not the same as we remember them.
ReplyDeleteBTW the madras were my favorites, too.
I can see from the picture that the wonderful cushy lining I remember isn't there. Such a disappointment! I remember my old ones from the '70s fondly.
ReplyDeleteNo terry lining? That's madness! I loved my Tretorns - had pink ones, followed by yellow and then my beloved navy and red plaid. So sad to hear they've not changed for the better.
ReplyDeleteI remember my Tretorns of years gone by so fondly. So sad that they aren't the same. The terry lining was the best!
ReplyDeleteIf you aren't loving them return them for sure!
I was a bit young for Tretorns and was instead part of the Keds generation. They too, are not the same as when I was in junior high school. Seems to me that tennis shoes have become cheaply made, but carry a ridiculous price tag. I would return them.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so sad to hear this as I was planning on ordering some as well. I loved them from about 9th grade on--the classic blue and white, the madras, and the leather for winter. I had a friend who bleached hers once a week and set them outside her dorm room door to dry out! Now, that's devotion!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer! I loved my Tretorns--had them in every color--and was looking forward to wearing them again this spring/summer!
ReplyDeleteReturn, return, return. So sad that you were disappointed. I'm sure I will be too, therefore I'm not ordering! XOXO
ReplyDeleteI am jealous you can buy them! I would have to go to NYC or something to get them :O( It's a shame they arent the same as they used to be - I had several pairs when I was a teenager and I would love to have another pair! I missed out on getting them on ebay - stupid auctions!! I was out when it ended and was outbid :O(
ReplyDelete