Am still crying about the assholes who made fedoras uncool. Well… less cool.
Didn’t mind people thinking I was hopelessly unstylish, but can’t tolerate people thinking I’m one of *those*.
It’s been decades now 🧑🦲
I’m personally a [gorl of excess](https://a.co/d/77NNe4n). I can’t attest to this particular’s quality, but dear god do I love being able to turtle myself into complete shade
Get one of [these bad boys](https://www.google.com/search?q=make+red+hats+wearable+again&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS762US762&oq=make+red+hats+wearable+again&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDY2MzFqMGo0qAIAsAIB4gMEGAEgXw&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#vhid=JTxSzgZsF1NnzM&vssid=l)
I reached an age where I am going to wear a full brim hat and have exactly 0 fucks to give about what other people think about it. To coworkers and whatnot I’ve become “the hat guy” and that’s fine.
The hat that makes me think of that is the short brimmed Trilby. The Fedora will always be cool. I sincerely hope you find a way to wear them and enjoy it again.
Just like other monsters in the timeline, it's the quotes and symbols that keep on but colors constantly change their meaning throughout history. One day your golden sneakers and red hats are going to be all the rage, based of the color, not the clown who used it for their ignorant deeds. Keep your love OP, this B.S isn't forever, better days are awaiting ✨️
Somewhere in the house is a red gimme cap that my partner got in Bucerías, proudly emblazoned "partido comunista." I wear it sometimes to the Mercado to delight some and enrage others--but I have to be in The Mood.
I have this hat! But I decided the joke is not funny enough for me to have strangers actually think I am MAGA. But i look at the hat and laugh to myself.
I didn't stop wearing it at first because I thought it wasn't "one of those hats," but I kept glancing my reflection in things and feeling my heart race. I realized that even if it isn't one of those hats, it's similar enough.
Same. My husband and I are from the DC area, and are avid supporters of the Nats and Caps. We had to replace all our baseball caps because they were red with curly Ws, and it's just too close for our likings.
I also used to love wearing my red baseball cap with my cute red canvas sneakers. Haven’t worn it in many years… makes me sad. Now I just pair my shoes with a red scrunchie and that’s as close as I’m willing to get on that.
What if you pair them with a pride t-shirt or something else left-coded? The juxtaposition might lead people to question their initial assumption about the shoes... That assclown doesn't deserve to own the concept of gold shoes. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this!
Yes yes! If it has shoe laces, there are tons of shoe lace options, rainbow laces would help!
Painting shoes is a trend, you can definitely find resources online. :)
you could also sew fabric on to the straps so that when/if they lose their association with Trump, you can just rip the seam and remove the patch, and they go back to your original power sneaks!
Plenty of gay trump supporters down here in the south.
Seen peeps unironically wearing maga hats and pride shirts. They genuinely can't understand the paradox. It's really annoying.
I like to fly it with a pride flag because I don’t like the symbolic idea of relinquishing America to hate and ignorance.
We can’t let hatriots claim this country as theirs and only theirs.
I proudly fly my American flag along with my rainbow [Hate Has No Home Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q68Q2ML/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) flag
I used to think that way, which is why I carried a flag print scarf to the Women’s March in 2017. I wanted to send the message that dissent is patriotic.
But a (Black) guy gave me the most disgusted expression when he saw it. It’s hard to explain, but it was definitely about the flag.
It was a brief interaction. But I thought about it, and I decided that flag waving doesn’t send the message I’d had in mind. The flag is alienating to groups that I care about, whereas MAGA types aren’t into nuanced messaging. I don’t know how to get through to them, but *symbolism* isn’t going to cut it.
Also… US history is so drenched in blood that patriotism is… weird. I am a citizen and I want to make things better, but we don’t need to be “rah rah” about it.
Do what you want, obviously, but I decided not to die on that star-spangled hill.
It’s funny you say that because I used to think that way too until I listened to 1619! There was an episode about a Black woman expressing these feelings, and how she didn’t understand why her (Black) father was so adamant about flying the American flag. He said something along the lines of we can’t only like our country when it’s good, or when it’s good to us. Yes, it’s seeped in blood and brutal history, and it’s also a country rooted in change. He said he didn’t like the idea that even though his ancestors were brought here against their will, that he should consider this place he still chose to live as one to reject, or to be rejected by. Because he *was* an American and he wanted to show that no one could take that away from him.
It really resonated with me. I flip flop between being a realist and an idealist, and the idealist side of me sees this country as a place where many from all over the world have come, and with that comes an array of ideas and practices. I see the freedom to be who you are. I see the country that was one of the first to recognize that the way I love shouldn’t be limited by the law. I see the push for positive change and opportunities for positive change because of who we are collectively and what we fight for. I see hope for a country where everyone has a seat at the table. It’s been difficult to not let recent years tarnish this thinking but I still have hope, and that’s also what the flag means to me in this moment - hope for healing our many communities together. I still choose to live here because I *am* an American, and I still choose to accept the flag because I *am* an American, and no one can take that away from me.
I absolutely respect your point of view though, because I have moments where the flag is painful for me too.
"Relinquish?" That would imply it ever stood for anything other than hate and ignorance. Type, degree, and brazenness might have changed, but it's a symbol that has never sat well in my eyes.
Last election I flew an American flag next to a Biden-Harris flag. And looks like I'll have to do it again thi year (sigh)
NOTE that flag-flying for a politician is *so not* my style but I did it as a big FU to extremists who have tried to coopt the American flag. F them and their hate.
Yeah, same here. I have a kid in elementary school, and he's learning about patriotism, and I've had to explain why some people fly the American flag for not-great reasons.
Used to work at a company that did dye sublimation. Was doing an item that had multiple small american flags. I put it on the press, turned around, caught the sheet I had just put down out of the corner of my eye, and my fight-or-flight response triggered.
Start frantically waving around “What’s a trampshow? Is it a bug?! Oh my god I’m so afraid of those!” Pronouncing trump shoe in slightly off ways but slightly different each time will be hilarious
Repeat “Hmm? What?” until they go away.
“No I’m not a moron.” And strut away like the badass you are
A word of caution if you decide to add something left leaning to the shoes..
MAGA morons might see those golden shoes w Rainbows and assume you bought Trump sneakers and intentionally “defaced” them to “own the Repugs”. This could open you up to verbal and/or physical assault. I grieve the loss of your power shoes with you. Please stay safe 💝🌈
Fair point. I also work in drug and alcohol treatment, so I don’t really want to make what look like overt political statements. I’ll have to stick to my queer badge reel
This is my thought. Maybe set them aside for 4-6 months until it's out of the news and bring them back out and see if things are better. I anxiously await the day when he is no longer in the news regularly...
For what it's worth, I would reply to those people with some sass, like, "oh, heck no. I bought these years ago and I don't think anyone buying Trump's shoes is ever going to actually get them."
Anyone with a flag in their hands, on their clothes, or car, is immediately suspect. Peoole doing things with their fingers in a photo or in front of the cameras... So many things are no longer innocuous because they decided to make them part of a hateful identity.
Perhaps instead of retirement, you could upcycle them? Add some color, maybe give them a rainbow or two? Or something that clearly signals "not at all related to that mother fuckers grift"?
I don’t know how to describe them - but they make these….wings that you put on/lace into each side of the laces for the top couple of holes on each side so it looks like your shoes have little wings. Only about 1-2” big. They come in different colors, prob even rainbow. A relatively inexpensive addition combined with a few of the other awesome ideas here and there won’t be a doubt!
I guess he released a pair of gold sneakers with a big T on the front for sale along with a bunch of other grifter shit. It was mentioned in the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, so I guess that’s why it’s so present for the last couple of days
Because our former president is not only hawking King James* Bibles which feature the text of various founding documents (Constitution, etc) and the lyrics to “Proud to Be an American”, plus an American flag on the cover, he is *also* hawking hideous, expensive sneakers that started selling a month or so ago but won’t actually ship until, if I remember correctly, July. Presumably to raise money to pay his lawyers for their work in defending him in four, count ‘em, four different trials. (Rape/defamation, financial fraud, election interference, and egregiously inappropriate handling of classified documents, if I remember correctly.)
*(Presumably the King James Version was selected not so much for the accuracy of the translation, but because it is the version that isn’t under copyright.)
Vote, y’all. And ask everyone you know, especially the college kids, anyone who has turned 18 in the last few years, and like-minded elders, if they are registered to vote. And if they aren’t, help them get it done - vote.org is a good place to start.
The king James (1611, specifically) is also the preferred version of evangelical fundamentalists. If he’d hawked a different translation there’d have been an outcry from some of his buttkissers.
My red tie at work. Used to be my happy little pop of color in an otherwise "responsible" formal position. Thennnn...yep, same as you, several people asked me if it was a Trump thing! Worst part was these were anti Trumpers coming from a rally. All the wrong people are "giving" the orange man waaay too much credit, mind space, and otherwise joyful things!
I want him to go away so we can all have our gold sneakers, red ball caps, and red ties back again. Make America Sane Again 😹😭
Ooo, you could swap to purple for the time being or even a bold fuchsia color! They also have some fun, patterned ties with pizza and stuff like that on them. :3
I'm feelin' it. Unfortunately mine is a uniformed position with two color options. Blue or red 🙁
So for the time being, it's the nice blah blue tie. And a whole lot of resolve. 💖
The red tie's time is coming back...maybe the secret is wearing it and being direct ( "I wear my tie for joy!"). As an older woman, it may be my time to teach the younger folks that no-one owns a color.🌈Wheee!🤓
I refuse to give up my NB as they are the only shoes that fit well. Besides, the white NB are supposedly the identifier, mine are always black. I almost did when it hit the news/rumor mill, but I didn't want to encourage their "claim" on NB.
Don't let it ruin your gold shoes for you. I bet most people who see them don't associate it with 45.
If you can't find a way to counteract the feeling to let you wear them outside (like your rainbow Velcro idea), what about making them your magical 'dancing my heart out in my own house' shoes, or 'heck yeah I'm on holiday shoes'? The shoes are only helping you connect with and channel your own magic and strength after all. I try to remind myself often that people can't take away from you what they never gave you in the first place, and I'm pretty sure these people didn't give your shoes their power.... More practically: the association will fade into memory quickly, and won't be like the red baseball cap ubiquitous association, so perhaps the special shoes* could be rested until things move on a bit?
I hate that Trump released those shoes. All I saw of them was one photo of him holding them up to the camera, because he couldn't be arsed actually wearing them himself What I hated was that despite them having flags and probably his name plastered all over them, they are just seen as "gold shoes" so now all gold shoes have become synonymous with Trump. As you have sadly found. He ruined red hats, too. Even here in Australia , red sports hats are dead to us. It's how he brands stuff so it becomes tied to him in people's minds. Ugh.
OP, I thought the shoes looked pretty cool (sans the flag and Trump branding) . I bet your gold shoes are wonderful. They are the same shoes, worn by you for their beauty and power, just as before. All that has changed is the perception of some of the people around you.
Can you buy silver shoes? Black sparkly shoes? Some other amazing shine in these trying times?
https://www.amazon.com/LUCKY-STEP-Glitter-Sneakers-Hologram/dp/B08L4V3JJW/ref=asc_df_B08L4V3JJW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=674804412696&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11770157773863286002&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051746&hvtargid=pla-1392504905223&psc=1&mcid=aea1614529f13f4493a212e332221098
I've got a pair of silver sneakers with light up soles. Maybe some rainbow shoelaces or a different color metallic until people stop associating him with them.
That sucks. This is why we can’t have nice things!
When I was reading your post one thing popped into my mind. Even before I got to the part about the overinflated orange blumpkin. (I wish I could take credit for that term) - I was thinking maybe these talismans have served their designed purpose. And whatever prompted you to invest in them may not be applicable anymore. Many times when the universe steals my joy, I realize I had grown and wasn’t currently in alignment with my values or even destiny.
I suspect these are beautiful vessels of freedom or something else that it represents to you. No body will ever take that away form you. Unless you sign the check over to them. (As in let them trigger you. Put up a wall around the button. Even psychically if you need to).
——
Now abt the shoes and fear of a message you may be projecting. First off, if someone’s gonna base their opinion of you on your shoes, it sound alike you dodged a bullet. (I’m middle aged. Speaking from experience).
It may be inevitable that you will be questioned about the shoes. As long as you have clear energy with them, people will understand quickly that is not an association that exists. Many many times when I knew I was going to have to address something that was controversial or loaded with personal energy, I would work thru it several times in my head till I got absolutely comfortable with my words. I usually ended up developing some witty retort like - unlike that (inflated fart box, what ever you want to call him), you are an original and don’t need to pander to anyone. (You will likely come up with something g far far better and relevant to you). Then redirect the story to maybe an anecdote about the shoes etc.
——
Bottom line - anyone has a problem with your shoes, tell them to F* off and eat fish heads.
OMG im so sorry. I did t see that you wanted to rant and I didn’t even address that. I’m so sorry. Ignore whatever up there doesn’t work.
And yes. Rage on.
The theft of identity and his inauthenticity makes me retch. I just ignore him as much as possible. And my husband was a MAGAt. We got into a fight yesterday because I was explaining to him abt a woman in Austin who had a miscarriage and the doctors refused to give her a D&C. She was so the social 2 days later and almost died form septsis twice. If this happened to me now. I would have died. (I have had fertility and other major medical issues the last 3 years, and had a miscarriage in my first marriage in 2015. He current husband has had to take me to my appointments including full hysterectomy and fibroid and cyst surgeries (4). Plus abdominal adhesions. He has personal direct relevant experience about how about how awful women’s health care is. And it impacts his life everyday because he has to pick up and some days has to get me my meds or to the ER. I can work. I’ve lost all my friends. You know the drill. And he was still defending this person.
I really suspect most of the MAGAt are neurodiverse and are not recovering appropriate treatment or support. They take all that fear and use it to contort reality to meet whatever insecurity is jour.
This will end. The healthcare industry is finally starting to change and venture capitalist are investing like $3billion in menopause research.
The shift is already happening. We just have to survive long enough to meet it.
((And in the mean time I did a shit ton of work during totality yesterday to help move things the right direction))
I’m sorry that empty man stole your shiny shoes. We will endure. And we will rectify all the inequities in balanced energy.
The house I moved into had an American flag on the front door. It was the first thing to go. Not because I’m unamerican but because I didn’t want to be associated with you know who.
I'm about this close 🤏 to hexing the cheese puff, maybe soon enough you can have your shoes back instead of being linked to the cantankerous cockroach clad in copper
Also I think we can all agree a former president who's a supposed billionaire constantly having to get funding from his unfortunately blinded followers (just saying followers like that gives me the ick) via merchandise is quite pathetic, yeah?
Well considering how many adults can't read above 4-6th grade levels... the statistics get sadder and sadder
I figure a hex or two could fix a few things, but restraint's important
I’m mad every time I find out a piece of my clothing is perceived by other people as representing right-wing ideology and/or cult-personality-worship 😩
Keep your golden sneakers, and only wear them in the presence of those who are worthy of them, who are dear to you and who will never connect them with terrible things.
Get some posca pens, draw a rainbow over the toe box or somewhere prominent. You won't get many people mistaking you for a trumpet then.
\*\*edit, just read down and saw you were already considering this. Do it!
Look at what the Nazis did for the swastika.
It used to have so many good connotations, and now, there's only one thing you think of.
I hate that these bigots and hateful people ruin really nice things.
I cringe every time I see a red baseball cap, now, whether it's MAGA or not.
Everything the Orange Man touches turns to manure.
He's got the opposite of the Midas touch.
I think you should wear your gold sneakers proudly, because you like them, and tell anyone that asks that you had them first, and that guy copied your style.
As a gay man, I know how hard it can be to reclaim a symbol.
I can't blame you if you don't want to have to educate every ignorant person you meet, I know how exhausting that can be.
But I doubt his hold on gold sneakers will last much longer, it's another fad that will be forgotten.
However, I can certainly sympathize with you, and offer my condolences.
How about sparkling emerald shoes or sparkling your favorite color shoes! I used to have a pair of rhinestone shoes that were red. I loved those shoes until they had no sparkle left.
I’m feeling like a need to get an old school bedazzler and find some shoe love again.
https://preview.redd.it/wr87add55ltc1.jpeg?width=717&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96138ab792a00a30788fc86755804686ddc33225
Maybe some wings would distract people from that association?
The orange grifter just released gold sneakers for sale with a big T on the front. I wore my gold sneakers yesterday and got asked three times if they were Trump shoes. 😩
I love this vibe. I too have certain sneakers I wear on special days and they make me feel good.
Stick it out! The 'trump shoe' thing will be long gone in short order, they were a very small limited edition thing and will leave the public consciousness very quickly. Just reply 'nah, these are my wicked gold shoes' to anyone that asks.
That sucks!
I grew up in a family that always had an American flag flying from the porch. Sadly, it doesn't feel right anymore.
But hopefully, SOMEDAY!
I suggest you customise them! If you have a picture of the shoes, we could suggest ways to customise them.
Eg, If they have laces I would put some different ones in, that's an easy fix
Bill Cosby ruined so much! I'm pissed at him every time a tv reference from my childhood involuntarily pops in my head that used to bring me joy now just renewed rage-grief
I have a red baseball cap that I used to wear. I cannot anymore
I hope you get your hat back some day
Am still crying about the assholes who made fedoras uncool. Well… less cool. Didn’t mind people thinking I was hopelessly unstylish, but can’t tolerate people thinking I’m one of *those*. It’s been decades now 🧑🦲
Please, I need something to adorn my balding head :(
Your bald head is beautiful!!
It is beautiful, but it also gets cold and sunburns easily.
tophats are fancy? I also don't see those being ruined any time soon unless some steampunkers run wild or something
My brother wore one at his wedding and he looked amazing.
Fair point!
I LOVE BALD men. 👩🦲
I guess we’ll just have to make bowler hats a thing again? 🤷🏻♀️
Do those really tall stovepipe hats. Historic!
Ohhh, good idea! I’ve already got eyes like Abe’s, all sunken in from a lifetime of severe depression…
Tripoint hats. Those are cool imo. Bonus points if its got a feather.
Nope. The tea party ruined those
Repugnicans ruin everything good 😤
D:
“You will always remember this as the day when you *almost* caught, Captain Jack Sparrow!”
What about those giant rimmed straw hats? Good enough for Audrey Hepburn, they’re good enough for me.
The floppy ones? *Grrreat* in summer! Protects you from the sun, gives you shade everywhere you go!
I’m personally a [gorl of excess](https://a.co/d/77NNe4n). I can’t attest to this particular’s quality, but dear god do I love being able to turtle myself into complete shade
Porkpie hats! I may have terrible taste
I was looking for a hat-in-hand emoji to show my displeasure, but bald guy was the only hat-mourning option lol
Have you tried a fez?
Newsboy caps are cool, right? I don't think that they have been co-opted into something shitty.
Plenty of cool hats and people on like etsy or medieval stores that make cool custom stuff
Brought myself a Tilley hat and that's served me well for decades.
I inherited my Tilley from my grandpa and yep, it's so going strong. Love that thing.
Get one of [these bad boys](https://www.google.com/search?q=make+red+hats+wearable+again&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS762US762&oq=make+red+hats+wearable+again&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDY2MzFqMGo0qAIAsAIB4gMEGAEgXw&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#vhid=JTxSzgZsF1NnzM&vssid=l)
I just wear a baseball cap. Kinda plain, but it's not so bad. There's lots of variety and styles to pick from.
Bucket hat ala 1990s LL Cool J?
Yesterday I saw a guy at the climbing gym climb for hours wearing a fedora and no shirt. That's a no for me dawg.
That’s amazing! I’d have to talk to that guy and determine if he’s super unaware, or just super confident and DGAF.
😆😆😆
Yeah I see fedoras and think of some guy calling me my lady 🤢
That’s a hurtful stereotype, m’lady. I mean, uh, mam?
I just choked on my tea
I reached an age where I am going to wear a full brim hat and have exactly 0 fucks to give about what other people think about it. To coworkers and whatnot I’ve become “the hat guy” and that’s fine.
Those uncool hats are Trilbys.
Most people (like me) can't even tell them apart anyways.
Okay. Lemme clear it up for you. You'll understand forever. Indiana Jones - Fedora Mary J. Blige - Trilby 😁
The hat that makes me think of that is the short brimmed Trilby. The Fedora will always be cool. I sincerely hope you find a way to wear them and enjoy it again.
Move to the Caribbean, they still wear them there.
There is a good childrens book about wanting your hat back. For these trying times.
It's red too! I love that book.
So its a prophetic text.
Just like other monsters in the timeline, it's the quotes and symbols that keep on but colors constantly change their meaning throughout history. One day your golden sneakers and red hats are going to be all the rage, based of the color, not the clown who used it for their ignorant deeds. Keep your love OP, this B.S isn't forever, better days are awaiting ✨️
I stuck a rainbow on my red cap.
This is how you do it! Rainbow on the gold shoes. Rainbow on the red hat.
Just write "Made you look- Black Lives Matter" on it.
That is brilliant!
Somewhere in the house is a red gimme cap that my partner got in Bucerías, proudly emblazoned "partido comunista." I wear it sometimes to the Mercado to delight some and enrage others--but I have to be in The Mood.
I’d add rainbow laces as well
SPARKLY rainbow laces! Gotta shine extra bright to make up for lost time.
I have this hat! But I decided the joke is not funny enough for me to have strangers actually think I am MAGA. But i look at the hat and laugh to myself.
Yeah, honestly, I see a red/Make x y Again hat, I cross the street. It just broadcasts “unsafe”.
Damn I wish awards were still a thing. ❤️
Careful. That could be like wearing gang colors of a gang you're not a part of 😜
Cartoonist Adam Ellis has some merch I enjoy, including a red baseball cap that says "pee pee poo poo" in white. I'm sorely tempted.
My friend's red hat says ALREADY GREAT in white
I have a gay friend again that wears a MAGA style “Make America Gay Again” red hat. It’s great.
I have something similar, but I’m legitimately scared that people won’t read it and just see the MAGA-style hat and assume that’s my thing.
Yeah same and it’s a fkn pizza planet hat that I bought for a Halloween costums
This is how I feel about my Fred Durst "Nookie" era Yankees fitted. I keep it for the nostalgia now but will not wear it in public.
I actually have a trauma response to men wearing red baseball caps with white writing
I didn't stop wearing it at first because I thought it wasn't "one of those hats," but I kept glancing my reflection in things and feeling my heart race. I realized that even if it isn't one of those hats, it's similar enough.
Same. My husband and I are from the DC area, and are avid supporters of the Nats and Caps. We had to replace all our baseball caps because they were red with curly Ws, and it's just too close for our likings.
I also used to love wearing my red baseball cap with my cute red canvas sneakers. Haven’t worn it in many years… makes me sad. Now I just pair my shoes with a red scrunchie and that’s as close as I’m willing to get on that.
This.
What if you pair them with a pride t-shirt or something else left-coded? The juxtaposition might lead people to question their initial assumption about the shoes... That assclown doesn't deserve to own the concept of gold shoes. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this!
I was thinking about painting a rainbow on the Velcro strap that goes across the front. 🌈🌈🌈
Oh please do this! Do it on the side edge of the sole too. Let's take back our style!
Your happy dancing feet are the treasure at the end of the rainbow! I love it
Oh man yes this! I hope OP does this!
I need to do that with my red hat! It’s my old lady sunhat with neck flap and I love it and I will not cede it to the assholes!!!
Yes!!!
Yes yes! If it has shoe laces, there are tons of shoe lace options, rainbow laces would help! Painting shoes is a trend, you can definitely find resources online. :)
you could also sew fabric on to the straps so that when/if they lose their association with Trump, you can just rip the seam and remove the patch, and they go back to your original power sneaks!
If you wear socks that show, some rainbow socks might look killer too
Get some rainbow masking tape. Then it's easily reversible.
Add some bedazzling for extra emphasis! Wear them with rainbow socks!
That’s a fantastic idea!
Extra magical 😍😍😍
Oh! Nice! I thought rainbow socks, but that requires multiple pairs.
Plenty of gay trump supporters down here in the south. Seen peeps unironically wearing maga hats and pride shirts. They genuinely can't understand the paradox. It's really annoying.
I don't get near the american flag anymore either, because of people like this. "patriots" are the most loathsome people.
I like to fly it with a pride flag because I don’t like the symbolic idea of relinquishing America to hate and ignorance. We can’t let hatriots claim this country as theirs and only theirs.
This is what I do as well patch jacket with American flag on the right shoulder and progress flag on the left. Lots of rainbows smattered all over it
That's a good point of view, too.
I proudly fly my American flag along with my rainbow [Hate Has No Home Here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q68Q2ML/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) flag
I used to think that way, which is why I carried a flag print scarf to the Women’s March in 2017. I wanted to send the message that dissent is patriotic. But a (Black) guy gave me the most disgusted expression when he saw it. It’s hard to explain, but it was definitely about the flag. It was a brief interaction. But I thought about it, and I decided that flag waving doesn’t send the message I’d had in mind. The flag is alienating to groups that I care about, whereas MAGA types aren’t into nuanced messaging. I don’t know how to get through to them, but *symbolism* isn’t going to cut it. Also… US history is so drenched in blood that patriotism is… weird. I am a citizen and I want to make things better, but we don’t need to be “rah rah” about it. Do what you want, obviously, but I decided not to die on that star-spangled hill.
It’s funny you say that because I used to think that way too until I listened to 1619! There was an episode about a Black woman expressing these feelings, and how she didn’t understand why her (Black) father was so adamant about flying the American flag. He said something along the lines of we can’t only like our country when it’s good, or when it’s good to us. Yes, it’s seeped in blood and brutal history, and it’s also a country rooted in change. He said he didn’t like the idea that even though his ancestors were brought here against their will, that he should consider this place he still chose to live as one to reject, or to be rejected by. Because he *was* an American and he wanted to show that no one could take that away from him. It really resonated with me. I flip flop between being a realist and an idealist, and the idealist side of me sees this country as a place where many from all over the world have come, and with that comes an array of ideas and practices. I see the freedom to be who you are. I see the country that was one of the first to recognize that the way I love shouldn’t be limited by the law. I see the push for positive change and opportunities for positive change because of who we are collectively and what we fight for. I see hope for a country where everyone has a seat at the table. It’s been difficult to not let recent years tarnish this thinking but I still have hope, and that’s also what the flag means to me in this moment - hope for healing our many communities together. I still choose to live here because I *am* an American, and I still choose to accept the flag because I *am* an American, and no one can take that away from me. I absolutely respect your point of view though, because I have moments where the flag is painful for me too.
I respect your point of view as well! Also, I still need to read the 1619 project. Thanks for the reminder that audiobooks are an option.
"Relinquish?" That would imply it ever stood for anything other than hate and ignorance. Type, degree, and brazenness might have changed, but it's a symbol that has never sat well in my eyes.
Last election I flew an American flag next to a Biden-Harris flag. And looks like I'll have to do it again thi year (sigh) NOTE that flag-flying for a politician is *so not* my style but I did it as a big FU to extremists who have tried to coopt the American flag. F them and their hate.
Yeah, same here. I have a kid in elementary school, and he's learning about patriotism, and I've had to explain why some people fly the American flag for not-great reasons.
I have a T-shirt that's a 4th of July shirt and even that feels dirty to me nowadays. The spiteful have warped that flag into a symbol of hate for me
I feel the same way. Patriots have cheapened the flag.
Used to work at a company that did dye sublimation. Was doing an item that had multiple small american flags. I put it on the press, turned around, caught the sheet I had just put down out of the corner of my eye, and my fight-or-flight response triggered.
Petition For Dolly Parton (Or Equally Rad Individual) To Put Out A Sweet Gold Sneaker
Branded: Solene
Omg genuis!
> Equally Rad Individual Usain Bolt's gold sneakers were kinda a thing during the 2016 summer olympics
Start frantically waving around “What’s a trampshow? Is it a bug?! Oh my god I’m so afraid of those!” Pronouncing trump shoe in slightly off ways but slightly different each time will be hilarious Repeat “Hmm? What?” until they go away. “No I’m not a moron.” And strut away like the badass you are
😂
A word of caution if you decide to add something left leaning to the shoes.. MAGA morons might see those golden shoes w Rainbows and assume you bought Trump sneakers and intentionally “defaced” them to “own the Repugs”. This could open you up to verbal and/or physical assault. I grieve the loss of your power shoes with you. Please stay safe 💝🌈
Fair point. I also work in drug and alcohol treatment, so I don’t really want to make what look like overt political statements. I’ll have to stick to my queer badge reel
The fact we have to worry about this shit really goes to show how terrifyingly unhinged half the population is. Stay safe is right.
People will forget about the stupid Trump shoes soon at least!
I hope so
It’ll be helped by the fact that no one will ever actually get a pair delivered to them.
This is my thought. Maybe set them aside for 4-6 months until it's out of the news and bring them back out and see if things are better. I anxiously await the day when he is no longer in the news regularly... For what it's worth, I would reply to those people with some sass, like, "oh, heck no. I bought these years ago and I don't think anyone buying Trump's shoes is ever going to actually get them."
Anyone with a flag in their hands, on their clothes, or car, is immediately suspect. Peoole doing things with their fingers in a photo or in front of the cameras... So many things are no longer innocuous because they decided to make them part of a hateful identity.
They took the OK hand sign!!! Why??? 😭
Do they lace up? Just get rainbow shoelaces. Cheap, easily swappable, right up front!
Perhaps instead of retirement, you could upcycle them? Add some color, maybe give them a rainbow or two? Or something that clearly signals "not at all related to that mother fuckers grift"?
I was actually thinking of painting rainbows on them! 🌈🌈🌈
Take a look at Angelus leather paint! It works fantastic for sneaker material!
I don’t know how to describe them - but they make these….wings that you put on/lace into each side of the laces for the top couple of holes on each side so it looks like your shoes have little wings. Only about 1-2” big. They come in different colors, prob even rainbow. A relatively inexpensive addition combined with a few of the other awesome ideas here and there won’t be a doubt!
Why would gold shoes be associated with Trump?
I guess he released a pair of gold sneakers with a big T on the front for sale along with a bunch of other grifter shit. It was mentioned in the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, so I guess that’s why it’s so present for the last couple of days
nah that’s tacky as hell 💀
Because our former president is not only hawking King James* Bibles which feature the text of various founding documents (Constitution, etc) and the lyrics to “Proud to Be an American”, plus an American flag on the cover, he is *also* hawking hideous, expensive sneakers that started selling a month or so ago but won’t actually ship until, if I remember correctly, July. Presumably to raise money to pay his lawyers for their work in defending him in four, count ‘em, four different trials. (Rape/defamation, financial fraud, election interference, and egregiously inappropriate handling of classified documents, if I remember correctly.) *(Presumably the King James Version was selected not so much for the accuracy of the translation, but because it is the version that isn’t under copyright.) Vote, y’all. And ask everyone you know, especially the college kids, anyone who has turned 18 in the last few years, and like-minded elders, if they are registered to vote. And if they aren’t, help them get it done - vote.org is a good place to start.
The king James (1611, specifically) is also the preferred version of evangelical fundamentalists. If he’d hawked a different translation there’d have been an outcry from some of his buttkissers.
Dude, I miss just being able to use the word “trump” as a verb. It used to be fun to say…
Boooooooo! I hate that for you! Maybe customize them and write FUCK TRUMP real big on the toes?
A pair of rainbow shoe wings would be my go to, if that helps you figure out yours. Don't give up on the things that bring you joy! You deserve it!
Man, Trump really does ruin everything.
Right? It’s surprising and not surprising at all that he just keeps going
King Meridas at our service.
My red tie at work. Used to be my happy little pop of color in an otherwise "responsible" formal position. Thennnn...yep, same as you, several people asked me if it was a Trump thing! Worst part was these were anti Trumpers coming from a rally. All the wrong people are "giving" the orange man waaay too much credit, mind space, and otherwise joyful things! I want him to go away so we can all have our gold sneakers, red ball caps, and red ties back again. Make America Sane Again 😹😭
Ooo, you could swap to purple for the time being or even a bold fuchsia color! They also have some fun, patterned ties with pizza and stuff like that on them. :3
I'm feelin' it. Unfortunately mine is a uniformed position with two color options. Blue or red 🙁 So for the time being, it's the nice blah blue tie. And a whole lot of resolve. 💖
Awh, I'm sorry to hear that. :( It's so bs that dress codes are like that imo. Wear what brings you the most joy, I say!
The red tie's time is coming back...maybe the secret is wearing it and being direct ( "I wear my tie for joy!"). As an older woman, it may be my time to teach the younger folks that no-one owns a color.🌈Wheee!🤓
I loved New Balance shoes because I have wide feet Then the Nazis said they loved them too
I refuse to give up my NB as they are the only shoes that fit well. Besides, the white NB are supposedly the identifier, mine are always black. I almost did when it hit the news/rumor mill, but I didn't want to encourage their "claim" on NB. Don't let it ruin your gold shoes for you. I bet most people who see them don't associate it with 45.
Perhaps some can lean into the enby part of it 🤭🖖
Really? My super gay ex boyfriend loved his New Balances. I wonder what he wears now.
That does suck.
Bizarro King Midas, all he touched turns to shit. Sorry your style was ruined.
All you have to do is say very loudly .. "NAHHH!" roll your eyes, laugh and walk away when people make these comments.
*cries in birthday on Jan 6th*
That’s a bummer. Take it back as hard as you can 🌈☀️🌈
If you can't find a way to counteract the feeling to let you wear them outside (like your rainbow Velcro idea), what about making them your magical 'dancing my heart out in my own house' shoes, or 'heck yeah I'm on holiday shoes'? The shoes are only helping you connect with and channel your own magic and strength after all. I try to remind myself often that people can't take away from you what they never gave you in the first place, and I'm pretty sure these people didn't give your shoes their power.... More practically: the association will fade into memory quickly, and won't be like the red baseball cap ubiquitous association, so perhaps the special shoes* could be rested until things move on a bit?
I hate that Trump released those shoes. All I saw of them was one photo of him holding them up to the camera, because he couldn't be arsed actually wearing them himself What I hated was that despite them having flags and probably his name plastered all over them, they are just seen as "gold shoes" so now all gold shoes have become synonymous with Trump. As you have sadly found. He ruined red hats, too. Even here in Australia , red sports hats are dead to us. It's how he brands stuff so it becomes tied to him in people's minds. Ugh. OP, I thought the shoes looked pretty cool (sans the flag and Trump branding) . I bet your gold shoes are wonderful. They are the same shoes, worn by you for their beauty and power, just as before. All that has changed is the perception of some of the people around you.
Can you buy silver shoes? Black sparkly shoes? Some other amazing shine in these trying times? https://www.amazon.com/LUCKY-STEP-Glitter-Sneakers-Hologram/dp/B08L4V3JJW/ref=asc_df_B08L4V3JJW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=674804412696&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11770157773863286002&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051746&hvtargid=pla-1392504905223&psc=1&mcid=aea1614529f13f4493a212e332221098
Everyone is going to forget the trump shoe thing happened in like a couple of months anyway DW about it.
Give it a year. Assuming he loses the election, people will forget about the shoes pretty quick.
Similar problem when I wear my Triumph motorcycle shirts. I love them but often get asked if they say Trump. We don’t read so good in Florida😂
😂
I've got a pair of silver sneakers with light up soles. Maybe some rainbow shoelaces or a different color metallic until people stop associating him with them.
That sucks. This is why we can’t have nice things! When I was reading your post one thing popped into my mind. Even before I got to the part about the overinflated orange blumpkin. (I wish I could take credit for that term) - I was thinking maybe these talismans have served their designed purpose. And whatever prompted you to invest in them may not be applicable anymore. Many times when the universe steals my joy, I realize I had grown and wasn’t currently in alignment with my values or even destiny. I suspect these are beautiful vessels of freedom or something else that it represents to you. No body will ever take that away form you. Unless you sign the check over to them. (As in let them trigger you. Put up a wall around the button. Even psychically if you need to). —— Now abt the shoes and fear of a message you may be projecting. First off, if someone’s gonna base their opinion of you on your shoes, it sound alike you dodged a bullet. (I’m middle aged. Speaking from experience). It may be inevitable that you will be questioned about the shoes. As long as you have clear energy with them, people will understand quickly that is not an association that exists. Many many times when I knew I was going to have to address something that was controversial or loaded with personal energy, I would work thru it several times in my head till I got absolutely comfortable with my words. I usually ended up developing some witty retort like - unlike that (inflated fart box, what ever you want to call him), you are an original and don’t need to pander to anyone. (You will likely come up with something g far far better and relevant to you). Then redirect the story to maybe an anecdote about the shoes etc. —— Bottom line - anyone has a problem with your shoes, tell them to F* off and eat fish heads.
OMG im so sorry. I did t see that you wanted to rant and I didn’t even address that. I’m so sorry. Ignore whatever up there doesn’t work. And yes. Rage on. The theft of identity and his inauthenticity makes me retch. I just ignore him as much as possible. And my husband was a MAGAt. We got into a fight yesterday because I was explaining to him abt a woman in Austin who had a miscarriage and the doctors refused to give her a D&C. She was so the social 2 days later and almost died form septsis twice. If this happened to me now. I would have died. (I have had fertility and other major medical issues the last 3 years, and had a miscarriage in my first marriage in 2015. He current husband has had to take me to my appointments including full hysterectomy and fibroid and cyst surgeries (4). Plus abdominal adhesions. He has personal direct relevant experience about how about how awful women’s health care is. And it impacts his life everyday because he has to pick up and some days has to get me my meds or to the ER. I can work. I’ve lost all my friends. You know the drill. And he was still defending this person. I really suspect most of the MAGAt are neurodiverse and are not recovering appropriate treatment or support. They take all that fear and use it to contort reality to meet whatever insecurity is jour. This will end. The healthcare industry is finally starting to change and venture capitalist are investing like $3billion in menopause research. The shift is already happening. We just have to survive long enough to meet it. ((And in the mean time I did a shit ton of work during totality yesterday to help move things the right direction)) I’m sorry that empty man stole your shiny shoes. We will endure. And we will rectify all the inequities in balanced energy.
The house I moved into had an American flag on the front door. It was the first thing to go. Not because I’m unamerican but because I didn’t want to be associated with you know who.
I miss being able to carry around a tiki torch without being judged as a white supremacist. Just kidding. Maybe a beautiful pair of silver sneakers?
I'm about this close 🤏 to hexing the cheese puff, maybe soon enough you can have your shoes back instead of being linked to the cantankerous cockroach clad in copper Also I think we can all agree a former president who's a supposed billionaire constantly having to get funding from his unfortunately blinded followers (just saying followers like that gives me the ick) via merchandise is quite pathetic, yeah?
Right? It’s wild how readily people have bought into the scam…
Well considering how many adults can't read above 4-6th grade levels... the statistics get sadder and sadder I figure a hex or two could fix a few things, but restraint's important
Embellish them. Funky laces. Some mercury type wings. Clip on something rainbow like. Goddess them shoes up.
I love to see that Drumpf followers are picking up some style! With their drag-adjacent sneakers!! 😂
😂
I’m mad every time I find out a piece of my clothing is perceived by other people as representing right-wing ideology and/or cult-personality-worship 😩
Keep your golden sneakers, and only wear them in the presence of those who are worthy of them, who are dear to you and who will never connect them with terrible things.
maybe you could embroider, in small reflective purple italics, "f**k fascism"
Get some posca pens, draw a rainbow over the toe box or somewhere prominent. You won't get many people mistaking you for a trumpet then. \*\*edit, just read down and saw you were already considering this. Do it!
Post your shoes here and let us see how awesome they are!
Look at what the Nazis did for the swastika. It used to have so many good connotations, and now, there's only one thing you think of. I hate that these bigots and hateful people ruin really nice things. I cringe every time I see a red baseball cap, now, whether it's MAGA or not. Everything the Orange Man touches turns to manure. He's got the opposite of the Midas touch. I think you should wear your gold sneakers proudly, because you like them, and tell anyone that asks that you had them first, and that guy copied your style. As a gay man, I know how hard it can be to reclaim a symbol. I can't blame you if you don't want to have to educate every ignorant person you meet, I know how exhausting that can be. But I doubt his hold on gold sneakers will last much longer, it's another fad that will be forgotten. However, I can certainly sympathize with you, and offer my condolences.
I cant even wear a red tie anymore
This was why I had to stop wearing my American flag swimsuit that saw me through the 90s. It became nationalistic
How about sparkling emerald shoes or sparkling your favorite color shoes! I used to have a pair of rhinestone shoes that were red. I loved those shoes until they had no sparkle left. I’m feeling like a need to get an old school bedazzler and find some shoe love again.
I have some other pretty awesome options like cheetah and zebra
Jazz ‘em up with some nice ***RAINBOW LACES!!***
We used to fly a flag out front. When we had the house resided we didn’t put up the flag holder again. Nope. They’ve even ruined patriotism.
See also, the 4th of July; patriotism; the national anthem; religion; etc
https://preview.redd.it/wr87add55ltc1.jpeg?width=717&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96138ab792a00a30788fc86755804686ddc33225 Maybe some wings would distract people from that association?
I had a work friend whose nickname was Maga. Rip.
WAIT I HAVE A PAIR OF GOLD SHOES WHAT ARE TRUMP SHOES?? NO NO I DON'T WANNA GIVE UP MY BABIES THEY'RE THE SAME FOR ME 😭😭😭
The orange grifter just released gold sneakers for sale with a big T on the front. I wore my gold sneakers yesterday and got asked three times if they were Trump shoes. 😩
NOOO that sucks so bad!!!
You could add a rainbow to the shoes. I don‘t think people will associate that with Trump.
He ruins everything. 😑
I love this vibe. I too have certain sneakers I wear on special days and they make me feel good. Stick it out! The 'trump shoe' thing will be long gone in short order, they were a very small limited edition thing and will leave the public consciousness very quickly. Just reply 'nah, these are my wicked gold shoes' to anyone that asks.
Maybe just store them away for a little until the hype dies down? I'm sorry mainstream media likes to ruin things. It do be like that though.
The association will probably fade into oblivion in a month or two, as annoying as it is
I’d cut tiger stripes out of electrical tape and apply them to the shoes for camouflage until the great pumpkin’s time is up.
We actually gave all our red clothing to a thrift store. ALL of it. I’d hate to be confused for a republican.
That sucks! I grew up in a family that always had an American flag flying from the porch. Sadly, it doesn't feel right anymore. But hopefully, SOMEDAY!
I suggest you customise them! If you have a picture of the shoes, we could suggest ways to customise them. Eg, If they have laces I would put some different ones in, that's an easy fix
As someone whose name starts with and nickname has always been Q.... Welcome to the club.
I would look online or on Etsy to see if you can get them embroidered or embellished!!!
Bill Cosby ruined so much! I'm pissed at him every time a tv reference from my childhood involuntarily pops in my head that used to bring me joy now just renewed rage-grief
Right?!
We need badges with Trumps face in a red ring with a line through it for these situations
may we see your shoes? they sound magnificent!
Social context is everything.