Nostalgic look is in step with Keds

NEW YORK (AP) -- It makes sense that the fashion world this spring is looking back to the 1950s for inspiration because every other decade in the 20th century has been redone and redone again, says Steven Tiller, senior vice president of product design and development at Keds. "So far the '50s has been underdone."
That's not to say, though, that we haven't seen fashion influences from that era in recent history. "Some things have never gone away: It (the 1950s look) is very feminine, crisp, clean, soft, pretty and American," Tiller observes.
He adds: "With uneasy times, people gravitate toward familiar and nice. When you think '1950s,' you think of American pie and Mom."
Tiller says the timing couldn't be better for him to produce his first collection for Keds during this nostalgic time. It's natural for Keds, which was making its classic canvas sneakers way back when, to embrace again the floral, dot and gingham patterns that 21st century women are rediscovering, he says.