I don't exactly know what sneakers are,
What sneakers *used* to be was a cheap-o shoe, with a rubber sole and fabric top. I think, sometimes, they were also called "tennis shoes" (if white. Though, in Poland, "tenisowki" could be of any colour). Even 25-20 yrs ago, I could still get them inexpensively for my son, who went through 4-6 prs a year (between growing and hard use). Times have changed, the shoe has diversified; they're now made of different fibers (like yours, often with leather top) and have specialised purposes (walking, running, tennis, etc). They also look like they could take you into space without a problem and cook your meals in the meantime. But the overall name is still the same -- sneakers. Leather-soled shoes tended to squeak as you walked in them; these didn't, hence "sneakers". Of course, in some of the modern ones, you couldn't sneak up on anyone anymore... :) But the name stayed.
I do wear them if I'm going somewhere where trainers wouldn't look quite right.
Since I've seen a student, at a formal ball, wearing a tuxedo and sneakers, I'm not sure what you're talking about <g> And some of them are certainly expensive enough to count as a status symbol; my son, who wears them all year round (did, even in VA, where we do have snow in winter) but not on formal occasions (weddings and funerals; the photo at The Victorian Ball cut off his feet, so I don't know if it "rated" as formal enough <g>), tells me that they can get as expensive as the best Clarks...
----- Tamara P Duvall mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Lexington, Virginia, USA Formerly of Warsaw, Poland
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