Had designers not come up with special Olympic mames collections, I’m not sure Iwould have realized the games in London started today. If you haven’t found your favorite 2012 Olympics outfit yet, Converse just launched at retail a limited edition “Country” collection of flag-inspired kicks. Check out the Italy, China, Jamaica, United States, U.K. and Germany styles, inspired by colors and imagery associated with each country. Obviously the sneakers can still be worn post-Olympics. The collection arrived in stores this week and also is available online.

Check all styles after the jump.

As Spotted in Teen Vogue’ April 2012 issue  by Snobette reader A Better Roni, the Nike Wedges we previewed earlier this week.  Interesting that the hidden wedge is not even mentioned as a feature of the shoe.  We’re wondering  if  the writer even noticed? Especially when the celebrity caption points to  a pair of low top Converse. #SMH. FYI the retailer listed is Nordstrom. (We love our readers!). Bigger image on the flip.

Inspired by his role as musical consultant for the Oscars, the New York Times examines Pharrell Williams’  love of fashion by having him keep a diary on his wardrobe choices. Their influenced in part by his residence in Miami, not to mention his desire to promote his own brand, Billionare Boys Club. Here is his entry for February 19th, centered around rehearsals for the Oscars in Los Angeles:

“Day 2 of rehearsals at Capitol Records. Still can’t believe that I have the opportunity to be involved. Hans and I collaborated, but it’s mainly his world, which is like a university. I’m just lucky that I got a full scholarship. Wore my default outfit: a Billionaire Boys Club white V-neck shirt, blue jeans, black N.E.R.D. logo skullcap, Junya Watanabe black leather jacket and the Timbs with red laces. Tied a gray and red flannel shirt around my waist. Grunge, baby!’

In a great blend of high and low, Pharrell additionally mentions  his friend Nigo’s label Human Made, Levi’s, Timberland, Chanel, Gap, Junya Watanabe, Mark McNairy, Converse, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, plus Spongebob Toe sox and Mickey Mouse slippers!

Minimalist silhouettes have taken over running trainers and of course we’ve seen low profile  silhouettes appear in leisure trainers as well. For Spring, Converse presents a series of slimmed-down silhouettes that could make sneaker skeptics  into believers. Profiles include Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star Play Lite, the Chuck Tailor All Star Dainty and the All Star Trainer. See them all on the flip. Images via Converse.

Rihanna’s outfit featuring a waist-tied ”shirt” for a recent performance in London, very much brings to mind Marc Jacob’s notorious Spring ‘93 grunge collection for Perry Ellis, which was so controversial it eventual led to his dismissal (who’s sorry now Perry Ellis??). My guess is that Rihanna’s skirt-shirt wasn’t designed by anyone, rather created by a savvy stylist, with the military lace-up boots Jacob’s favored updated with black, lace-up stilettos.

It’s funny that Jacob’s collection is so celebrated now because at the time it was reviled not just by fashion folks but also the punks who inspired it, including Courtney Love, who has claimed she and her husband, Kurt Cobain, burned it after Jacobs sent it to them. But oh how minds have changed. Back then, the runways and the fashion community were  viewed as the establishment, and now, street and fashion are practically joined at the hip!

After the flip see the Sonic Youth video “Sugar Kane,” which was filmed in the Perry Ellis showroom and shows pieces from the grunge collection, plus features an up and coming Chloe Sevigny.  There’s an also a 2001 excerpt from an Index magazine interview, in which Jacobs discusses the 1993 collection, described by him as his “favorite.”

We spotted this assistant stylist in one of our showroom visits yesterday. She was sporting a look we adore–the pairing of a designer bag, in his case Chanel, with a pair of black leather Converse kicks.

Converse does it again with a All Star “Hunting” pack, which features the all time great canvas shoe highlighted by classic hunting prints.

See this pair in khaki on the next page. More from the collection at HS.

Seeing how the world currently seems to have Missoni fever, how about these hi-tops, which are part of an ongoing collaboration between Converse and Missoni. Available at Hanon, starting October 1st.

This Converse running shoe featuring materials designed by Misonni was shown on the label’s Spring 2012 men’s runway. It’s kind of like a sweater for the foot, right? According to HS,  it was only for show and won’ sell at retail….awwww.

Looks like there are more canvass sneaker styles to come from the Converse collaboration with Finnish design house Marimekko, and this one includes “the most famous Marimekko Marimekko print of all time, the Unikko [poppy] design, originally from 1964 by Maija Isola, to which her daughter Kristina Isola has created a new coloring and scale for the Converse shoes.” Look for this to hit retail June 23rd. Via Hs.

More on the next page.