When I first saw these trainers, with their neon yellow laces, on the shelf, I baulked at the new-raveness of it all. But seeing them 'in action', on the end of a pair of fashionably-clothed legs, my mind was instantly changed. Tigers still look cool, it seems, whether they come in suble netural shades, preppy plaids or this sort of technicolour dream. Unlike the better-known running shoes in Onituka's range, Saiko has chunky soles that would be more suited to jogging and high impact sports.
£49.95 at Shoes.co.uk
Related: Limited edition Tokyo Skyline Onitsuka Tigers | Shiny Fashion preview: Onitsuka Tiger A/W 2008
Puma has a fantastic new range of shoes and sportswear based on the iconic work of Roy Lichtenstein. I particularly like these trainers, which are also available in red and grey, as they are at once delightfully simple and immediately reminiscent of the pop art guru's style; this simplicity contrasts starkly with Nike's far less subtle attempt at capturing the style. In fact, I like these so much that they might even come between me and the Onitsuka Tigers I've had my eye on for months... £40 at ASOS
Related: Casual Friday: Puma Mystere Chevron trainers | Sergio Rossi collaborates with Puma | Alexander McQueen's Puma collection
Something a little different for this week's 'Casual Friday' column...
Nothing says "relaxed chic" quite like a pair of beat-up old cowboy boots, and while these ones from River Island certainly won't start out looking worn-in, it won't take too long for you to give them that "well loved" look, and they'll only get better with age, meaning you can justify the £74.99 price tag on a "cost by wear" basis. These are a great buy for winter: although cowboy boots faded off the fashion radar a couple of years ago, they never really go out of style, and are great for pulling on over jeans on those days when you're kicking back and relaxing in fine, casual Friday style.
Related: Marc Jacobs slouch boots | Faith's red sake ankle boots | LAMB Chartres II Boots
It's not difficult to see what drew my eye to these super-chunky sneakers: they're covered in colourful cupcakes, and cupcakes make anything look better! Not that I'm knocking the basic Troma shape: these are a classic skate shoe, with padded insoles and an extra-thick tongue for maximum shock absorption I'm sure would come in just as useful when running for the tube as it would on a hardcore skating session. $22.48 at Endless.com
Related: Casual Friday: Puma Mystere Chevron trainers | Casual eBay watch
When it comes to trainers, I always find slightly retro styles a little easier to wear because they tend to be that bit sleeker and narrower than many of the chunky, rugged styles around now. These Mystere Chevron trainers by Puma get my vote, then, not just because of their retro looks, but because of the gold uppers which help glam them up a little and make them a good choice for those casual Fridays where you want to dress comfortably but don't quite know where the day will take you. They're $75 from Piperlime.
Related: Casual Friday: 'Toons' school pumps from Topshop | Casual Friday: Topshop's 'Vanessa' dotty bow pumps | Casual Friday: Blue canvas high tops from Dorothy Perkins
Some people are lucky enough to have really casual Fridays, and by that I mean, "so casual they don't even have to leave the house". For those people, these leopard print slippers from ASOS are a cute way to slob out at home without feeling like you're totally dressed down. The animal print is also super-fashionable right now, too. Fashionable slippers: who would've thought it, eh?
These are an inexpensive £6 from ASOS.
Related: Casual Friday: 'Toons' school pumps from Topshop | Casual Friday: Topshop's 'Vanessa' dotty bow pumps | Casual Friday: Blue canvas high tops from Dorothy Perkins
Well, I don't think anyone could accuse these trainers of being the boring option somehow...
They're Ontisuka Tiger's limited edition 'Electric Tiger Land Sunotore 72' trainers, and they glow under UV lighting and in the dark to reveal the Tokyo skyline. If you like them, they're available at the company's store in Newburgh Street, London, priced at £80.
Related: Casual Friday: 'Toons' school pumps from Topshop | Casual Friday: Topshop's 'Vanessa' dotty bow pumps | Casual Friday: Blue canvas high tops from Dorothy Perkins
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