Spring styles for sneakers feel decidedly retro

Will this be a big year for sneakers?

Right on, man. Or maybe I should say: Fer sure!

Old is new in the sneaker (or should I say, gym shoe?) world, with updated versions of styles from the 1970s and '80s taking center stage this spring.

Leading the charge is Converse, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. To mark that milestone, the company is releasing the Converse Century Collection, a line of shoes that honors the brand's popularity in the sports and music worlds.

Other companies are hopping aboard the retro bandwagon as well. Consider the new Nike Elite running shoe, an update of those 1977 classics that today's parents wore when they went to see "Star Wars" or pick up the latest Kiss album back in their day.

Then there's the adidas Forum, the trend-setting 1980s basketball shoe that's celebrating its 25th anniversary with a line of updated looks.

"Retro is definitely the big thing this year," said Aaron Adams, owner of Beau Monde, a sneaker boutique in Gurnee. "People are really into the bright colors of the '80s, for example, and all the shoe companies are bringing that back."

Gnarly! So let's lace up and walk into the past by looking at what's hot in sneakers in 2008.

• Converse, the sneaker brand of choice for such pop culture luminaries as Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Kurt Cobain, is unveiling a load of vintage styles this spring. Included is an old-school gem, the Black Fives Rens 1933 All-Star high-top in black leather. ("Black Fives" were black basketball teams that played in the early 20th century, before basketball was integrated.) Or, if your tastes are more recent, how about the Pro Leather 1976 high top? This shoe was a common sight on NBA courts in the '70s. (1933 All-Star $150, Pro Leather $70, www.converse.com)

• The Nike Elite running shoe was a wardrobe staple in the late 1970s. Nike brings it back this year with an updated look. The shoe includes a nylon-and-suede upper and a rubber sole with that classic waffle tread pattern. ($80, www.nike.com)

• The Forum by adidas was a hit in the basketball and hip-hop worlds when it arrived in 1983. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, adidas has created a series of limited-edition Forums that will be available at select retailers around the country. Here is the Self-Conscious Forum, designed specifically for Self Conscious, a sneaker boutique in the West Loop. Only 500 pairs will be made. ($100, available in April at Self-Conscious in Chicago)

• PF Flyers, the 70-year-old sneaker brand that is now part of the New Balance family, will pay tribute to one of its most famous devotees this year with the release of the Bob Cousy All-American. This simple and timeless low-cut shoe is based on the one Cousy, a star on the great Boston Celtics teams of the late-'50s and early-'60s, wore in 1956. The shoe comes in navy or natural washed canvas, with limited-edition all-green and all-black pairs available. ($60, www.pfflyers.com)

• Adidas Originals unveils the Tournament Edition collection this spring, updating the styles associated with 1970s tennis. The Forest Hills Vintage brings back a shoe that was originally introduced in 1977. This new model debuted exclusively in Barneys stores around the country, including the one in Chicago, but will be available at other retailers this month. ($130, www.shopadidas.com)

• The Air Jordan brand from Nike marks its 23rd anniversary this year, which is a big one, of course, because His Airness wore No. 23 as he led the Chicago Bulls to six glorious championships in the '90s. One of the hot releases from the brand for spring is this AJF5 sneaker. It combines elements of the classic Air Jordan with a black-and-cactus color scheme. ($155, www.jumpman23.com)

Sneakers? What are those?

I've never referred to rubber-soled casual footwear as "sneakers." For me, they've always been "gym shoes."

It turns out that I'm in the minority. According to a dialect survey by linguistic expert Bert Vaux, only about 5.5 percent of survey respondents use "gym shoes" to describe footwear. "Sneakers" is the most popular term, with 45.5 percent of respondents using it. "Tennis shoes" came in a close second, with 41.3 percent.

The survey shows, however, that the few people who say "gym shoes" live in northern Illinois and nearby regions, which explains why I don't get confused looks when I use the term.