In high school it was a big deal wearing the latest brand sneakers (Air Jordans, Nikes, Adidas, Reebok) unfortunately for me I just wore cheap K-Mart shoes.
Now my high school was in a poor Hispanic/Black community where most of the families are on food stamps and couldn't even afford toilet paper yet they dressed their kids in expensive sneakers.
When I started working I got me some Nikes with my first paycheck thinking I was cool but now that I'm older I could care less for what people see me wearing.