Whether you’re a member or an observer of today’s youth culture, you’ll want to know about one of the latest trends in footwear - they’re called Bape shoes. “Bape” is one of those terms bound to puzzle parents, standing for “bathing ape”. My best first guess as to the term’s connotation is that the sneaker designs are wild (as an ape) yet “clean”. That is, the shoes boast bright colors without being too loud and bold designs without being too “busy”. Bape sneakers are also recognized by the shooting star icon that appears in many of the designs. Parents will want to know what these popular shoes are should they appear on their middle or high-schooler’s Christmas list.