4. Kurt Cobain — Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

When: Early '90s

Where: Hanging Out

Before it became some symbol of the counterculture, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star was just a sneaker. And before that it was THE sneaker. It's important to remember that lots of symbols started as something else, something more practical. Flannel was big in the Pacific Northwest because it's chilly and there's a long history of outdoor activity and logging. All Stars were cheap and disposable. And sometimes icons don't become icons until after they're gone.