Every skateboarder has his own individual style. What was/is a great shoe for a skater in Orange County, CA is not necessarily the hot shoe for a skater in Germany, Australia, or Japan. Sure, there’s been a lot of global carry-over for trends in skate shoes, and these are covered here, but in all honesty there can never be an all-time list for something like this. But because we do lists around here and because we want to push a few buttons, we hit up Brian Jones, a skateboarder, brand guy, and a writer who has been in the industry for years on all sides of the game, obsessing and bleeding skateboarding since 1985. Jones tapped a few of skateboarding's greats to assist in narrowing down this list a bit better and have it be as unbiased as possible. Take a gander and reminisce to what was a great shoe for you, what you wished would have just went away as fast as it came, and what has stood the test of time. Click on the tumbnails above for The 50 Greatest Skateboard Shoes of All Time.
Snoop Dogg Joins BadBadNotGood, Kaytranada in Clown-Filled "Lavender" VideoBeyoncé Surprises an L.A. Dance Troupe and They Lose ItEd Sheeran's '÷' Leads Billboard 200 Chart With Biggest Debut of 2017Watch Nicki Minaj Join Drake on the Boy Meets World TourCheck Out Kamiyada, an Explosive DMV Rapper Inspired By Punk Rock and Heavy MetalInterview: Allen Iverson Didn't Get an NBA Jersey Until He Was in the NBAAfter Beating Depression, Emerging British Teen Model Uses Social Media to Discuss Societal IssuesHere's What It Was Like To Be At Rihanna's Biggest Fashion Show YetLivestream Rihanna's Fenty Puma Fashion Show in ParisPROMO: Check Out H&M’s Spring Icons Collection, Curated by The Weeknd!'Breaking Bad' Is Now a 2-Hour Movie After Fans Spent Years Recutting Entire SeriesCatching Up With the Stars of TNT’s ‘Animal Kingdom’ at Their SXSW ActivationKim Kardashian Sobs as She Tells Sisters About Paris Robbery: 'I Saw the Gun'John Oliver Buys More TV Ads to Inform Trump of Trumpcare's Sh*ttiness'Game of Thrones' Producers Say the Final Season Will Be Its ShortestJoel Embiid Shoots His Shot at Rihanna Again
: 'I Love You'Charles Barkley Rips Donald Trump for Not Filling Out NCAA Tournament BracketLakers General Manager Rob Pelinka Reportedly Spoke to Kobe Bryant About Helping the TeamNets Honor The Notorious B.I.G. With 'Biggie Night'Former Rams Player William Hayes Says He Was Traded to Dolphins for 'Stapler and a Coffee Machine'Rumor: 'Black Cat' and 'Katrina' Air Jordan 3s Releasing in 2017Introducing the Nike Hyperdunk 2017The Nike Air Zoom Talaria Is Ready for the SummerAn Understated Adidas NMD in Khaki BrownThis Is the Weirdest Adidas Ultra Boost YetThis Bugatti 'Super Yacht' Might Be the Most Baller Sh*t EverVideo of California Cop Beating Man and Pulling Gun Now Under InvestigationWatch This Teacher Rap About the Civil War Over Migos' "Bad and Boujee"Republican Congressman Blasted for Tweet That Appears to Support White NationalismNew Footage in the Michael Brown Case Raises Questions About Officers' ClaimsVans have been a classic staple within the skating community for years, but like many iconic fashion pieces, they’ve found a way to slip into the mainstream.
In this handy guide, we’ll show you some of the various ways you can make these shoes work for you, no matter what your style is. Read more Men’s Style Guide features. Contents1 Vans Slip Ons What to Wear With Vans Slip Ons2 Vans Old Skool What to Wear With Vans Old Skool3 Vans Sk8-Hi What to Wear With Vans Sk8-Hi4 Vans Authentic What to Wear With Vans Authentic5 Socks to Wear with Vans Pattern and Vibrant Plain and Simple6 Alternatively, Customise Your Vans7 How to Wear Vans8 On That Note Let’s start with the basic design and one that became the uniform for skater kids around the US. With their iconic shape, versatile look and comfortable finish, they’re the perfect addition to any casual outfit. Grab them in plain, minimalist designs, patterned numbers or the classic checkboard pattern designed by Steve Van Doran. With so many looks on offer, it’s easy to customise the look to suit you. The beauty of the Vans slip-on is that they are the model with ease.
Easy-going to throw on the last minute rush and essentially easy to dress up and dress down, the slip-on can become an ultimate addition for your wardrobe. For us at Idle HQ, we like to pair our slip-ons with more of a relaxed, yet contemporary look. While the shoe is minimal in design detail keep your outfit consistently the same. For this, when opting for the classic black slip-on take advantage of pairing it with neutral tones for a muted look. To build the look, throw on longline t-shirt and a pair of Levi’s jeans. This outfit is the definition of comfort and evidently easy to layer throughout the colder seasons. The ‘Old Skool‘ style is a slightly chunkier plimsoll with leather and suede detailing and a thick gum sole. Unlike more casual styles, the Old Skool, with a distinctly retro feel, can be dressed up a little more than most Vans footwear. Known as the first Vans shoe to feature the iconic side (or ‘jazz’ stripe) that has become so synonymous with the Vans sneaker today.
The classic black Old Skool is probably the most iconic model from the Vans archive. A classic for skating and BMX scene it was also adopted by figureheads of punk rock. Despite its distinct look, there are actually quite a few ways you can style these classic Vans. Its unique style means that whatever you dress it up or down in, you’ll always have a look that stands out from the crowd and will never be boring no matter what you match it with. Easy to partner with a pair of ankle socks, the Old Skool is the staple shoe to the Vans clang. For a modern look with an extra bit of comfort, dress up your Old Skools with a Yeezy inspired look. Opting for the seasonal favourite the camel overcoat, layer your outfit with a classic black hoodie and matching joggers. When picking out the joggers, Make sure they have the elastic on the ankle so the trainers sit without being gathered. If the look feels a bit too casual for you, spruce up your Old Skools with a comfortable charcoal trouser.
Keeping with the monochrome colourway of the classic model, keep your outfit versatile throughout the seasons with a white t-shirt and a denim jacket. This outfit is a timeless look in our books and is guaranteed to keep your Old Skools centre of attention. With a padded collar, thick gum sole and suede detailing, Vans version of the high top – the SK8-Hi – is great if you are looking for comfort and style. Designed specifically for skaters looking for support and durability, the sneaker made its way into punk rock in the late ’70s – a testament to its classic style and enduring appeal. Adapted from the ‘Old Skool’ style, the sk8-hi incorporates a thick rubber sole and retro-inspired suede detailing down the side of the shoe. The ankle padding on the high top makes them more of a casual option than the traditional trainer shoe, making them an ideal option for less formal outings and lazy days. They’re a bold choice of footwear and aren’t always the easiest shoes to dress up.
However, keeping your outfit neutral allows the shoes to do the talking and can be worn for a number of occasions. The easiest way to achieve a casual look with the SK8-Hi’s is to adapt to more of a Scandinavian look – which is essentially is relaxed yet tailored. To keep the look minimal, we sometimes like to opt for all white (or all black) Sk8-Hi. With its high-top quilted colour, go for a boxy look to give your outfit a modern edge. The model is named authentic for a reason. Being the staple trainer since day one of Van’s history, the Authentic model is a nostalgic classic pair for any sneakerhead. Worn and praised by surfers and skaters since 1966, it’s still one of the most popular models today. With its low rise design, visible stitching and rubber classic white sole – the Authentic is easy to curate for any style, essentially making it a timeless shoe to Van’s timeline. The shoe itself has revolutionised through the years and is still going strong in sales today.
With an endless list of collaborations under its lace, there is no wonder to why the model is a favourite for Editors at The Idle Man. Due to the authentic’s simplistic look, don’t be afraid to play around with layers and textures. Spruce up your Vans with a classic white oxford shirt and wide leg chino. Roll up the hems to elevate the low-rise of the trainer, essentially providing a blank space to play around with socks of your choice. Smarten you outfit further with our Editors favourite, the western jacket. Opting for the suede design creates a variety of textures in your look, perfect for the transitional periods of the year. To sock or not to sock? That is the question and a tricky one at that. You’re caught in limbo between wanting to embrace the warmer weather and going sock-free but risking serious odour issues, or opting for socks and possibly suffering the same sweaty fate. With the classic Old Skool’s retro look, opting for the right sock shouldn’t leave you too limited.
Ideal to pair with shorts, we like to opt for striped designs with colour ways including black or white. Additionally, playing around with vibrant colours creates a nostalgic look, channelling the skate culture of the 1980’s. Apart from Old Skool, this look is great for other low rise models such as Authentic, Era and Slip-On – sprucing up any pair of shorts. If wacky socks aren’t for you, don’t be afraid to go for the safety of plain. If you are wanting to create a more premium look we always recommend opting for Leath Vans. Available in every model, leather provides the contemporary edge, perfect to pair with any minimalistic outfit. When it comes to choosing your plain socks, brands such as Dickies have got you covered. With upper Jacquard detail and logo under the foot, you can still add a bit of colour to your ankles – especially when up keeping the influence of skate culture to your look. Alternatively, if you want to go full-frontal plain, then opting for classic white or black socks will also do the job for your look.
If wearing your brand-spanking new Vans isn’t enough, don’t be afraid to customise on the blank canvas. Since 1966, Skate and biking culture don’t colour within the lines – especially for their decks or their footwear. For what makes Vans popular is that they are all about individuality and expression, and they’ve been championed for their wide scope when it comes to prints and colour ways. Since the ’90s, it’s been possible to tweak your Vans sneakers from something as simple and changing the colour of the canvas, to adding patterns to the edge of the gum sole to printing Disney characters onto the shoe. Alternatively, a DIY approach takes individuality to a whole new level. To make their mark on their sneakers, Van’s devotees have painted, scribbled and tie-dyed their shoes in a bid to inject their own personality and style into their apparel. You can also try a less permanent take on expression by simply trying out different lacing techniques. There is a range to try out, including diamond, straight lace, ladder and checkerboard to name a few.