The Vans Slip on

The shoe I can’t seem to shake..

As I swim through a sea of Jordans, New Balance, new collabs, and other footwear trends I find myself coming back to one shoe. The Vans slip on. 

These champions of canvas have been one of my top footwear choices since my youth, when I thought I was a misunderstood and oppressed white suburban teen listening to the day’s emo music on my I pod video. I don’t know what it is about these shoes that makes me so drawn to them. Maybe it’s the ease of the slip on, or maybe I’m on my earth day shit and wearing the animal friendly canvas makes me feel like I am doing my part for my vegan friends, orrr maybe it’s the fact that I watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High almost everyday one summer and I thought Jeff Spicoli was awesome and the shoe reminds me of that character and the memories of that summer are still seared into my brain.  And yes, I do think they look good with a variety of sick pants. 

I of course have a deep appreciation for the role Jordan’s played in popular culture but as I look around nowadays guys that are wearing J’s are the same guy that gives off the “ I wear my sunglasses upside down on the brim of my hat energy”. It’s kind of like a reminder of Jordan’s Wizards years. Jordan didn’t win 6 rings for that to happen. I do love how New Balance is making its mark again in sneaker culture (shout out to Baltimore where the 990s always reigned supreme) but I am a size 13 and a pair of gray 993s look like literal cinder blocks attached to my ankles no matter how wide the pants. And let’s not get started on the On and Hoka trend…

No matter how much Blackbird Spyplane and their unbeatable recon I read, I am still not at a level on my personal style journey where I feel like I pull off a pair of hard soles outside of a formal function. So the simplicity of the slip ons still pull me in. You might be reading this and think that there are far better jawns out there to cop. I know that. The vans slip on is not the only sneaker I wear. I am always searching for that next crisp pair to rock. 

Look, I know that the vans slip on might make me look like a guy who “kind of knows how to skate” and maybe you’re right. But Dammit! I don’t care!  No matter what fashion trend comes around The vans slip on will always be my shoe. I always come back to them.