THE EVOLUTION OF THE ADIDAS STAN SMITH

adidas Originals, the heritage line of German sportswear giant adidas, has seen recent success in modernizing the brand’s vintage sneaker silhouettes, bringing back styles from the Superstar to the EQT. However, one sneaker in particular has surpassed streetwear circles to become a smash hit in the fashion mainstream - the Stan Smith. Embraced by sneakerheads, fashion bloggers and celebrities alike, the vintage tennis shoe has been credited for sneaker culture’s rise among the masses. In its fifty-year history, the Stan Smith has undergone many style reincarnations - we highlight some of the most iconic.

THE OG

[slider] [---] [/slider] Contrary to its current name, the Stan Smith was originally conceived as a tennis sneaker for French player Robert Haillet. Back then, the shoe already had the iconic silhouette that we know and love, featuring a white leather upper with perforated Three Stripes, rubber outsole and green foam padding at the back. After Haillet’s retirement in 1971, adidas approached American player Stan Smith to be the face and name of the shoe. In 1973, the brand started producing sneakers with Stan Smith’s likeness printed on the tongue, as we see today. After being re-released in 2014, the retro design had its resurgence after Celine’s Phoebe Philo wore it to finish her spring/summer 2015 fashion show, reaching peak fever in the summer 2015. This adidas Originals Stan Smith pays homage to the original design, albeit in a monochromatic colorway accented with gold. Shop Now

THE CF

[slider] [---] [/slider] Since the success of the OG Stan Smith, adidas Originals has experimented with multiple colorways and silhouettes to modernize the vintage sneaker for this century. The CF iteration brings a youthful, back-to-school vibe to the shoe, doing away with laces and replacing them with thick Velcro straps. This minimalist version features an all-black colorway, with a leather upper and embossed branding at the tongue and heel. Shop Now

THE RAF SIMONS COLLABORATION

[slider] [---] [/slider] As the cult classic sneaker of this decade, the Stan Smith has been co-opted by designers looking to give their own spin on the tennis shoe. adidas Originals has partnered up with BAPE founder NIGO, Pharrell’s Billionaire Boys Club label and Hong Kong streetwear retailer JUICE among others to revitalize the Stan Smith. One of its most notable collaborations was with Raf Simons, a prolific designer who has been at the helm of Calvin Klein, Dior and Jil Sander. Aside from creating statement metallic sneakers branded with a perforated “R,” Simons also created this electric blue pair with eye-catching red straps across the top. Shop Now

THE OG PRIMEKNIT

[slider] [---] [/slider] Following the debut of Primeknit technology stateside in 2014, adidas Originals launched a Primeknit version of the Stan Smith just in time for the summer. Featuring a one-piece knit upper, the Primeknit Stan Smith offers a lightweight, breathable and flexible option for those wanting to beat the heat in sneakers. The sneaker in an OG red colorway, with a white upper, tonal rubber sole and red accents on the tongue and heel. Shop Now

THE TONAL PRIMEKNIT

[slider] [---] [/slider] Even though it’s been two years since its relaunch, the Stan Smith is still going strong with new colorways and silhouettes. The Primeknit Stan Smith, a favorite for the hot weather months, has been redesigned with bright tonal colorways this season. adidas Originals’ latest drop features a Stan Smith sneaker crafted in pastel pink Primeknit, finished with tonal laces, soles and branding - bringing color to streetwear ensembles this summer. Shop Now

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