In an era where the hype surrounding a sneaker can often elevate their worth in the market more than the style and comfort of the actual shoe, the term sneakerhead has lost some of its universal meaning. Before everyone was lining up for the latest pair of YEEZYs, there were only a handful of classic sneakers that everyone considered essential to their collection.
Possessing an understanding of the stories and historical anecdotes behind these fundamental styles will lend anyone a greater appreciation for how sneaker culture has evolved over the last few decades, and where it could be going in 2017 and beyond.
Here’s a Highsnobiety-approved, suggested list of ten classic sneakers you should own if you want to call yourself a sneakerhead.
adidas Originals Stan Smith
The original leather version of this silhouette was first introduced in 1963, designed for French tennis player Robert Haillet, before it was rebranded as the 1971 Stan Smith. At the time, Smith was the number-one-ranked tennis player in the world, having just won the US Open at the age of 24. The white leather upper, rubber outsole and signature green adidas "moustache" tab have coalesced to create one of the most recognizable silhouettes ever.
Aside from the shoe's namesake, this Stan Smith's other notable claim to fame is its official listing in the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records, after 22 million pairs were sold worldwide. By 2016, Stan Smith sales surpassed 50 million pairs sold worldwide. The sneaker is still widely available today, and at an affordable price, and has been worn by everyone from A$AP Rocky to David Beckham.
But you don't have to be intimately familiar with the shoe's history in order to wear it. The versatile sneaker has not only put more eyes on tennis footwear in general, but effortlessly bridges the gap between tastemakers and mainstream consumers. As one of the true OGs, and one of the easiest shoes to style, it’s a perfect starting place to start your sneaker collection.
Stan Smith
adidas Originals
Nike Air Max 1
Originally released in 1987, the Air Max 1 was a Tinker Hatfield-design, inspired by the Centres George Pompidou in Paris. The center’s inside-out design was a chief motivation in Hatfield coming up with the shoe's revolutionary design, which features the first instance of visible Air Max cushioning underneath the foam of the midsole. The exposed air unit gave birth to the Air Max 90, Air Max 95, Air Max 97 and many other Air Max iterations, and even paving the way for 2017's VaporMax.
The Air Max also earns top marks for comfort, and the OG red-and-white silhouette is a standout that will catch any sneakerhead’s attention. The Air Max was also the shoe that helped commercialize the Nike brand, catalysing global interest in the American imprint. The Air Max 1 “Revolution” commercial, soundtracked by The Beatles, featuring John McEnroe, Bo Jackson, and Michael Jordan, remains one of the most iconic ads ever.
Air Max 1 Ultra Air Max Day
Nike
Nike Flyknit Racer
Nike spent over a decade conducting research on Flyknit technology, creating numerous sample reiterations before introducing the Flyknit Racer in 2012. As a successor to Nike’s Flywire technology, in the same year, Nike introduced the Flyknit Trainer followed by the Flyknit Chukka in 2013. But the Racer arguably remains the most popular of the early Flyknit iterations, and the sneaker was named by Time Magazine in 2012 as one of the best inventions in the world, alongside other inventions including the Curiosity Rover and Google Glass.
Many great versions exist - including the "Oreo," "Multicolor," and the recently released "Be True" Racers - but beyond the colorways, the Flyknit Racer belongs here for its performance qualities. The Racer, and Flyknit technology in general, were inspired by feedback from runners who wanted a shoe with the qualities of a sock, or, as Tony Bignell, VP of footwear innovation at Nike, said: “Runners want performance without any distractions.” The Racer achieved just that. Flyknit technology was a headline Nike story at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, worn by medalists Ashton Eaton, Trey Hardee and Mo Farah. Performance-wise, the Flyknit Racer has received largely unanimous positive reviews, and has inspired the rise of other knitted textiles like adidas Primeknit and PUMA EvoKnit.
Flyknit Racer
Nike
Nike Air Jordan III
The Jordan 1 will always be the OG, but the subsequent Jordan III is arguably the most beloved Jordan silhouette of all-time. Worn by Michael Jordan during the 1988 season, it remains an iconic Jordan iteration, with the perfect backstory to match. After the release of his first two signature sneakers, Jordan’s contract was up for renegotiation, and His Airness was not entirely impressed by what the company had done so far.
In stepped Tinker Hatfield, who consulted and listened to Jordan’s feedback on what he wanted his third signature shoe to look like and feel. At the presentation meeting, Hatfield unveiled the much anticipated Jordan III, featuring the now-iconic "Elephant" pattern, and the visible Nike Air bubble. Jordan was thoroughly impressed with Hatfield’s design, and the rest, as they say, is history. In short, the Jordan III is an essential to any sneakerhead’s collection, and has become an undisputed streetwear staple.
Air Jordan III Retro OG
Jordan
Vans Sk8-Hi
The Sk8-Hi is a skateboard mainstay that was originally introduced by Vans in 1978, as just the second model with the famous Sidestripe logo. The sneaker singlehandedly brought a brand new aesthetic to skate parks everywhere, and remains an iconic look for any skateboarder, from amateurs to pros. Today, many skateboarders and BMXers still prefer the Sk8-Hi, as well as sneakerheads.
The Sk8-Hi's signature silhouette, featuring added ankle protection, was quite revolutionary in that it represented the first high-top skate shoe. It's not an overstatement to say that this pair of sneakers is the symbol of an entire culture. It also stands out for its simplicity and affordability, which - given some of the over-the-top sneaker designs today - still makes the Sk8-Hi (and it's low-top counterpart the Old Skool) a breath of fresh air almost 50 years since its debut.
Sk8-Hi
Vans
Converse All Star Chuck Taylor
Today, the most coveted basketball sneakers are signature shoes from athletes; Jordans, LeBrons, Kobes, KDs, and the list goes on. But the true OG basketball sneaker that every sneakerhead has surely owned at one point or another? That would be the Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor, a style that was first produced in 1917, and the first mass produced basketball shoe in North America.
The Chuck Taylor has eventually re-positioned from just an affordable basketball sneaker to a fashion statement, which has been adopted by subcultures around the world. Throughout the years, the style became a favorite of punk rock bands like the Ramones, skateboarders, off-duty celebrities, and many more There have been many iterations since the original launch - including the more recent '70s Chuck Taylor with updated construction - but a classic pair of "Parchment" high-top Chucks is a necessary tentpole sneaker for any collection.
1970s Chuck Taylor Sneakers
Converse
Nike Air Jordan 1
The Air Jordan 1s have, over time, become streewear’s definitive sneaker. It is one of the most iconic silhouettes of all-time, and its original "Chicago" colorway versions are among the most respected sneakers today. The very first black-and-red colorway, better known for its “Banned” nickname, has been embraced as part of sneaker folklore for the NBA’s banning of the shoe. Nike capitalized on the controversy, and crafted an advertising campaign around the narrative, which made the shoe a massive hit during Michael Jordan’s first season in the NBA, helping the company net over $130 million by the end of 1985.
Much like the Chuck Taylor, the shoe has penetrated several subcultures over the years, from skateboarders to ‘80s rock to hip-hop artists. In 1985, as Jordan 1s restocked and sat on shelves for $20, the skateboarding community gravitated towards the sneaker and made it their go-to affordable shoe option. It should be noted too that the SB Dunk shares a lot of the same aesthetic quality as the Jordan 1s, and the simply designed silhouette makes it easily wearable on and off the court. Today, with subsequent popular colorways that have followed, including the "Black Toe" and "Royal," everyone from Jay Z to Kanye West to Kendrick Lamar has been spotted rocking a pair of the 1s over the years. Before you go searching for the Infrared 6s, the Space Jam 11s, and all the other coveted Jordans, begin with the pair that started it all.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG
Jordan
PUMA Suede
Originally released in 1968, not many sneakers can content with the PUMA Suede's comfortably stylish design and historical relevance. With ties to legendary Knicks guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the Suede's signature silhouette was tweaked slightly to create the Clyde, the first shoe named after a basketball player, which was rumored to sell 2 million pairs in its first year.
The PUMA Suede also holds cultural importance as an essential piece of early hip-hop and b-boy fashion. It was the perfect shoe for the type of crisp and clean look that was coveted by emcees and breakers alike. At the same time, it also became the sneaker of choice for football casuals in the UK. The shoe also rose to cultural prominence when Olympian Tommie Smith unlaced his pair of Suedes before taking the podium at the 1968 Olympics, after securing the gold medal in the 200 meters. Smith joined fellow American Olympic medalist John Carlos in raising his black-gloved fist as a show of defiance, strength, and solidarity for the Black Power movement.
It is an iconic sportswear sneaker, and while it does not entirely carry the same hype and universal recognition as the Jordan 1 or the Chuck Taylor, the PUMA Suede is just as important, and belongs as an essential sneaker in any respectable collection.
Suede Classic+
PUMA
Nike Air Force 1
An icon by any measure of the word, the Air Force 1 - designed by Bruce Kilgore in 1982 - was the first basketball shoe to implement Nike’s revolutionary Air technology, and one of the first basketball shoes to utilize durable cup soles. Kilgore was inspired by the Notre Dame cathedral when it came to brainstorming about how to angle the wide midsole of the shoe, but not only that, the design even inspired Tinker Hatfield and got him interested in shoe design. In a way, the Air Force 1 was not only a classic sneaker in its own right, but it also served as inspiration for other essential shoes that have landed on this list. The shoe also lays claim to being the best-selling athletic shoe in history.
Today, the Air Force 1 is celebrating its 35th birthday, and remains one of the most popular sneaker models around, as evident through collaborations with relevant names including Supreme, Virgil Abloh, and ACRONYM. Outside of collaborations, the shoe is celebrated as a forebearer of sneaker culture, and even earned the nickname of "Uptowns" in Harlem, a neighborhood which has picked the Air Force 1 as their patron sneaker saint. And if that’s not enough, name another sneaker that Nelly has dedicated an entire song to.
Air Force 1 '07
Nike
Common Projects Original Achilles Low
Almost every sneakerhead eventually has the urge to really splurge on a pair of shoes, just to say they did it. As far as wardrobe essentials in this vein, are plenty of worse choices out there than the Common Projects Original Achilles Low, the holy grail of luxury plain white low-top sneakers. These shoes will cost you over $400, but it’s also a pair that you can wear on an everyday basis for many different occasions. It is best described as smart and dignified like a dress shoe, but one that doesn’t make you look like a suburban bank clerk. Plus, years ago it was one of the very first to broaden the market for luxury sneakers.
The marketing of the shoe also runs counter to everything that’s happening in sneaker culture today, as Common Projects doesn't run advertising campaigns, or rely on seeding, gifting of products or influencer marketing. Responsible for creating many, many designs that imitate the low-top silhouette, the shoe is the height of the minimalistic shoe design. Rarely has a $400 sneaker felt more like a shoe for the everyman.
Original Achilles Low
Common Projects
In case you were wondering why people wear different sizes across different models and brands, watch the video below.
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