The sound of jovial conversation, cozy lights emanating from warm living rooms, and a sprinkling of immaculate white snow in the street. It’s another perfect holiday season in the neighborhood. This year, though, a new family is moving in and they’re a little more… chaotic (in the best way). You’ve heard whispers of them in the local grocery shop. Apparently, there are six of them; they embody decades of counterculture, and they love shoes. Their name? The Vans.
You may have heard of them already…Nettspend, Tony Alva, Bella Poarch, Zion Wright, Junior Gutiérrez, Efron Danzig, Marz Lovejoy, and Cali DeWitt are the Vans. This eclectic group represents every facet of contemporary culture, mirroring Vans' unparalleled cultural cache. And that’s no easy feat. Counting iconic and time-tested models like the Authentic, Old Skool, and Slip-On alongside burgeoning new iterations such as the Mary Jane, Knu Skool, and Super Lowpro, there’s a pair of Vans for every rotation, and the Vans family is here to prove it.
Take The Vans Authentic. This silhouette has been there since the beginning. Born in 1966, the shoe represents complete timelessness while remaining an icon in the world of skating. In classic tartan, it falls effortlessly in line with Tony Alva’s life; it’s fitting that one of the early pioneers of skateboarding still opts for the kicks he’s been doing it in since the ‘70s. At the same time, the multi-disciplinary Marz Lovejoy brings a refreshed energy to the staple shoe, while skater Zion Wright turns to a bold cable-knit iteration, new for the holiday season, that fuses its skateboarding roots with a fresh, modern edge.
Nettspend’s new-wave punk aesthetic blends easily with the Slip-On, too; With added pearls for the holiday season, they’re a monochromatic match made in heaven. For Bella Poarch, the Mary Jane Creeper is a go-to. Feminine but with a distinctive edge, the silhouette looks to a platform sole unit, red leather uppers, and a heavy silver-tone buckle to reinvent the versatile Vans shape.
One of the latest arrivals to the Vans family, the Super Lowpro sits comfortably on the feet of Efron Danzig. Few in the public eye distill the term "multi-hyphenate" like the skater-turned-front-page face. From skating to poetry to modeling, Danzig defies categorization. The lightweight and adaptable Super Lowpro is a natural choice: as comfortable on a board as in daily fits, it offers adaptability in spades with its modern styling inspired by Vans' legacy.
No Vans family is complete without the Old Skool. Since the ’70s, this inimitable design has been a favorite that appeals across the spectrum. Always part of the underground, but with major success to match, Cali DeWitt has a portfolio to rival the insane reach of the Old Skool. Carrying the torch for the new school, pro-skater Junior Gutierrez brings youthful energy to this iconic silhouette by opting for a pair decorated with pearls to the toebox.
From seasoned icons to rising stars, the Vans family is all about diversity. Fresh embellishment breathes new life into classics ready to spread Off the Wall cheer. So when you sit down with your loved ones this holiday season, remember to raise a glass to the Vans family.
Head to vans.com to discover the latest lineage in sneaker lore.
