If I were to describe myself, I’d say I am a creature of habit. I tend to find something I like—be it a breakfast food, skincare staple or sunglass shape—and stick to it. Though there is no greater example of this personality trait than my love of Adidas Stan Smith sneakers.
It all started in 2015 when, as if over night, every editor in my office was wearing the white tennis shoe. As if a collective decision was made by the fashion community, suddenly everyone from journalists to designers and models had swapped their sky-high stilettos for this run-of-the-mill, relatively affordable sneaker. (At the time, its only rival seemed to be the equally-popular Gucci fur-lined loafer. Oh, who could forget those?)
From dresses to jeans, I pair my Stans Smiths with just about everything. Originally released in the 1960s as a tennis shoe, the sneakers were rebranded in 1978 as a homage to the famed American tennis player, Stan Smith. Adding to the shoe, Adidas emblazoned the player’s name on the heel tab and added a portrait of his face to the shoe’s tongue. However, according to Complex, the shoe’s resurgence in popularity that occurred in 2015 had nothing to do with the sneaker’s namesake at all. The story goes that in order to reignite demand for the style, in 2014 Adidas set out to get Stan Smiths on the feet of fashion-forward individuals such as former Celine creative director Phoebe Philo. The brand then hoped this would create a trickle-down effect with early adopters purchasing the shoe before it gained mainstream demand. Evidently, the marketing tactic worked precisely as planned, as in the following years everyone from Victoria Beckham to Marc Jacobs, Kendall Jenner to Zendaya has been spotted in a pair. And is it any wonder? They’re affordable, they’re comfortable and they are versatile enough to pair with everything from dresses to jeans. Keep scrolling to see celebrities and fashion folk in the shoe and shop the classic staple below.
