Why Slip-On Vans Are the Hottest Shoe Trend of Summer 2024

Welcome to Reality Check: a new regular feature from ELLE fashion editors that asks: how well do the season's biggest trends really work in the wild? This week, we're taking a look at Vans' comeback this summer.

In the latest installment of “Teen Trends Making a Comeback,” Vans seem to be quickly becoming the summer shoe of choice on the fashion scene. No, this isn't a drill: It's officially time to dust off those emo-era slip-ons of yore and add them back into your wardrobe.

We know that nostalgia has been at the top of the fashion agenda for some time now – capri pants, ballet shoes, bag charms, polo shirts, cute hair bows and all things Y2K are practically mandatory today – but since then Rishi Sunak single-handedly took away the Sambas' reputation on the streets, creating a real gap in the market for comfortable, everyday footwear with retro appeal. This is where Vans' classic checkerboard slip-ons come in: as versatile, comfortable, simple and timeless as the legendary Adidas sneakers, but with an irresistible skater touch from the 2000s.

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Since they were recently spotted on Emily Ratajkowski, Sofia Richie, the Olsens and Renggli designer Morgan Stewart McGraw, interest in the shoes has skyrocketed. Google searches for the classic checkerboard styles have increased 5,000% in the past 90 days, while on TikTok, the number of videos dedicated to the trend exceeds 41.6 million. And further proof of Vans' moment in the style spotlight is the brand's collaboration with Proenza Schouler: a modern, luxe reinterpretation of the iconic slip-on that appeared online just last month.

Vans x Proenza Schouler Puffy Slip-On Shoes

Vans x Proenza Schouler Puffy Slip-On Shoes

Vans x Proenza Schouler Puffy Slip-On Shoes

Vans Classic Slip-Ons first appeared in 1977 and have been synonymous with SoCal cool and youth culture ever since, reaching cult status thanks in large part to Sean Penn's rebellious role in the film “The 1982.” I think I'm standing in the forestAnd while longtime advocates of the indie sleaze aesthetic like Kristen Stewart, Olivia Wilde, Gwen Stefani, and Avril Lavigne have been sporting their slip-ons regularly for decades now, the rest of us have most likely only enjoyed a brief flirtation with the style.

“I had a huge crush on Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy when I was in high school. To look like his then-wife Ashlee Simpson, I wore my pink and black checkerboard Vans, a Punkyfish t-shirt (such a retro look), and a ridiculously swept side pony,” remembers Natalie Zannikos. ELLE UKSenior Fashion Coordinator of . “I remember wearing them so many times that they had a hole in them, listening to Panic! At The Disco and Avril Lavigne on my hot pink iPod Nano. Those were the days!”

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If this sounds familiar, you probably have your own pair of slightly battered and faded Vans that have been sitting untouched in a long-forgotten corner of your closet since your youth. But now that they've finally gone from subversive to stylish, it's high time to bring them out again – albeit with some 2024 updates.

Vans Classic Checkerboard Sneakers

Vans Classic Slip-Vi Sneakers

Vans – Classic Slip Sneakers

With their exaggerated proportions and fine leather finish, the Proenza-Vans collaboration slip-ons pair perfectly with the oversized, quiet-luxe silhouettes, crisp shirts and airy linen pieces that dominate this season.

Or if you'd rather recycle your old classics (or trade them in for a brand new pair), take inspiration from Sofia Richie, Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Bieber and pair them with casual light-wash jeans, a t-shirt, sunglasses and the trendiest designer bag. You can even take the shoes up a notch with skater-girl associations and pair them with the long denim shorts that are ubiquitous in summer – just be sure to add a contrasting elevated element to avoid going overboard.

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If you're ready to dive headfirst back into your former self, Vans can provide the perfect finishing touch to a full-on Y2K look. “Since Vans are so synonymous with a certain era, why not embrace all those stereotypical clothing cliches?” says Zannikos. “I'm going to do an updated version of Y2K and pair mine now with low-slung denim that just hits the hips, a baby t-shirt, and wraparound sunglasses.”

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