We’re Calling It: Checkered Vans Are the 2024 It Shoe

13.03.2024, 22:42 fashionmagazine.com

Morgan Stewart McGraw wore checkered Vans, so we wore checkered Vans.

The It shoe of 2024 is here, and chances are you’ve probably seen it at your local skatepark. After the Adidas Samba reigned supreme for most of 2022 and 2023, with the retro soccer shoe popping up everywhere Hailey Bieber’s feet to fashion campaigns, the It shoe of 2024 is similarly athletic, but with a twist — it doesn’t have any laces. We’re calling it: Checkered Vans are going to be *thee* shoe of 2024.

And no, you haven’t been transported to an alternate universe. Don’t believe us? Just check out the TikTok FYP of any fashion girly who follows Morgan Stewart McGraw.

Videos of Vans slip-ons have been slowly but surely trickling out since the Renggli designer and former Nightly Pop host casually wore hers on social media, and the vibe for her followers has been, well, this:

On March 7, McGraw shared more photos of herself in her checkered Vans, letting everyone know, via the caption, that she’s “been on this drip for a minute.” And we have to say, we’re fully on board (get it?).

For those who grew up outside of Southern California, Vans have become synonymous with a laid back way of life. Founded in Anaheim, California in 1966, the brand’s sneakers were originally worn by skateboarders, who liked the shoes’ rugged fabrication and sticky sole (one can assume, perfect for sticking to a board while attempting a flip trick). In 1977, the Classic Slip-Ons (the checkered slip-ons we’ve come to know and covet) were released, gaining international attention in 1982 when Sean Penn wore them in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Since entering the mainstream in the 1980s, the shoes have been in and out of trend, seen on celebs like Kristen Stewart while remaining ubiquitous, you know, skaters.

And we are thrilled with this style development. While a pivot to checkered Vans as the It shoe of 2024 may initially feel surprising, it’s really the next logical step in our shoe evolution, with comfort and streetwear being prioritized in fashion in recent years. Not to mention the fact that with forces like Matilda Djerf, Ganni and Copenhagen style influencing the streets of our non-Scandi cities, these funky slip-ons fit perfectly into the aesthetic many fashion girlies have been trying to achieve. (Imagine pairing them with a your fave midi-skirt and a pair of red socks!! Ca-ute.)

Of course, Stewart McGraw is far from the first person to rock checkered Vans, but she is a notable Fashion Person to pair them with a more elevated look and get the attention of her loyal followers. Still, you can’t help but giggle a little at the notion of calling such a shoe a future It shoe, because “non-fashion” people and skaters (including skateboarding legend Tony Hawk himself) have been donning Vans for years. While those who actually need to use the soles for gripping onto a board may be rolling their eyes as the fashion folks come around to the charm of these comfy slip-ons, there is another bonus to the checkered Vans renaissance: the price point.

With people dishing out hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars to get their hands on the latest shoe trends, it’s kind of refreshing to have an It shoe at a relatively affordable price point. The Classic Slip-On Checkerboard Shoe currently retails for a cool $75 on Vans Canada, which means we just have to forego a few weeks of daily lattes and we’ll be stomping the sidewalks (or hitting up our local skate park) in style. Not to mention the fact that they’re the perfect shoe for fulfilling our tween skater girl dreams, all without having to actually step on a board — cue Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.”

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