SZA's Bespoke Diamond Vans Sneakers Are Out of CTRL
It's only right that SZA's first fashion week as the new artistic director of Vans came with a pair of custom sneakers that clearly took a couple laps around the jewelry store. SZA, who became the skatewear brand's first-ever artistic director in August, attended Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2026 menswear runway show wearing a pair of custom Vans sneakers created by New York-based jewelry designer Rachel Goatley.
The bespoke sneaker features real gemstones, including pearls, diamonds, sapphire, and amethyst with "VANSZA" engraved on the custom enamel lace lock. Nary a detail was spared on this sublime sneaker, With even the laces dressed with miniature adornments.
See, this isn't your standard studded sneaker, of which Vans has plenty of. This is real-deal fine footwear jewelry expressed through a super sick skate shoe. Certified shredder? Undoubtedly so. Potential family heirloom? Also yes.
In addition to spearheading campaigns and designing sneakers of her own, SZA’s new post is also shinning a light on emerging female designers like jewelry designer Goatley, bringing them into the fold to help design special shoes.
So, when it comes to 1-of-1 Vans sneakers, SZA is not afraid to get a little funky with it. Or a lot funky, depending on how you feel about hybrid cowboy boots.
Following the announcement of her new role at Vans in August, SZA gussied up a pair of Knu Skool sneakers with a leather Cowboy boot vamp. As far as hybrid shoes go, SZA's western-chic sneaker boot (snoot?) is weird on purpose, as she specified that the shoe was intended to be "so ugly that they're great.”
Her custom iced-out sneakers, however, are more overtly beautiful, but there is an invaluably kitschy contrast in a typically rigged skate shoe adorned with some of the most precious gems on the market. In addition to her custom pair of sneakers, SZA is also enlisting Goatley’s (literal) charm to create some equally studded Old Skool 36 and Authentic 44 sneakers. Vans’ most classic shoes, seemingly made with gemologist in mind.
This juxtaposition is the exact type of contrast SZA has built her signature sound around. It's only natural that this would spill out onto her footwear pursuits as well. Not-so-normal shoes for a not-so-normal girl.
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