Vans’ Houndstooth Slip-Ons are Very Dapper
The Vans Slip-On is an affordable, simple pair of canvas sneakers. The Vans Premium Slip-On LX Reissue 98 Houndstooth, however, is a luxe pair of textured knitted steppers.
Launched earlier this year, Vans Premium is Vans’ upscale line, taking the skateboarding brand's rich heritage and repackaging it in new, high-end executions. And its latest move involves one of the label's certified classic sneakers.
The dapper-looking slip-ons come in a new textured finish with a knitted houndstooth fabric covering the front of the shoe and the heel (not the first time that Vans has opted for knitted materials, it's recently decked out skate shoes in engineered knit fabric and a crochet-like finish).
Where there isn’t knitted fabric on the upper of the sneakers, the shoe continues the luxe theme with high-end leather.
This re-issued and luxury-fied sneaker is available now from select retailers such as Slam Jam with a retail price of $95 (only $10 more than a standard pair of Vans Slip-On LX Reissue 98s!).
Houndstooth patterns are associated with old-school tailoring more than rugged skate shoes making these houndstooth sneakers yet another recent example where Vans has pushed its vulcanized skate shoes into new territory.
This new release arrives fresh off the bat from Vans creating luxe Mary Jane skate shoes and an experimental hybrid design that patchworked five sneakers into one. Plus, it recently unveiled a Proenza Schouler collaboration that turned the Vans’ slip-on very puffy and very high-end.
Vans Premium is one of two recently launched high-end lines created by the classic American footwear company, the other being Vans OTW. And, together, their consistent output of headline-worthy sneakers is bringing Vans a new lease of life.
