There’s no doubt that the Stan Smith is one of the most legendary trainers there’s ever been. The signature minimalism of the lace trainer — with the white leather upper and lines of punctured holes for breathability instead of the usual adidas Three Stripes — has been a mainstay since it was invented in the 60s and a must for any wardrobe. Now, a new campaign, that sees the latest evolution of the Stan Smith’s signature codes for a fresh generation, pairs the iconic trainer with Blue Version – adidas’ fashion-forward and glamorous streetwear apparel collection. Set in the grand 70s-era elegance of The Standard Hotel in London, the stunning photographs showcase the way the trainer, now available in two new iterations, can traverse time to seamlessly invade the world of luxury.
In one photograph, a model sits on a pristine poster bed in a black glittering track jacket and matching baggy shorts, resting their feet on the leather upholstery in the Stan Smith Recon — a simple and sleek offering like the original, but chunkier and even cleaner in its minimalism to make it more contemporary. In another, a model wears a sequined vivid blue bodysuit with sheer sleeves and low-rise y2k trousers that pair perfectly with the daring energy of the Millencon. This bold and distinct evolution of the footwear has a sportier, chunkier build with a stand out wave design and a metallic glean to branding that is as futuristically retro as the sofa the model lounges upon.
The Blue Version takes the world of luxury and the traditional rules of what that entails and turns it on its head. Fitting then, it should be partnered with the Stan Smith, a trainer that has been invading and subverting the celebrity and fashion communities for decades.
The first ever adidas tennis shoe was originally named in 1963 after the French international tennis player Robert Halliet. With Robert’s retirement in the 70s, and the sportswear brand seeking to ground itself within American culture, the shoe was then associated with California-native and world number one player Stan Smith, a sketch of his face brandishing the trainer’s tongue from then on.
In the decades that followed, the trainer was at the centre of what can only be described as Stan Smith mania. The shoe was referenced in movies and pop songs in the 80s. By the 90s, the Stan Smith had earned a spot in the Guiness Book of Records. But the 00s were the start of when the trainer gained the reputation of off-duty chic when the most iconic fashion designers du jour would wear Stan Smiths to their own runway shows. Resultantly, the shoes quickly gained the status of being the desirable lowkey, casual trainer for those with style running through their veins.
In the early 2010s the Stan Smith was temporarily taken out of circulation giving it a sense of unattainability and idealism that meant when it came back in 2014, it came back with a bang. But it also returned in the midst of a cultural shift, one where streetwear and athleisure were the moment. Suddenly, our favourite celebs on Instagram were posting selfies wearing the trainer, cool actors were being papped in them in between film takes; hoodie-clad teen boyband members were scuffing them up to wear on stage at sold out arenas and designers were scrambling to create limited edition collaboration designs of the Stan Smith. That 00s reputation of being the throw-on shoe of the fashion elite had evolved, and now, it was the shoe to own by all. In 2014, Footwear News named it the shoe of the year.
But now, in the 2020s, the boundaries of fashion are increasingly being challenged. adidas has been partnering with leading fashion houses over past seasons and Blue Version is the brand’s own venture into the chic, sartorial space with a mixing of 60s glamour and Y2K sexiness that allows a generation to express themselves and break down the traditional barriers of what is and isn’t allowed.
As a great neutral canvas, that’s something the Stan Smith has done for generations, and the new iterations retain that same innate simplistic yet striking beauty that makes it so expressive. Whether that’s perfectly paired with the jock aesthetics of the 80s and the white vests and light jeans of the 90s, or a cute rhinestone velour tracksuit, or sharp tailored fits, or whatever aesthetics we’re all into across the next five decades. After all, as that iconic Vogue photo from 2013 of Gisele Bundchen completely nude aside from the trainer and white socks can attest to; the Stan Smith may be minimalist, but it’s a chic and expressive statement piece in its own right.
Click here to check out the Blue Version collection and click here for the Stan Smith collection.
Credits
Images courtesy of The adidas Archive & Studio Waldeck