Great Moments in Sneaker History
Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
There’s a new theme every day on It’s Vintage. Read more articles on today’s topic: Sneakerheads.
Much like jeans, army jackets, and trench coats, sneakers started out occupying a very specific sartorial window and have since become part of common currency. Once reserved for tennis, croquet, and basketball, they’re now seen on couture runways, in boardrooms, and — thanks to Wendy Davis— even on the floor of the Texas State Senate. (When filibustering, arch support is key to endurance.)
Athletes have served as namesakes for countless sneaker styles, many of which we still wear today — think Stan Smiths or Jordans. Sneakers have been a boon to commuting working women, lit up the feet of trendy ‘80s teens, and been transformed into pants, thanks to the genius that is Willow Smith. Click through the slideshow to see some of our favorite sneaker moments in history — from sports to pop culture to politics.
Paul Newman's Plimsolls Showing them how it's done: The actor accessorized his preppy outfit with a pair of tennis shoes in 1965.
Photo: Hulton ...
Paul Newman's Plimsolls Showing them how it's done: The actor accessorized his preppy outfit with a pair of tennis shoes in 1965.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Stan Smiths The tennis champ, shown here in in 1977, inspired what is now one of the fashion world's favorite styles. Raf Simons recently unveile...
Stan Smiths The tennis champ, shown here in in 1977, inspired what is now one of the fashion world's favorite styles. Raf Simons recently unveiled his own take on the classic.
Photo: Seattle Times/JR Partners/Getty Images
Farrah Fawcett's Nike Cortez Sneakers The Charlie's Angels star skated into our hearts in the casual '70s style, which the company still makes to...
Farrah Fawcett's Nike Cortez Sneakers The Charlie's Angels star skated into our hearts in the casual '70s style, which the company still makes today. Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
Run-DMC's Adidas Superstars The shoes even got their own Run-DMC ode, "My Adidas." Photo: Oliver Morris/Getty Images
Michael Jordan's Air Jordans The unbeatable style turns 30 this year. Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Missy Elliott's Adidas Shell-Toes The original athleisure queen wore a bedazzled Adidas tracksuit and bright-white sneakers to the 2003 Grammys.
...
Missy Elliott's Adidas Shell-Toes The original athleisure queen wore a bedazzled Adidas tracksuit and bright-white sneakers to the 2003 Grammys.
Photo: SGranitz/Getty Images
Heelys The wheeled shoes, patented in 2000, gave rise to a microtrend called "heeling." Think parkour for really cautious people.
Phot...
Heelys The wheeled shoes, patented in 2000, gave rise to a microtrend called "heeling." Think parkour for really cautious people.
Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Jeremy Scott for Adidas Scott's clever winged-foot motif made for a street-style bonanza, while his controversial shackle sneakers, which some cr...
Jeremy Scott for Adidas Scott's clever winged-foot motif made for a street-style bonanza, while his controversial shackle sneakers, which some critics said evoked slavery, were quickly pulled from stores. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
Miranda Hobbs's Commuter Sneakers For Sex and the City 2 in 2009, the character worked the Working Girl commuter look. Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty ...
Miranda Hobbs's Commuter Sneakers For Sex and the City 2 in 2009, the character worked the Working Girl commuter look. Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
Michelle Obama's Lanvin Kicks The First Lady got flak for wearing the $540 shoes to work at a food bank in 2009. Photo: Mandel Mgan/AFP/Getty Im...
Michelle Obama's Lanvin Kicks The First Lady got flak for wearing the $540 shoes to work at a food bank in 2009. Photo: Mandel Mgan/AFP/Getty Images
Willow Smith's Sneakers-As-Pants The magic of Willow: She can even make these shocking pink Converse shoe-pants (worn to the Kids' Choice Awards ...
Willow Smith's Sneakers-As-Pants The magic of Willow: She can even make these shocking pink Converse shoe-pants (worn to the Kids' Choice Awards in 2010) look cool.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/Gettty Images
Gisele's Isabel Marant Wedge Sneakers The pumped-up kicks shot to stratospheric popularity when Gisele (here in 2012) Beyoncé, Miranda Ker...
Gisele's Isabel Marant Wedge Sneakers The pumped-up kicks shot to stratospheric popularity when Gisele (here in 2012) Beyoncé, Miranda Kerr, and countless other celebrities strapped them on. However, in an interview with New York's own Amy Larocca last year, the designer said she now considers the style "super-vulgar." Photo: Josiah Kamau/Getty Images
Riccardo Tisci's Nike RT Collaboration The Givenchy designer's Nike collaboration, which includes these mega-high-top, moon-boot-like shoes, hits...
Riccardo Tisci's Nike RT Collaboration The Givenchy designer's Nike collaboration, which includes these mega-high-top, moon-boot-like shoes, hits in 2014.
Photo: Melodie Jeng/Getty Images
Wendy Davis's Mizuno Wave Riders The state senator wore the comfortable footwear for her legendary filibuster in 2013. Supporters quickly raced t...
Wendy Davis's Mizuno Wave Riders The state senator wore the comfortable footwear for her legendary filibuster in 2013. Supporters quickly raced to review the pink sneakers on Amazon with plaudits like "Guaranteed to outrun patriarchy." Davis later traded them in for Reed Krakoff heels in a Vogue spread.
Photo: Bob Daemmrich/Corbis
Sneakers on the Dior Spring 2014 Runway Sneakers made a rare appearance at a couture show. The embellished styles became instant street-style fav...
Sneakers on the Dior Spring 2014 Runway Sneakers made a rare appearance at a couture show. The embellished styles became instant street-style favorites. Photo: Imaxtree.com
Yeezy Boosts When he launched his blockbuster shoe collaboration with Adidas late last year, Kanye West urged fans to exercise caution. "I'v...
Yeezy Boosts When he launched his blockbuster shoe collaboration with Adidas late last year, Kanye West urged fans to exercise caution. "I've heard about people getting hurt for sneaker culture in the past. I just want everyone to be safe and be patient," he told Ryan Seacrest. "Eventually everybody who wants to get Yeezys will get Yeezys."
Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
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