Quick Take:
Vans has been on a tear (get it!!!), recently, deconstructing and reinventing classic silhouettes by ripping them apart, turning them inside out, and in this case, adding a little foam. This Old Skool LX fits nicely in the overall Cap LX program, which was debuted by Vans Vault last year, with deconstructed Sk8 Hi and Slip-on models that featured misplaced logos and a mash-up of features from other Vans shoes.
Design:
With the Old Skool LX, Vans brings us a classic suede “marshmallow”-colored shoe with contrasting teal on the sockliner. Beyond that, throw out most of what you know about the classic silhouette.
The iconic leather jazz line is replaced with a three-dimensional injection foam variation. Pull tabs pop out of the midsole of the shoe, and also wrap around the eyelets. The shoe features a SK8 Hi-style toebox and heel counter, with a subtle checkerboard print along the heel cuff. The midsole itself is also flipped. Finally, the teal sockliner is exposed foam, continuing the deconstructed theme. The Vans branding is also tweaked, with the logo that usually protrudes from the top of the jazz line now crossing it, and the red logo patch flipped along with the midsole.
Analysis:
This deconstructed Vans mash-up goes great with Vans Vault’s 2018 Cap LX program. While the shoe isn’t necessarily the most beautiful, deconstruction is clearly a trend in the industry right now. Mixing and matching various models has been a penchant of Jordan Brand, but the deconstruction and addition of loops, zippers etc. has been attempted by designers from Virgil Abloh and beyond.
Release Info:
The Vans Old Skool Cap LX is expected to hit select Vans stockists, such as 43einhalb, on March 1st
Kickbeast 