Vans Authentic: 60 Years of an Icon

The original and most recognizable among our Icons, the Vans Authentic shoe turns 60 this year. To celebrate its legacy as a globe-trotting symbol of skate culture, independence, and creativity, here’s a rundown of its history and a style guide to make it your own.

 

What is the Vans Authentic?

Without Authentics, Vans would never have become an icon of skate culture and global fashion.  
 

When you think of the Authentics, a classic silhouette that probably comes to mind is the low-top design and simple canvas upper. There’s the thick rubber sidewall for stability and the classic foxing stripe. Underneath, the legendary waffle outsole made from vulcanized rubber quickly became a favorite among Southern California skaters for its grip and board feel.
 

This is the Vans Authentic shoe. No matter where you grew up in the world, chances are you’ve seen them. For generations, they’ve been worn by artists, skaters, musicians, and anyone with something to say. 
 
 

The history of the Vans shoe that started it all 

The history of Vans, and of modern skateboarding at large, is the timeless design of Vans Authentics. It started in 1966 in Anaheim, California, just outside Los Angeles. There, a pair of brothers, Jim and Paul Van Doren, teamed up with Serge Delia and Gordon Lee to open The Van Doren Rubber Company on East Broadway.
 

The company made and sold a variety of shoe styles on-site. At the time, canvas dock shoes were associated with boating and yacht culture. One of these “deck shoes” was called Style 44. By the 70s, skaters were making use of their durable materials, flat construction, and grippy outsole, giving skaters the grip and board feel they were looking for.
 

In 1975, the Z-Boys rolled into the Del Mar Nationals wearing Style 44s, changing the history of skate style and performance in the process. The company responded by making a skate-specific shoe, the Style 95, which we now call the Era.  
 

Vans renamed the Style 44 the Authentic in 1993. Over the decades, it took over the youth culture, then influenced the culture itself. Now it’s still worn by artists, skaters, and changemakers of all kinds around the world, in a wide array of colors and designs. 

How do Vans Authentic fit?

Thanks to a minimalist design with a durable yet thin canvas upper and unpadded cuff, the Vans Authentic feels close to the ground. That’s the skater’s legacy: with no bounce in the sole, you’ll keep a firm grip on your board–and of course, the waffle pattern helps.  
 

You can lace your Vans up tight or loose for an adjustable fit. All in all, it’s a simple, comfortable, and responsive shoe that pairs with anything and comes in a variety of patterns.

 

How to style Vans Authentic

The Authentic is remarkably versatile, thanks to its clean, casual style that also carries a timeless legacy of expression and rebellion. Here are a few tips for building outfits around this comfortable style:
 

• Never sleep on the jeans-and-a-t-shirt look: The Vans Authentic is a perfect anchor for a classy, flexible style. That means a pair of jeans in any style will work with a fitted or oversized t-shirt. Try cuffing your pants above the ankles with No-Show socks.
   
• Dress up with white, black, and other neutrals: You can wear your Authentic sneakers in a business-casual professional setting if you keep them clean and pair them with dress slacks and a tucked-in t-shirt or dress shirt.
   
• Match colors: If your Authentics are blue or maroon, try to pair them with a hoodie or sweater of the same color. Even small accessories like a hat or an undershirt that matches will help both pieces pop.
   

This low-top sneaker looks great in a variety of pant styles. Shop men's clothing for pants, shirts, hoodies, and jackets that are cut from the same cloth. You’ll have Vans Authentic outfits for days. 

Authentic vs other Vans classics

There’s nothing like the original. But try these other classic men's and women's shoes from Vans and find a silhouette that speaks to you.
 

• The Old Skool: Still low-top but not quite as low, with a little more padding on the upper. And of course: the Sidestripe™ that many sneaker lovers can’t live without.
• The Classic Slip-On: Minimalism to the max. Just like the Authentic, but even more laid-back and rebellious.
• Sk8-Hi: A high-top style with more padding and the legendary Sidestripe™ to show off. A skater’s dream, and a totally different fashion item from the Authentic.

So, what does 60 years of the Vans Authentic mean today? When you step into a pair of these shoes, you’re stepping into a legacy shaped by Southern California skateboarding, surf, punk, art, and generations of people who made the shoe their own. Sixty years later, the Authentic is still a blank canvas. What you do with it is up to you.