I Thought These Trainers Were "Dated", But It Turns Out They're Making a Comeback in 2024

Trainers are arguably the footwear royalty of the 21st century—just try to convince me otherwise. From Adidas’ colourful gazelles and Nike’s Air Force 1’s to coveted Veja styles and Vans Old Skools, trainers have now well and truly earned themselves the status of capsule-wardrobe staple.

But let’s take it back to 1965, when one of the most iconic trainer styles ever—Adidas Stan Smiths—was born, all thanks to the son of the brand’s founder, Horst Dassler. The first ever leather tennis sneaker, the style was originally named the Adidas Robert Haillet after the popular French tennis player. It wouldn’t adopt the Stan Smith name until 1978, when it was renamed after American tennis player Stan Smith.

Aida Badji styles her Stan Smiths with a tailored, monochrome look.

Constructed from all-white leather adorned with perforated signature triple stripes and emblazoned with its green, padded heel panel; the style's most notable feature is its portrait of Stan Smith on the tongue. And with a design this distinctive yet understated, there’s really no questioning why millions of pairs have sold since its launch nearly 60 years ago.

A brief production hiatus in 2011 only heightened the desirability for the classic style. Now no longer used for its intended purpose as a tennis shoe, the silhouette is adored by fashion people around the globe, becoming one of the greatest sneakers of all time. Loved for their simplicity, versatility to pair with almost any outfit, and of course, their comfort, the style has been worn by the likes of Sienna Miller, Victoria Beckham, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner. 

Eva shows us how Stan Smiths can be office-ready with her smart look.

Today, the Stan Smith comes in multiple iterations and fresh colourways with trendy gum soles, including the updated Stan Smith II. Over the years, the sneakers have also had a variety of interpretive makeovers, collaborating with well-known names such as Stella McCartney, Sporty Rich and Beyoncé’s Ivy Park. With its combination of minimalism, affordability and versatility, the style has enjoyed its success in the past and present, and we're here to let you know that it certainly isn’t going anywhere in the future—I still see people sporting their Stan Smiths whenever I’m out and about.

Stan Smiths are the perfect everyday trainers, as proved by Chiara Perera.

So, keep scrolling to see my roundup of the best Stan Smith trainers on the market right now. 

Shop Adidas Stan Smith Trainers:

Opening Image: @aidabadji_