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A Heartfelt Love Letter To My Vans
Have you ever had something that you just can’t let go of? In your heart you know it’s time to give it up, but you just can’t? It’s comfortable, safe and you know you can always rely on it. Yes, ladies and gents, this is my love letter to my Vans.
Now my Vans started off life as my little sister’s shoes. I was SO jealous when she got them - pink and brown Checkerboard Classic Slip-on's, in short: my dream. She rarely wore them though and fortunately, my little sister grew out of them before she could get any real use. And it just so happened that as she grew out, I grew in. She gave me them, and the rest as they say, is history.
I was 13 when the shoes came into the family and probably about 15 when I finally inherited them. Back in the day I was (and still kind of am, although I’ve branched out a little more now) an avid listener of Blink 182 and other American Pop-Punk bands and so wanted only to dress accordingly. My new Vans were the perfect choice of footwear (alongside my trusty chucks of course).
My uniform for life as a pop-punk lover was as follows: black skinny jeans, band tees, studded belt (obviously) and my vans. I was the typical “skater girl”, only I didn’t know how to skate. That wasn’t an issue though, I was able to attend the concerts I wanted to, while looking and feeling the part.
As I entered college and began to grow out of this part of my life, I did at first wonder if it was time to hang up the shoes that I had so desperately wanted a few years earlier. There was a short amount of time that I worried about styling them. I still had the black skinny jeans (I will ALWAYS own black skinny jeans) but my slightly more grown up shirts and blouses didn’t seem to “go”. I sadly put them on the back burner. It is important to understand, that at this time I was still very naive and cared greatly if other people thought I was cool or not. I worried they would judge me for the sorry state of my five-year-old Vans.
Over the years, I began to get more of a grip on dressing to impress myself, rather than others. As time wore on I would pick comfort over the latest trends, and was able to find my own style that I felt confident in. Piecing together a wardrobe that was a mix of high street and vintage, I managed to create a harmonious little place back in my life for my Vans. The fact that they are now a little rough around the edges simply adds to their overall charm.
I’ve reached a point in my life now, where I wear these 10-year-old Vans almost every single day. The fact that they are still in one piece and are totally wearable is testament to the craftsmanship involved in the manufacturing process. I have also come to realise that they go with EVERYTHING. I often find they look great with a little pinafore dress with a plain white tee underneath. Boys, don’t feel like YOU have to style your Vans this way, this was more so for the ladies. Although, if you want to…
I have since bought other pairs of Vans (and other shoes) too, I’m not actually a maniac with only one pair. However, I will always go back to the Checkerboard Classic Slip-on's. They’re great for work, play and everything in between. I am certain that one day these shoes will need to be replaced, and believe me when I say, they will be replaced with an identical pair. They are the only shoes for me!
I'm not the only person who is obsessed with their Vans either. Twitter is full people loving them!
Are you obsessed with your Vans too? Tell us your love stories in the comments below or Tweet us at @UrbanSurferUK. Check out our full range of Vans products over on our online store at Urban Surfer.
