Little Simz x Vans: When Music and Skate Culture Create Magic
Okay, confession time. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of breaking in a new pair of Vans. That fresh canvas smell, the slight stiffness that gives way to comfort after a couple of wears, and the unmistakable waffle sole that’s carried me through festivals, skate parks (where I mostly just watched, let’s be real), and countless late-night adventures with friends.
So when I heard that Little Simz was teaming up with Vans for their second drop in the Premium Old Skool Music Collection, I literally spilled my morning coffee all over my keyboard. Sorry, laptop. Some news is just worth the cleanup.
When Little Simz Meets Big Icons
If you’ve been living under a rock (no judgment, housing prices are crazy these days), Little Simz has been killing it in the music scene with her genre-bending sound that refuses to be boxed in. Much like the Old Skool shoe itself, Simz doesn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own.
I remember first discovering her music back in 2015, playing “Dead Body” on repeat while I tried to finish a blog post way past deadline. There was something about her flow that made even my mediocre writing seem temporarily profound. That’s the power of good music, right?
Now she’s bringing that same boundary-pushing energy to Vans as a brand ambassador, and it feels like the collab we didn’t know we needed but absolutely deserve.
A Walk Through Music History
What makes this collection special isn’t just Simz’s involvement – it’s the thoughtful nod to music history. The line celebrates three defining eras that shaped not just sounds but entire cultures and movements.
Last summer, I wore my old, beat-up checkerboard Vans to a vintage vinyl fair. The seller I bought a rare jazz record from pointed at my feet and said, “Nice kicks. Those shoes have seen more music history than most people.” I laughed it off then, but he wasn’t wrong.
Vans has always had this weird, magical ability to transcend its skateboarding origins and weave itself into music scenes from punk to hip-hop. I’ve seen the same style of shoes in mosh pits, behind DJ booths, and on stage at jazz festivals. How many pieces of footwear can claim that kind of versatility?
Why Little Simz Makes Perfect Sense
When brands pick ambassadors, it sometimes feels forced – like when that cereal company tried to convince us that a Hollywood action star starts every morning with their sugar-laden flakes. Sure, Jan.
But Simz and Vans? That’s different. That’s authentic.
I caught her live set at a festival in 2019 (pre-pandemic, when standing shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers didn’t give us all anxiety). She commanded the stage in an outfit that was effortlessly cool, topped off with – you guessed it – a pair of Vans. Not as a statement piece, but as a natural extension of her style.
That’s the thing about the Old Skool – it doesn’t try to be the center of attention. It complements. It enhances. It serves the overall vibe without demanding recognition. Kinda like the perfect bass line in a song – you might not notice it specifically, but you’d definitely notice if it wasn’t there.
More Than Just Shoes
What I’ve always loved about Vans collaborations is that they’re not just selling shoes – they’re celebrating culture. This collection isn’t merely about new colorways (though I’m sure they’re fire); it’s about acknowledging how intertwined music and fashion have always been.
I still have the Vans I wore to my first big music interview a decade ago. They’re worn through at the toe, the laces have been replaced three times, and they’ve long been retired from regular rotation. But I keep them because they remind me of that nervous, excited feeling of doing something that mattered to me.
And isn’t that what the best fashion does? It becomes part of our personal history.
Will I Be Buying a Pair? Is Water Wet?
Look, my shoe rack is already giving me judgmental looks. My partner has implemented a “one in, one out” policy that I consistently ignore. My dog has more than enough chewing options already.
But will I be setting an alarm to grab a pair from this collection? Absolutely.
Because when Little Simz and Vans come together to celebrate the intersection of music and skate culture, it’s not just a product drop – it’s a moment. A cultural bookmark worth commemorating, even if it means eating ramen for a week to justify the purchase.
After all, twenty years from now, I doubt I’ll remember the fancy dinner I didn’t have, but I’ll definitely remember the shoes that carried me through another chapter of life, with a killer soundtrack to match.
Anyone else planning to snag a pair? Let me know in the comments if you’ll be setting alarms for this drop too, or if you’re the sensible type who doesn’t build their entire month’s budget around footwear releases. I admire you, even if I don’t understand you.
