By Diana Garrido
David Bowie was a fashion icon. He strutted across the stage and down the streets of Brooklyn and London wearing go-go boots, platform shoes, and even elegant moccasins, but never Vans, never… Or so we thought, until the apparel brand announced the launch of a David Bowie-inspired collection, and rather than getting nitpicky as to whether Bowie ever wore shoes of this kind, we can’t wait to get our hands on a pair.
Frankly, Vans has been quite tight lipped about the whole reveal, in fact, they only published a small video where they announced a collaboration with the musician’s image. We are both excited and nervous as the speculation continues to circulate around social media. As we wait for more details to be revealed, here are a few curious facts about this new collection that we’re sure pays homage to Ziggy Stardust and to all the other wonderful personas David Bowie personified.
Further reading: 6 David Bowie Songs That Will Help You Reinvent Yourself
1 – Vans x David Bowie Collection Leaks On Streetwear Night Live
We first caught a peek of this mysterious collection on the Streetwear Night Live account in April of last year, but no one caught on with the news until 2019, when Vans finally announced the release to us mortals.
You don’t want to miss: 5 Songs That Told Us A Story That Kept Us Wanting More
2 – Vans And The Hunky Dory (1971)
They are inspired by the Hunky Dory album, which was released in 1971 and ranks among the top 100 albums of all time.
3 – The Thin White Duke Meets Classic Black And White Checkered-Pattern Shoe
The classic slip on model is enhanced by a yellow and black palette, reminiscent of his Thin White Duke character, where he would wear canary yellow suits with shoulder pads. At the time, Bowie would favor bold colors and high waisted trousers and fashion houses such as Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana would follow suit, borrowing his iconic and fresh fashion outlook. A yellow suede strip covers the top part of the shoe and his name is printed on top with white lettering, and on the midsole the name of the album is also shown. The classic grid SK8 HI model is also profiled.
Further reading: This Is How Emerging Designers Are Making Their Way In The Fashion World
Take a look at: The Day Jagger and Bowie Had Sex and Wrote “Angie”
4 – Aladdin Sane Inspired White Vans Sneakers
At the start of March 2019, a twitter user published an image of a black and white Vans with the iconic red and blue thunderbolt, similar to the one Bowie would paint on his face for Aladdin Sane (1973), his sixth studio album.
5 – “Fashion, we are the goon squad and we’re coming to town, beep, beep.”
A release date is yet to be confirmed but we hope they’ll be released in the coming months, at least on our side they can’t come soon enough! While the brand has been tight-lipped, at least we know that their sales will be an instant success given the loyal following David Bowie has amassed throughout his prolific and historic career. He is a legend whose name continues to resonate with all audiences and he possesses immense power and influence that very few artists can hope to replicate. We hope that Vans captures at least a small percentage of this icon, as they have done in previous occasions.
Click here for more content: Lady Gaga Biography: How Stefani Germanotta Gave Birth To An Iconic Character
Translated by Michelle Adams
Write for us!
Is there something hype in town and no one has written about it yet? Click here and find out how to become a writer for Cultura Colectiva Plus.
