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They say “legends never die” — in fact, Babe Ruth said it first — and it undoubtedly rings true for this prevailing sports star. The adidas Stan Smith shoe strides through each decade, carrying a rich history of rebirth and redemption that dates all the way back to 1963 and brings just as much grit as gusto in 2024. The Stan Smith’s enduring legacy through sports, fashion, and streetwear even earned it the honor of being named one of Footwear News’ Greatest Shoes of All Time in 2024. The secret? adidas’ commitment to comfort, innovation, and universal versatility.
For over 50 years, the white adidas sneaker has maintained record-breaking icon-status on and off the court for its supreme comfort and minimalist appeal. The original 1960s performance shoe was imagined with a crisp leather upper and three perforated vertical rows for ventilation and breathability, and tennis pros love the shoe for its ground-breaking ankle support, ultra-durable construction, rubber outsole, and soft textile lining. Meanwhile, contemporary style stars treasure the same low-profile aesthetic, as it not only equips wardrobes as a multifaceted accessory, but also adds an understatedly luxe touch to every style perspective.
Leather sneakers are an essential in any sneaker rotation, as they can elevate athleisure or infuse comfort in an ensemble that would otherwise pair with a dressy loafer — and it would be near criminal to omit the adidas Stan Smith, the original leather tennis shoe, from the style’s hall of fame. While everyone else is aptly enjoying the sensational adidas Samba trend, the Stan Smith retails for the same price range and continues to feel just as fresh with each new drop and collaboration. The tennis shoe shares in the same streamlined appeal perfected by adidas, and is better suited for leaning into a “quiet luxury” appeal for day or night stylings.
Today, the Stan Smith serves as one of adidas’ best walking shoes and style statements of all time, on top of its game-changing tennis conception. The OG silhouette has been updated for 2024, in line with the Three Stripes’ staunch commitment to plastic-free sustainability, with vegan alternative uppers, rubber waste outsoles, and Primegreen recycled materials. It’s offered in dozens of colorways, finishes, and textures in men’s, women’s, and youth sizing, along with a myriad riff-off iterations to choose from, like the premium-leather Stan Smith Lux shoes, new cycling-compatible Velostan Smith Shoes, collapsable Stan Smith Decon shoes, and even high-traction Stan Smith Golf shoes. The iconic shoe has also been paid homage in other adidas shoe styles, like the editor-favorite Puffylette shoes and Adifom mules.
Whether you’re hitting the gym, running errands, or heading to the office, adidas Stan Smith sneakers serve as a time-tested blank canvas for all-occasion styling. Get in on the legacy — or expand your collection — by shopping the best adidas Stan Smith shoes of 2024, below.
The best adidas sneakers always have a rich history behind them, and Stan Smith shoes are no exception. It was conceived back in 1963, when adidas’ CEO Horst Dassler tapped prominent French tennis player Robert Haillet to imagine the first-ever leather tennis shoe. At the time, tennis shoes were exclusively made with canvas, which lacked essential support and durability on the court. The “adidas Robert Haillet” shoe launched in 1965 as a turning point in tennis footwear, featuring innovative sewn-in leather soles, white leather uppers, and rubber outsoles.
Haillet retired from the sport in 1971 and prompted adidas to enlist a new champion. Enter Stan Smith, who had dominated the US open of that same year. The American tennis pro reigned as the number one player worldwide from 1972 to 1973, known for dominating the ’72 Wimbledon tennis tournament and scoring seven Davis Cup championship trophies. Among the rise of athlete endorsements with prominent performance shoemakers, Smith signed to the Three Stripes in 1973, and the shoe began to display Haillet’s original moniker alongside Smith’s portrait on the tongue. Four years later, the classic court shoe was updated with green foam heel padding, designed for Achilles protection, and was re-branded as the “adidas Stan Smith” for a specified U.S. audience.
By 1985, Smith was ready to put down his racquet as a competing professional, but his shoe had become so popular there was no reason to re-brand this time around. As the adidas Stan Smith stayed in circulation, it became one of the first sports shoes to reach ‘It’ sneaker status, and was enjoyed by the range of consumers from teachers, to students, and service workers as a comfortable and versatile everyday shoe. It earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records in 1988 for an all-time achievement of 22 million pairs sold worldwide — which, of course, is only a fraction of the 100 million worn over its 50-year history. The Stan Smith became a notable favorite in streetwear and hip hop culture in the 1990s, as it was regularly referenced in rap songs by the likes of Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, but its popularity had hardly reached its peak.
In the early 2000s, adidas released the Stan Smith II, which omitted the tennis player’s portrait and introduced a thicker tongue with velrco closures, and was followed by the Stan Smith 80s shoe in 2008 that served as a reissued replica of the ’60s original. adidas subsequently halted production of the OG shoe in 2011 due to a fall in popularity, however this scarcity made the shoe more covetable than ever. Phoebe Philo, former creative director of Céline and master of minimalism, famously stepped out in the legendary sneaker at her runway finale that same year, and prompted the fashion world to take cues. Soon after, Marc Jacobs picked up his go-to ’90s sneaker once again, and trendsetters like A$AP Rocky, Sienna Miller, Victoria Beckham, Kendall Jenner, and Pharrell Williams were on board for the Stan Smith’s meteoric relaunch in 2014.
adidas met the explosive demand in the following years by calling on artists and brands to take an elevated spin on the timeless sneaker; in 2015, Porter Luggage dressed the shoe in all-leather with orange lining and Pharrell Williams adorned it in florals, while Raf Simons painted it in chrome and pastels in 2016. In 2018, Stella McCartney created a vegan leather version to much success, which preluded 2024’s sustainable re-rework of the original model.
Smith told WWD in 2020 that he appreciated adidas’ strategy to bring his namesake shoes “back with a vengeance,” as the brand sent out customized sneakers to celebrities and influencers. The star continued to champion the shoe, where he was even spotted slipping a pair to the Duchess of Cambridge to give to Prince Louis at Wimbledon in 2019. “A photographer got a shot of me handing her the shoes and it went viral all around the world,” he said.
Though the Stan Smith sneaker remains an essential style of the ’60s and 2010’s, adidas continues to reinvent the streamlined staple in the permanent collection, as seen in the minimalist Stan Smith Decon, Stan Smith Golf, and Puffylette Stan Smith shoes. Recent collaborations also keep the style fresh, like the 2023 Craig Green X adidas Stan Smith team-up, which introduced the CG Boost Stan and CG Split Stan silhouettes, along with nostalgic and block-busting iterations with Hello Kitty and “The Simpsons.” In 2024, the Stan Smith Lux shoe got a loafer makeover in collaboration with Beams creative director Shinsuke Nakada, where the shoe was restructured with suede uppers, tassel shrouds, and all-brown and black colorways. A few months later in July, Brain Dead x adidas Stan Smith “Unstructured” launched with unlined cow leather uppers, fringed grass-like green heel tabs, raw laces and stitching, and Brain Dead’s perforated head logo.
Despite debuting over half a century ago, adidas Stan Smith sneakers prove to be a timeless canvas for self-expression — remaining true to its origin story by allowing leading designers and the everyday wearer to decide its meaning.
Are adidas Stan Smith comfortable shoes? Yes, at least according to thousands of customer reviews. But, that depends on whether you purchase the correct size for your foot type. Luckily, adidas Stan Smith shoes run true to size. According to the brand, all adult and youth sizing is unisex and offers half-size options for a more precise fit. Keep in mind that the type of Stan Smith shoe you purchase may affect how it fits. For instance, leather uppers often lack wiggle room for wide feet and will not stretch with repeated wear, so it may be worth sizing up. However, adidas designers recommend sticking to your typical shoe size. You can reference the brand’s size guide here for exact foot measurements to determine your size.
Shown with: adidas Premium Essentials Denim Track Top ($100), Kseniaschnaider Patchwork Straight Leg Jeans ($140), adidas Original Worldwide Mesh Trucker Hat ($20)
Shown with: adidas Wash Tee ($48), adidas PRM Q4 RS TP ($130), adidas Originals Tote Bag ($26)
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items. Learn more about us here.
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She updated this guide for the best adidas Stan Smith shoes in 2024 with up-to-date trend insight and new models available to shop. Cigliano has covered iconic fashion and footwear history for over three years, and routinely reports on exciting adidas sneaker drops and collaborations at Footwear News. She updated this guide to the best adidas Stan Smith Shoes with new releases, outfit ideas, and more information on Footwear News’ Greatest Shoes of All Time.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.