From baskets to creepers and platforms, vintage sneakers are all the rage. Brands that date back to the early 20th century such as Adidas, Puma and New Balance sneakers still reissue best-selling styles, while other shoe makers draw inspiration from historical footwear. Here are five classic sneakers for men on sale that are back in style.
- Old-School Basketball Shoes
Baskets were some of the first commercially mass-produced sneakers. Converse and other brands around the world produced footwear that provided the cushioning, spring and support needed by basketball players. Since the 1970s, many athletic shoes have become casual sneakers. You can buy Puma sneakers inspired by this brand’s sports footwear of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
The Puma Basketball line includes collections based on court sneakers dating back to the 1970s such as Clyde and Ralph Sampson sneakers. Styles inspired by more modern basketball shoes from the 1980s and 1990s such as the RS-Dreamer and Sky are still throwbacks to an earlier era.
- Platform Soles
Platform shoes have gone in and out of fashion during every decade since the 1960s. High soles seem to be here to stay, as platform sneakers provide a combination of height and stability.
The outsoles of platforms may be made of conventional rubber or more high-tech materials. Depending on the type of shoe, thick soles may feature deep lugs for superior traction. Other styles of platforms have textured elements visible on the outsole.
- Creepers
The peculiarly named “brothel creeper” is a shoe style that dates back to World War II. Soldiers stationed in North Africa wore suede boots with thick soles made of crepe rubber Once these shoes were mass produced, they became associated with the Teddy Boys and punk rock subcultures.
Creepers remain at the intersection between fashion and music. In 2015, the Puma Creeper designed by Rihanna introduced a new generation to this style of shoe. The ridged outsoles are distinctive of creepers and set this unique look apart from other platform sneakers.
- Skateboarding Shoes
Skate shoes originated in 1977 with the release of Vans style number 48. The checkerboard skate shoe is another favorite of alternative subcultures that has recently gone more mainstream in the fashion world.
Whether you skateboard or just like to wear low-profile sneakers that have plenty of cushioning and support, this old-school look is still cool. Today, Vans and other brands of skate shoes come in many colors and you can often find stylish versions of OG styles from designer collaborations.
- Chunky Trainers
The ugly sneaker trend of the late 2010s continues with chunky trainers. This footwear may have classic or futuristic styling, but it is inspired by the athletic footwear of the 1980s and 1990s. Many brands make timeless chunky trainers, but Asics, Adidas and New Balance have noteworthy recent releases and collaborations.
Many of these sneakers have never gone out of style. While each style may be associated with a historical moment, the availability of classic styles in new-school materials with updated designs makes wearing old-school kicks more comfortable than vintage shoes.
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