The Best adidas Stan Smith Shoes to Buy Now
Olivia Cigliano
Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD
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They say “legends never die” — in fact, Babe Ruth said it first — and it undoubtedly rings true for this enduring 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 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 Puffylette plush slippers, suede Stan Smith CS skate shoes, and even high-traction Stan Smith Golf shoes.
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 History of adidas Stan Smith Sneakers
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 platform Stan Smith Bonega, Stan Smith Golf, and Puffylette Stan Smith shoes. And, in just 2023, the shoe saw sensational collaborations from Craig Green X adidas Stan Smith, which introduced the CG Boost Stan and CG Split Stan as new silhouettes, along with nostalgic and block-busting iterations from Hello Kitty and “The Simpsons.” 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 the wearer to decide its meaning.
The Different Types of adidas Stan Smith Sneakers
- adidas Stan Smith Shoes: The official 1978 Stan Smith tennis shoe was designed with an all-leather white upper, lace closures, textile-lined insoles, rubber outsoles, and Kelly green accents. It also included a revolutionary padded collar for ankle support and three perforated side rows for breathability at indoor or outdoor tennis matches. Today, the same silhouette has been reimagined for adidas’ sustainability goals, with vegan leather, rubber waste outsoles, and Primegreen recycled materials.
- adidas Stan Smith CS Shoes: The Stan Smith CS model gives an alternative retro twist to the classic style with all-suede uppers and an updated rubber foxing tape cupsole that’s offered in several bold color options. Similarly, the Stan Smith CS Mid Shoes offer a mid-top iteration of the suede silhouette, complete with contrast stitching and a skate shoe feel.
- adidas Stan Smith Lux Shoes: This fashion-forward take on a timeless sneaker stands apart from the lineup with premium leather construction and clean lines. The Stan Smith Lux shoe is designed to be genderless, with an elevated aesthetic for lifestyle wear and a more focused approach to daytime comfort. Thick leather uppers, leather lining, and 360-degree stitching around tooling define the Stan Smith Lux shoe as a durable and chic sneaker for work or play.
- adidas Stan Smith 80s Shoes: Lean into Stan Smith’s retro roots with the Stan Smith 80s shoe. It echos the original model’s key features, such as lace closures, white leather uppers, and durable rubber outsoles, with a comfortable addition of leather lining and a shiny and sporty Trefoil midsole logo. Mismatched heel tab colorblocking in baby pink and blue evokes bold stylings inspired by the 1980s.
- adidas Stan Smith ADV Shoes: Stan Smith ADV sneakers rose to popularity in the 1990s by street skaters who swore by its durability and comfort. While it looks similar to the original shoe to the naked eye, the shoe features slight upgrades such as tongue wings that allow for a more secure fit, high-traction rubber cupsoles, and concealed ollie protection within leather uppers. It’s unique for its soft feel and stability features, and is among some of the best adidas skate shoes ever made.
- adidas Stan Smith Recon Shoes: The Stan Smith Recon Shoe is a sleek and minimalist twist compared to other all-leather iterations of the shoe. Smooth leather uppers and rubber outsoles ground the silhouette, while decorative zigzag stitching at the heel tab and forefoot offer an extra dose of personality to suede colorways. Available in modern monochromes, including stone gray and scarlet red in leather, and soft suede black, the Recon offers understated flair and comfort, thanks to a supportive sockliner and soft frame.
- adidas Stan Smith Bonega Shoes: For those who love a platform sneaker but don’t want to roam too far from a tried-and-true, the adidas Stan Smith Bonega shoe adds a stacked midsole to the same, signature silhouette. It stands tall on a double layer of foxing tape, with a 50 percent recylced upper of luxe leather, and a cushy memory foam sock liner for soft steps, despite the extra inches. It’s designed without a bulky feel, and boasts balanced proportions between streamlined uppers and a bold stature.
- adidas Stan Smith Puffylette Shoes: adidas’ Puffylette shoe collection imagines their most iconic sneakers in plush slipper silhouettes. Puffylette Stan Smith shoes merge the adidas Adilette slide with sneaker aesthetics, with a warm and insulating addition of Primaloft puff uppers, and EVA cushioned midsoles and outsoles for supreme comfort. The upper features an illusion print of the Stan Smith shoe, complete with leather perforations, faux-lacing, and and green heel tabs, but instead acts as an indoor-outdoor shoe with a water-repellent finish and recycled composition.
- adidas Stan Smith Golf Shoes: In this model, Stan Smith shoes walk off the tennis court and head to the greens. Stan Smith Golf Shoes feature a flexible synthetic upper for optimal mobility, which is constructed with at least 50 percent recycled content, a spikeless outsole, cushioned Adiwear midsole, and breathable textile lining. Wear this unisex shoe as stylish golf gear or as a durable daytime shoe that can hold up to outdoor terrain.
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Meet the Author
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.
