Form & Function: The Style of Non-Traditional Skate

Skate-specific shoe models are more widely available today than ever before. The larger sporting goods brands have long since integrated themselves into the industry, recognizing that the activity causes the consumer to cycle through shoes at a higher rate than most other sports, and there are still a handful of smaller, skate-focused companies hanging on. From time-tested classics updated to meet skateboarding’s demands, to skate-able dress shoes and futuristic, technical models, there’s something out there for every denomination of skateboarder. So why would anyone at a sponsored level choose to skate footwear not expressly designed to enhance performance? Why would they go out of their way to skate regular ass shoes? 

Stories of the Bones Brigade skating in Jordan 1’s and the prevalence of Puma Clydes and Superstars in the early 90’s have become canon. Both of these choices, however, were birthed from necessity. But Bobby De Keyzer skating Chuck Taylor 70’s instead of CTAS, or Josh Velez skating Jordan’s worth thousands of dollars when he has the connections to get Dunks for free? Those decisions took more thought. Some of the most celebrated skateboarders are praised for their spot or trick selection, but candid discussion about what people choose to wear is still taboo in some of the more hessian, throw-up-the-horns type circles. In this era where fashion and skating have become so deeply entangled, shouldn’t it be natural to have conversations about gear selection or, in this case, shoe selection?

Spot, trick, and shoe selection all have one thing in common: intention. The argument about whether skateboarding is a sport or an art form is played-out to the point of being comical, but there’s something special about those who go above and beyond to craft video parts with aesthetics in mind. Even if it isn’t a fully conscious choice, there’s something about skating in say, a pair of Reeboks, that plays into an equation designed to maximize form more than function. Simply put, skateboarding in shoes that weren’t designed for the activity is dope as hell. There are countless noteworthy examples of this phenomenon, and I’ve chosen a few relevant ones to explore further.    

Bobby DeKeyzer/Chuck Taylor 70s 

Converse has made skate-specific Chuck Taylors for years but, deciding to actively avoid Lunarlon insoles and rubber ollie-guards, DeKeyzer (and others) have taken to wearing the Chuck 70s instead. The draw of the model is the classic, narrow last and a charming chunkiness that comes along with thicker canvas and higher foxing tape, but skating in these shoes is a recipe for bruised heels and blisters. Bobby’s footwear choices paired with vintage t-shirts and his vaguely defined Noah connection create kits that are almost as remarkable as the skateboarding itself. 

Rory Milanes/Reebok 

The beauty of Palace is that despite their immense crossover success, they’re still dedicated to skateboarding through and through. Their ongoing relationship with Reebok is exceptionally congruous. What better footwear for a company inspired by chavs, casuals, and roadmen to associate with? Because Reebok is not technically a skateboarding entity, Rory Milanes — a seasoned pro at this point — can collect clips in Club Cs and experience zero conflict of interest while sporting Salomons or an Adidas jersey during a lookbook shoot. 

Lucien Clarke/Louis Vuitton 

Speaking of Palace, Lucien Clarke has been a team member since the beginning and has shoehorned his skateboarding clout into a relationship with Louis Vuitton. He’s walked in their shows, appeared in campaigns, and has recently been skating his way through pairs of their thousand-dollar shoes. The LV trainers take cues from classic basketball and skateboarding styles and, when it comes to performance, look about as practical as strapping expensive bricks to your feet. Most people couldn’t pull off this garish footwear choice, but there’s something novel and kind of fun about watching Lucien tear through luxury leather. 

Canadians/Vans Classics

Vans’ history is obviously tied directly to skateboarding, but most skateboarders these days choose something from the “Pro” line, which features updated cushioning, rubber-backed canvas, and more robust silhouettes that tend to make people’s feet look like baked potatoes. Skating professionally in the standard, backbreaking Vans may require hollow hummingbird bones, but there are a select few 90lb ectomorphs out there making it work. Pat O’rourke has performed tasteful manuals in Old Skools from the Anaheim Factory line, and the Canadian portion of the Alltimers team seem to have access to an endless supply of canvas slip-ons. In an instance of truly amazing shoe selection, ET Gagne filmed a clip in a pair of flame-emblazoned W)taps/Vans Vault Sk8-His recently. 

Josh Velez/Jordan Brand 

Sneaker “culture” in 2020 is corny as hell. Entering online raffles, amassing closets full of unworn pairs, and trading sneakers like stocks is far from cool. In contrast, Josh Velez has managed to practically apply his Jordan collection in a meaningful, aesthetically-pleasing way. He’s claimed that he wouldn’t wear the shoes if they impeded his performance, but he’s in the streets wearing 20-year-old Jordans with soles that are thick, inflexible, and crumbling apart. The Supreme affiliate combines Bred 1s, basketball shorts, and button-ups to form a tasteful expression of elevated athleisure. While enjoying his footage you might notice a tinge of irony in employing the jump man to advance the possibilities of what can be accomplished via slappy. 

Matt Town/Onitsuka Tiger Tokuten 

Long before Asics made disgusting pairs of Gel-Lyte 3s with Ronnie Fieg, they were known as Onitsuka Tiger. This line, inspired by their vintage styles, is still going strong as a favorite among dudes with dated indie band tees and tight black jeans who want to wear something that stands out more than a pair of Vans. As a rule, everything from Japan is automatically cooler, and this dynamic comes into play when you size up their Tokuten model against say, a pair of Sambas. Matt Town wears 5 or 6 different pairs of these form-fitting, grippy court shoes throughout his part in 2016’s Spirit Quest. We see them covered in paint and paired with LVC 501s as Colin Read’s impeccable VX1000 work and creative editing puts the sneakers front and center for over 3 minutes.