Best Adidas Stan Smith Shoes 2023
We look back at the history of the iconic Adidas Stan Smith and pick out five of our favourite options on the market right now
The Adidas Stan Smith is one of the brand’s best-selling and most iconic sneakers.
First introduced in the 1960s as a tennis shoe, the Stan Smith has transcended the sport and become a fashion staple over the last few decades. Nearly 60 years after its launch, the shoe remains as popular as ever.
In this article, we’re going to take a look back at the history of the Stan Smith, including how it came to be and how it has developed over the years. We’re also going to pick out our favourite versions of the Stan Smith available from Adidas at the moment.
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s begin taking a closer look at the history of the iconic Adidas Stan Smith.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Adidas Stan Smith – History And Introduction
The Adidas Stan Smith was born in the early 1960s as the brand’s first leather tennis shoe. The shoe was originally named after the French tennis professional Robert Haillet in 1965.
Featuring an all-leather upper, rubber sole and simple and clean design, the Stan Smith was an instant hit and it has become one of the brand’s top-selling sneakers since its launch nearly 60 years ago.
After Haillet retired from playing professional tennis, Adidas were in need of a new court superstar to endorse their shoes. They opted for American tennis player Stan Smith, and the rest is history. In 1978, the shoe was officially renamed the Adidas Stan Smith, a title that has stuck to this day.
Since the original shoe’s launch more than 50 years ago, there have been various new colourways and styles introduced, as well as there being plenty of collaborations with fashion and style partners. However, the design and style of the shoe stays true to the original sneaker released nearly 60 years ago.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
The original and classic Adidas Stan Smith featured a white design with green trims, and colourway and style remains as one of the best-selling styles to this day.
The Stan Smith was groundbreaking in a number of ways. Firstly, it is widely regarded as being the first leather tennis shoe. Secondly, it enjoyed incredible popularity following it’s launch, especially in the 1980s. By 1988, it was reported that as many as 22 million pairs of Adidas Stan Smiths had been sold worldwide.
Now approaching its 60th birthday, the Adidas Stan Smith has been redeveloped on a number of occasions but still stays true to the iconic original model. The modern-day version of the Stan Smith features a vegan upper and an outsole made of rubber waste. Half of the upper is also made from recycled materials, without any virgin polyester used.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
So, now that we’ve covered some of the history of this iconic sneaker, it’s time to take a look at our pick of the best Adidas Stan Smith options on the market from Adidas right now.
Before we reveal our selections, we do recommend having a browse of the Stan Smith section of the Adidas website yourself to see what’s on offer, as Adidas are regularly updating and changing the styles on offer.
Best Adidas Stan Smith Shoes 2023 – Our Pick
So, let’s now move on to our selection of the best Adidas Stan Smith shoes available directly from Adidas right now.
All of the models and colourways featured below were available on the Adidas website at the time of writing, but it’s never a bad idea to have a browse of the Stan Smith section on the official site to see what else is on offer.
1) Adidas Stan Smith White And Green
Where to buy: www.adidas.com
(Photo: Adidas)
The ultimate classic. Still as iconic today as when the shoe was first launched nearly 60 years ago, the Adidas Stan Smith in white and green is the go-to option if you’re looking for the most classic and popular version of the shoe around. The modern-day version of the Stan Smith has recycled materials incorporated into it and features a vegan upper free from animal-derived products. Simply put, it’s hard to go wrong with the classic white and green Stan Smith, and it can slot seamlessly into any wardrobe.
2) Adidas Stan Smith Triple White
Where to buy: www.adidas.com
(Photo: Adidas)
Next up is the Triple White version of the Adidas Stan Smith. This shoe was one of the first sneakers to usher in the ‘all white’ trainer look which has now become a fashion staple. Featuring all-white branding, including the Stan Smith logo on the top of the tongue, this version of the Stan Smith is almost as classic as the original. If you’re looking for clean lines, a timeless design and style that can fit any look, look no further than the Adidas Stan Smith triple white.
3) Adidas Stan Smith Parley Chalk White And Green Oxide
Where to buy: www.adidas.com
(Photo: Adidas)
Next up is the Adidas Stan Smith Parley Chalk White And Green Oxide. This shoe is a great option if you’re looking for a shoe that has been manufactured with the environment in mind. Adidas have teamed up with Parley for the Oceans to bring a model of the shoe which uses recycled materials and upcycled plastic waste. The upper contains a minimum of 50 per cent recycled content.
4) Adidas Stan Smith White And Black
Where to buy: www.adidas.com
(Photo: Adidas)
We’ve gone for the White and Black version of the Adidas Stan Smith as our next choice. Another clean and classic look, this version of the shoe features the original all-white design with some black details on the heel. This version features an all-white tongue and a clean overall design.
5) Adidas Stan Smith Off-White And Gum
Where to buy: www.adidas.com
(Photo: Adidas)
The final option on our list is a great choice if you’re prepared to deviate slightly from the bright white options we’ve featured above. The Adidas Stan Smith Off-White and Gum feature grey details on the heel and a grey logo on the top of the tongue. What sets them apart from the other options above is that these shoes have a gum-coloured sole. A great option if you’re looking for a slightly different look from your Stan Smiths.
Anything Else To Bear In Mind?
If you’ve already owned a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths, then you can shop online confidently knowing which size will fit you best.
However, if you’ve never had a pair before, it may be worth popping down to your local Adidas store to try on a few pairs for yourself so that you can get a feel of the right size for you, and also have a look at some of the different styles and colours in person.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
If that’s not possible and you prefer to shop online directly, then be sure to familiarise yourself with the returns, refunds and exchanges policy on the Adidas website or wherever you’re shopping, so you’ll know where you stand if you need to return or exchange your unused shoes.
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our look at the best Adidas Stan Smith shoes around at the moment. We’ve walked you through the history of this iconic shoe and how it has gone on to become one of Adidas’ all-time best-selling sneakers.
We’ve also picked out five of our favourite Stan Smith styles out there right now. We currently rate the timeless white and green Stan Smith as our top option, but all of the styles featured on this page are great options.
