Few brands embody the soul of skateboarding like Vans—a name stitched into the soles and psyches of riders from Venice Beach to Tokyo alleyways. Among its most enduring icons is the Old Skool, a shoe that first rolled out in 1977 and never left the scene. But in the era of reboots and connections, even icons evolve. Enter the Vans Skate Old Skool Elijah Berle “Vintage Blue”, a skate-specific, personality-charged remix of the classic silhouette, made in partnership with the style-savant and street tactician Elijah Berle.

This isn’t just a colorway. It’s a love letter to the roots of skateboarding, rewritten with the grittiness of modern performance and the elegance of someone who grew up studying style as much as street terrain. With this release, Vans offers more than a product—it offers a story of durability, elegance, and defiant tradition.

Elijah Berle: Skating’s Refinement Artist

To understand the significance of this shoe, one must understand Elijah Berle. A native of Santa Monica and a student of skateboarding’s golden generation, Berle rides with the precision of a technician and the attitude of a classicist. His style is clean but raw, powerful but considered—an embodiment of skateboarding’s evolution from rebellious pastime to global art form.

As part of the Vans Pro team, Berle has carved a space where homage meets invention. His previous capsule collections with Vans often played with mid-century Americana, tattoo iconography, and surf-skate crossover aesthetics. The “Vintage Blue” Old Skool sits right at the intersection of that legacy—a shoe that honors the past but refuses to live in it.

Design Breakdown: The Charm of “Vintage Blue”

The colorway’s “Vintage Blue” moniker isn’t just marketing speak. It evokes a kind of washed-out, West Coast denim daydream—something that feels both lived-in and deliberately tailored. The upper, constructed from premium suede and canvas, is rendered in a smoky blue that whispers of thrifted treasures and bleached-out ramps under California sun. It’s evocative without being loud, an aesthetic that reflects Berle’s own understated demeanor.

Contrast white stitching defines the paneling, while the leather jazz stripe adds a tactile break from the otherwise tonal body. The foxing stripe has been darkened for a more grounded feel, and the off-white midsole provides a subtle nod to vintage sneaker design. Every element feels intentional, from the slightly yellowed sole to the metal eyelets that hint at durability over dazzle.

This is skate fashion that doesn’t scream—it smirks.

Built to Shred: Skate Classics Construction

This isn’t your standard Old Skool. As part of the Skate Classics line, the Elijah Berle “Vintage Blue” edition comes fortified with modern tech designed for high-impact performance. Beneath the retro styling lies a serious update in durability and support, starting with the DURACAP™ reinforcement underlays in high-wear areas.

The PopCush™ insole delivers superior impact protection and energy return—a major step up from the original foam offerings. Whether you’re throwing down tre flips over curbs or bailing hard on marble ledges, the cushioning system holds firm without deadening boardfeel.

Then there’s the SickStick™ rubber compound, Vans’ grippiest outsole to date. It sticks like fresh wax and breaks in fast, providing confidence underfoot without requiring a painful adjustment period.

The heel counters have also been internally redesigned for better fit-lock and foot control. The result? A vintage look layered with modern fortitude. The Elijah Berle Old Skool is a shoe that encompasses the past while being built for the brutal present.

Symbolism and Street Relevance

There’s a reason why Old Skools continue to dominate city blocks and skate parks alike. It’s the kind of silhouette that refuses to go out of style. But with the Berle “Vintage Blue,” there’s a poetic juxtaposition at play: the shoe is old-school in name but new-school in purpose. It reminds us that heritage isn’t static—it’s alive, evolving, breathing.

In a cultural moment where authenticity is constantly questioned, this sneaker feels grounding. No excess branding. No artificial scarcity. Just a rider-endorsed, rigorously tested skate shoe built for people who understand that style isn’t what you wear—it’s how you ride.

The appeal also lies in its cross-cultural reach. The “Vintage Blue” doesn’t just appeal to core skaters; it speaks to fashion minimalists, archival sneakerheads, and denim obsessives. It pairs with cut-off Dickies and raw selvedge jeans alike. It’s as comfortable on a hardwood halfpipe as it is under the neon lights of a Lower East Side gallery opening.

Subcultural Reverence, Mainstream Versatility

The Elijah Berle “Vintage Blue” iteration of the Vans Skate Old Skool is a quietly radical release because it doesn’t feel like a product of hype. In an era where shoe releases are often governed by drops, bots, and buzz, this shoe sidesteps that economy altogether. It’s not the kind of sneaker you flip on resale platforms. It’s the kind you beat into the pavement until the foxing splits and the laces fray.

There’s something noble in that.

And yet, its minimalism is also its runway. This is the kind of design that looks right whether you’re bombing hills in Echo Park or pairing it with slacks in a Brooklyn cafe. It sits at the intersection of function and aesthetics, respecting skateboarding’s heritage while allowing it to translate across industries and identities.

The Legacy Continues

What Vans and Elijah Berle have achieved here isn’t just another signature shoe—it’s a canvas for cultural continuity. The “Vintage Blue” model stands as a love letter to the act of skating itself. To getting up when you fall. To showing up at the same spot until you land it clean. To letting your shoes tell the story of your session.

By revisiting the Old Skool with this kind of reverence and revision, Vans is proving that innovation doesn’t always mean reinvention. Sometimes, it’s about precision refinement—about looking back just long enough to push forward with clarity.

The Elijah Berle “Vintage Blue” is a shoe for skaters who know their history and ride with intent. It isn’t flashy. It isn’t fragile. It’s a workhorse dressed in Sunday clothes.

No comments yet.