About

adidas Stan Smith

Nearly every adidas carries three stripes. This one does not. Look at the side panel and you see three rows of holes where every other model has bands, and that is no cost-cutting but the whole idea behind the shoe.

Stripes that exist only as holes

On a tennis court ventilation counted, and stitched bands made a shoe heavier and warmer. By rendering the stripes as perforations, the brand mark stayed visible while the shoe could breathe. The result is the most stripped-back form adidas ever drew of itself: you recognize the pattern, but there is nothing there.

A name instead of a logo

Where other models flaunt the brand on the side, here the name of a tennis player is printed, traditionally with his portrait on the tongue. The model first existed under another player’s name and took his in the 1970s. That a shoe is sold for decades under the name of a person instead of a brand has stayed almost unique in this business.

Everything unnecessary is gone

The leather is smooth and nearly seamless, the sole flat, and the only color accent sits on the heel tab. The brand name and trefoil sit in relief on the sidewall, low enough not to stand out. Within adidas this is the opposite pole of the Superstar with its armored toe, and the quieter neighbor of the Gazelle; the wider story sits on the adidas Court page.

On this page you can see which versions of the adidas Stan Smith are running hottest right now according to the Hypescore, from what price they’re available, and how many shops have them in stock.