One image has stayed with fashion lovers for years: Phoebe Philo waving in adidas Stan Smiths at the end of Céline’s fall 2011 show. Her signature look was on full display—a turtleneck, slim black pants, and those iconic white sneakers. A few years later, at the Céline spring 2015 show, she wore them again: a beige crewneck sweater, perfectly tailored black trousers, and the same Stan Smiths. Even then, Philo’s public appearances were rare, but her influence was undeniable, shaping the industry’s aesthetic for years to come—and still today.

**Phoebe Philo at the Celine fall 2011 show.**
*Photo: Getty Images*

**Phoebe Philo at the Celine spring 2015 show.**
*Photo: GoRunway*

The Stan Smith is the best-selling sneaker of the past decade, and its enduring appeal comes from the tastemakers who embraced it. Named after the legendary tennis player from Pasadena, California, Stan Smith himself once joked, *”Some people think I am a shoe.”*

It was the first sneaker to transition from sports to fashion, winning over not just Phoebe Philo but also Victoria Beckham. In 2016, Beckham was spotted in New York wearing a look straight out of Philo’s playbook—a navy turtleneck, gray suit pants, and, of course, the adidas sneakers. Like the Stan Smith, Beckham herself has navigated cultural shifts seamlessly, from her pop-star days in the Spice Girls to her current role in high fashion.

*Raymond Hall*

Originally adopted by urban culture from the ’70s through the 2000s, the Stan Smith later became a blank canvas for designers to reimagine. Raf Simons, Pharrell Williams, Yohji Yamamoto, and Stella McCartney have all put their own spin on the cult-favorite shoe.

After a brief hiatus, the sneaker made a triumphant return in 2014. If fashion cycles are any indication—where iconic pieces resurface every 10 to 20 years—then 2025 might just be the year the Stan Smith reclaims its spot in our closets.

*To be continued…*

**Adidas**
Stan Smith sneakers
$100 AMAZON | $100 ADIDAS

**Adidas**
Stan Smith sneakers
$100 NORDSTROM | $100 ADIDAS

**Adidas**
Stan Smith sneakers
$80 AMAZON | $100 ADIDAS

**Adidas**
Stan Smith sneakers
$49 AMAZON | $100 ADIDAS