Vans Half-Cab: the full package

The latest drop to land here at Looped is a true stalwart of skate culture, appropriately named after a pro with similarly legendary status: the Vans Half-Cab. 

Vans owe a lot of its best ideas to its customers. Just like the now-famous checkerboard pattern, which came to life after founder Paul van Doren saw local Cali kids taking Sharpies to their Slip-Ons, the Half-Cab was originally a DIY custom. As an original member of cult '80s skateboard crew Bones Brigade, Steve Caballero was a specialist in skating pools and halfpipes — which his 1989 signature shoe reflected with a high-cut, heavily-padded design that promised to protect ankles and provide support. But as the '90s began, skating spread to the streets (after all, there wasn’t exactly a plethora of empty pools outside the O.C.).

And as the Caballero was adopted by skate kids beyond the Cali coast, it started getting hacked down by hand to make it more versatile and wearable — and just like that, the Half-Cab was born. Fast-forward to now and the longest-running signature skate shoe around has already celebrated its 25th anniversary with collaborative colourways from Swedish clothiers Our Legacy, New York’s Opening Ceremony and Moscow’s finest Gosha Rubchinskiy. But nothing beats the OG black and white suede.

For a 2017 take on Californian cool, wear with Dickies work shorts and a zebra-print shirt. Or, if standout patterns aren't your thing, go for a jacket in new neutral camo, offset by a white vest and cuffed, straight-cut jeans. No half measures here.