Vans partners with Sk8-Hi brand ambassador and American model, Natalie Westling to design a custom Sk8-Hi Reissue DX that draws inspiration from her own personal approach to style with references from the ‘90s skate scene. Natalie, an Arizona native, picked up a skateboard at the age of three and has since found the striking similarities of riding atop her board and walking the runway.
“I was so honored to be a part of the Sk8-Hi campaign recently that it only felt right to choose the Sk8-Hi. All in all, I wanted to create a shoe that I could skate in but was also different from all of my other Vans.” – Natalie Westling
Taking cues from her own personal tomboy aesthetic, Natalie chose tan nubuck uppers and off-set it with a blue leather Sidestripe and hang flag. Keeping with the skate aesthetic, the Sk8-Hi Reissue DX uses a micro-mesh mini checkerboard lining that was once used in Vans’ most iconic skate silhouettes throughout the ‘90s, along with a dark gum sole. The Vans x Natalie Westling Sk8-Hi DX is finished with a custom blue footbed that is personalized with a ‘Natalie Skate’ emblem to match back to her own tattoos.
The Vans x Natalie Westling lookbook was shot by Los Angeles based photographer, Christin Rose, founder of the ‘She Plays We Win’ project geared toward celebrating the confidence that sports provides for young girls and used a group of local New York based skaters alongside Natalie. Earlier this year, Vans and Opening Ceremony partnered to launch Club USA, a dedicated shop-in-shop experience and continue their long-standing partnership with this exclusive collaboration. The Vans x Natalie Westling Sk8-Hi Reissue DX is available for $100 USD and is sold exclusively online and at all Opening Ceremony locations beginning November 1st.
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more pics after the jump
