Vans LX Old Skool 36 "Splatter Paint" Pack

Par Gabe Larracas17 juin 2026

The Vans Old Skool did not start as the Old Skool. It started as the Style 36 in 1977, the first Vans skate shoe to carry the Sidestripe. That line became one of the most recognizable marks in skate footwear, but the original shape still matters: lower profile, shorter toe cap, tighter proportions, and the kind of build that feels closer to the early Vans archive than the standard Old Skool most people know now.

The LX Old Skool 36 brings that original shape back through Vans’ Premium line. It keeps the Style 36 structure in place with a canvas and suede upper, padded collar, vulcanized construction, waffle outsole, and a higher gloss sidewall. It also adds updated comfort through Vans’ premium footbed, giving the shoe a better step-in feel while keeping the same sharp, low-to-the-ground shape.

This “Paint Splatter” version comes from a simple idea that works because it actually belongs on the shoe. Betties describes the pair as a canvas upper with a suede vamp and eyestay, canvas side stripe, waxed cotton laces, greased sidewalls, and custom paint splatter across the sidewall, toe, medial, and lateral sides. The splatter is inspired by Jackson Pollock paintings, pulling from the loose, thrown, layered energy of his work.

The paint hits do not sit in one clean place. They move across the foxing, toe, side panels, and around the shoe like the pair got dragged across a studio floor. On the Old Skool 36, that works. Vans has always looked better with some life on it: grip dust on the sole, scuffs on the suede, dirt around the foxing, marker on the midsole. This release starts with that same idea already built into the design.

Two colorways are releasing at Drift House: Charcoal and Turtledove. Charcoal gives the shoe a darker base, with black and grey tones underneath the splatter. The paint marks cut through the upper and sidewall in a way that feels closer to a used work shoe or a pair that has already been sitting under a bench at the shop.

Turtledove goes lighter. The off-white base gives the paint more room to show across the toe, sidewall, and panels. The marks feel more exposed on this pair, especially against the softer upper and gum outsole.

Both colorways keep the same material story: canvas upper, suede vamp and eyestay, canvas side stripe, waxed cotton laces, greased sidewalls, waffle outsole, and the LX Old Skool 36 shape underneath it all. The Pollock reference gives the shoe its visual story, but the foundation is still Vans: a 1977 skate shape, brought back with premium details and a finish that already looks like it has been put through a few sessions.