Quick Facts
- Even on the material, the Old Skool skips its standard canvas and suede for a mix of jacquard graphic suede paneling on the toe, reptile skin on the lace panel
- The star of the shoe, though, is the reptile skin forefoot strap added across the top of the shoe with a massive gold belt buckle covered in faux diamonds
- The Metagirl x Vans Old Skool 36 Diva will be released on May 28, 2026
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Vans is having a moment. Leading the charge in an industry obsessed with jewelry and flashy accessories, the SoCal skate brand’s latest collab is a perfect fit for the moment. Teaming up with the bejeweled customizer turned brand-sanctioned collaborator after her recent success at Saucony, the Vans x Metagirl collab brings a belted Y2K aesthetic to the classic Old Skool.
After getting a preview of sample pairs in white and black, plus a look at a checkerboard slip-on with added jewelry, we finally have a clear look at the collab in a new commercial and official images of a black Old Skool.
Belted Up
The Metagirl x Vans Premium Old Skool 36 Diva is only simple in silhouette. Even on the material, the Old Skool skips its standard canvas and suede for a mix of jacquard graphic suede paneling on the toe, reptile skin on the lace panel, and thick diagonal canvas piping on the side panels. The star of the shoe, though, is the reptile skin forefoot strap added across the top of the shoe with a massive gold belt buckle covered in faux diamonds.
Gold jewelry is added on top of the frayed white canvas stripe logo on the side panel and on the very front of the toe to give the shoe even more shine. The belt is functional for a bit of security, but mostly serves as a loud accessory, with a full set of laces sitting underneath. Finally, a Metagirl logo is added in black-on-black suede at the top of the tongue.
Speaking on the collab, Caterina Mongillo, founder of Metagirl, said: "Metagirl is about embracing the feminine that lies within all of us, and ‘Diva’ is the ultimate embodiment of that energy. I spend endless hours scrolling online marketplaces, obsessing over the craftsmanship and details of discontinued 2010s brands or discovering the underworld of vintage belt-buckle 18k-gold-rings. That is where the soul of this shoe lives. This isn't just footwear, it’s a rebellion reviving a badass facet of femininity in sneakers. It’s divamaxxing. With the encrusted gold buckle and statement hardware, I designed this for the woman who is always told she is ‘too much’. Divas, I got u.”
Metagirl x Vans Old Skool 36 Diva Release Info
The Metagirl x Vans Old Skool 36 Diva will be released on May 28, 2026 via Metagirl and Vans online. Available in women’s sizing, the retail price is set at $160. Check below for images of the collab, and download the Sole Retriever App for real-time release updates on this pair and more in the sneaker world.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
