Natalie Westling Collaborates with Vans
Natalie Westling Collaborates with Vans
Natalie Westling, the Arizona native known for her wild red hair, has released a collaboration with Vans for Opening Ceremony. The 19 year old model collaborated on the designs for a custom Sk8-Hi Reissue DX, in ivory and teal.
While numerous models can claim a designer collaboration, Westling seems far more intimately entwined with the brand she represents than some of her peers – she has fronted several campaigns for the company, been named brand ambassador, and to top it off, her left forearm bears the brands logo. Westling has been skating since the age of three, making Vans a major part of the model’s life – she recalled her first pair to Vogue, the classic red-and-white checkered slip-ons. Such a longtime affinity for the brand surely adds depth to the collaboration.
Regarding the collaborative process, Westling told Vogue last week via email, “I wanted to be adventurous and work with colors I usually never wear. [I’d style them] pretty much with how I usually dress: oversize or loose Vans T-shirt and skinny jeans. Because of the shoe’s color scheme, I would probably pick darker pieces for the rest of my outfit so the Sk8-Hi stands out even more.”
The skater and surfer looks have become more influential on the fashion scene, making a comeback in the past several seasons (think: Alexander Wang), as well as in the ‘off-duty’ style of models and beyond. “I’m not sure why that’s become a thing,” Westling told Vogue back in January. “Subcultures always have their turns in the mainstream, and skate culture is several decades old, never really faded. As a model, you’re so often being done up to look a certain way—maybe some girls are starting to enjoy the undone look because it’s the new novelty. Maybe done-down is just the new done-up.”
Westling has already made her mark on the industry, fronting numerous campaigns and walking the runways for brands such as Miu Miu, Prada, Marc Jacobs, and Louis Vuitton, as well as starring on the cover of magazines including Vogue, i-D, Dazed and Interview. Her Sk8-Hi Reissue DX are available online and at Opening Ceremony stores for $100.
Natalie Westling Collaborates with Vans
