Creative wise they are questionable, but sometimes I just want a simple long sleeve tee, and theirs happen to fit me really well, and most are fair quality for the price (I always buy them on sale or clearance).

I’m not sure that I’ve noticed much of a difference in my area, as opposed to something like Chucks which does have a noticeable difference. But also in my area I find it unlikely to see more than one or two other people anywhere I go with Vans.

I think there are a number of different groups who have worn Vans, and on the surface they might appear to have very little in common. You’ll have the OG 60s/70s skaters, the SoCal deck shoe people, the 80s Fast Times slip-on wearers, the 90s skaters, the 00s chonk shoe people, the damn Daniel era white or black Old Skool on-trend people, the Sneakerhead Vaults people, and many others. Honestly, I feel like the thing that most differentiates Vans wearers is being different, even inside of a culture or subculture. I’d think it’s rare that anyone goes and gets some Vans because ‘everybody else is wearing them’ or because it’s status.