In the late 1970s, Steve Van Doren, son of Vans founder Paul Van Doren, noticed that skateboarders in Southern California started to customize their Vans by coloring checkerboard style patterns on the shoes midsole. With this inspiration, the Vans Slip On Checkerboard was created. The Vans Slip On Checkerboard is a cultural icon. First introduced to a global audience through an unforgettable cameo on Sean Penn's slacker character Jeff Spiccoli in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the checkered Vans Slip On is a monument in the Vans line and a street staple. It features a canvas, black and white checkerboard patterned upper with a branded Vans tab. At the base, a white and gum waffle cup sole with a red heel patch completes the design. This 2019 iteration of the Vans Slip On Checkerboard retailed for $65. Everyday wear, original Icon The Slip-On that’s been Setting Trends Since 1979. What started life in 1979 as the Vans #98 has become one of the most popular shoes in Southern California, and one of the most instantly recognizable shoes in the world. Slip-On shoes are undeniably stylish, but few come close to the Vans Classic Slip-On Checkerboard for instantaneous excellence. This is a design that never goes out of fashion and a shoe that never loses its comfort. When it comes to Vans “Off The Wall” style, this checkered Slip-On shoe is an everyday essential.