Vans Style 73 DX | Black White | VN0A4BU6BKA

The Original V. Reissued.

The Vans Style 73 DX (VN0A4BU6BKA) in Black/White is a faithful reissue of one of Vans’ most historically significant silhouettes — a shoe that predates the Old Skool, the Sk8-Hi, and virtually every other Vans silhouette that collectors know today. Originally released in 1973 as one of Vans’ earliest skate-specific designs, the Style 73 introduced the oversized V-shaped Sidestripe that would evolve into the Jazz Stripe seen on the Old Skool — making it the direct ancestor of Vans’ most iconic design detail. The DX designation marks this as a premium, archive-faithful reissue with upgraded materials and construction details that honor the original’s heritage while delivering the quality expected from a modern Vans release. The Black/White colorway — black suede upper, white V Sidestripe, white contrast stitching, black midsole and outsole — is the most classic and most wearable expression of the Style 73’s design.

Product Highlights

• 🎨 Colorway: Black Suede Upper × White V Sidestripe × White Contrast Stitching × Black Midsole & Outsole — the most classic Style 73 colorway, faithful to the 1973 original
• ⬛ Black Suede Upper: Premium black suede upper — the Style 73’s original construction material, delivering a rich, textured surface that develops character with wear. The all-black suede creates a clean, minimal canvas that makes the white V Sidestripe the undisputed focal point of the design, exactly as Vans intended in 1973
• 🔳 Oversized White V Sidestripe: The Style 73’s defining design detail — a large, bold V-shaped stripe at the lateral midfoot that is wider, more graphic, and more architecturally complex than the Jazz Stripe that would later appear on the Old Skool. The V Sidestripe is the direct ancestor of every Vans Sidestripe that followed, making the Style 73 the shoe that started it all. In white against the black suede base, the V Sidestripe delivers maximum contrast and maximum visual impact
• 🧵 White Contrast Stitching: White contrast stitching throughout the upper — a construction detail that references the Style 73’s original 1973 manufacturing, adding visual texture and depth to the black suede surface while reinforcing the shoe’s two-tone Black/White palette
• 📦 DX Premium Construction: The DX designation marks this as a premium, archive-faithful reissue — upgraded materials, refined construction details, and a red Vans heritage hangtag at the heel that identifies the shoe’s Vault/DX lineage. The DX construction delivers a more considered, more premium result than the standard Style 73 release
• 🔴 Red Heritage Heel Tab: Red Vans heritage label at the heel counter — the DX series’ signature detail, marking the shoe’s archive-faithful status and providing a vivid three-color accent against the Black/White palette
• 🔲 Vulcanized Construction: Vans’ signature vulcanized sole construction — bonding the black rubber outsole directly to the upper for a low-profile, board-feel connection that has defined Vans footwear since 1966. The vulcanized construction gives the Style 73 its distinctive flat, flexible sole and its exceptional grip on any surface
• 🤝 Unisex Sizing: Available in unisex sizing — the Style 73’s classic last fits both men and women, making this archive reissue accessible to all wearers regardless of gender
• 🏷️ Style Code: VN0A4BU6BKA

The Style 73 Story

The Vans Style 73 was released in 1973 — just seven years after Vans opened its first store in Anaheim, California — as one of the brand’s earliest purpose-built skate shoes. Its oversized V-shaped Sidestripe was a bold, graphic departure from the minimal design language of the era, and it established the visual vocabulary that Vans would refine into the Jazz Stripe on the 1977 Old Skool. The Style 73 is, in the most literal sense, the shoe that made Vans Vans — the design that introduced the Sidestripe to the world and set the template for every Vans silhouette that followed. The DX reissue brings the Style 73 back in its most faithful form, with premium materials and construction that honor the original without compromising it.

Best For

Vans collectors & archive enthusiasts · Sneaker history enthusiasts · Streetwear & lifestyle styling · Skate heritage fans · Anyone who wants to wear the shoe that started the Vans Sidestripe story

Sizing Guide

Available in US sizes 4.5 – 9.5 (including half sizes). Unisex sizing — women typically size down 1.5 sizes from their standard women’s size. Contact us for sizing assistance.