On a genuine Stan Smith the three stripes are not stripes at all — they are three columns of perforations punched through the leather. Copies often print or stitch them on, and that is the fastest tell there is.
Start with the perforations
Run a finger over them. They should be clean holes right through the upper, evenly spaced, with no rough edges or glue residue on the inside of the shoe. Look inside: you should see the same holes from the lining side.
The heel tab
The heel patch carries the trefoil logo on most versions. Check that the stitching around it is even and that the leather or suede is a separate panel rather than a printed area. On our adidas pairs you can see the olive suede heel on the Core Black Stan Smith, which is a separate piece of material.
The tongue
The tongue print is where cheap copies get lazy. Text should be crisp and evenly spaced, and the size block inside should show UK, US, FR and JP sizes that agree with one another. Blurred type, wonky spacing, or sizes that do not convert correctly are all bad signs — check them against a conversion chart if you are unsure.
The sole
The outsole has a fine herringbone-style pattern that should be sharply moulded, not soft and rounded as if it came out of a worn mould. The midsole should meet the upper in a straight, even line with no glue squeeze-out.
Weight and smell
A Stan Smith is a light shoe but a solid one. A copy usually feels flimsy in the hand, and a strong chemical smell from the box is the giveaway that the materials are not what they claim to be.
What this means when you buy from us
Every pair is inspected by hand before it is photographed, and photographed as itself. If we are not certain a pair is genuine, it is not listed. That is the whole basis of the shop — more on the about page.
The same walkthrough for Nike's most-copied shoe: checking an Air Force 1. And if you are buying from anyone at all, buying sneakers online in Pakistan lists what to check first.
The Stan Smith, explained covers the shoe itself.