Released in 1996, the Vans Mel screams summer at grandpa’s or Backstreet’s back. Images of an old grandpa named Mel calling out in a dirty hoarse voice for his cigar and newspaper come to mind. The only flipside? A bunch of teenagers with blonde hair parted down the middle or even worse a 30 something in a bowling shirt were probably sporting these sneakers for their night on the town. Either way the Vans Mel isn’t what I would call memorable and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this shoe remain where it belongs, in 1996. Dislike aside, take a trip back to the Reasonable Doubt era above!