Every now and then, a sneaker arrives that refuses to fit neatly into a single category. The Vans Old Skool 36 “Souvenir” is one of them — pulling direct inspiration from Chanel’s cult-classic 2015 On the Pavements Messenger (aka the Graffiti Bag), a rare piece famously worn by rappers Lil Yachty and Central Cee, to create a silhouette that exists at the crossroads of skate culture, streetwear, music, and high fashion.

Born in California’s skate scene, Vans has long been the uniform of rebels, musicians, and those who carve their own paths. Chanel, in contrast, is the epitome of Parisian refinement, structured, polished, and timeless. On paper, they are worlds apart. But in practice? The Souvenir Old Skool proves rebellion and refinement can share the same canvas.

When the bag debuted under Karl Lagerfeld in 2015, it sparked conversation. Paying thousands for a canvas messenger splashed with graffiti, enamel pins, and frayed tweed shocked luxury purists. But that was the point. It blurred the line between street and couture, between authenticity and aspiration. Fast forward ten years, and Vans has reimagined that same ethos through a skate lens, turning a once-divisive luxury statement into something both accessible and subversive.

“The main design inspiration was centered around the idea of traveling — what you’d see while traveling to certain places, what you’d wear while traveling to these destinations, and what you’d take home with you,” says designer Greg Betty. “For this shoe, I wanted to make something that signified the end of a long journey — like a stamped-up passport or a stickered-up Rimowa — but tied to something iconic and undeniable that multiple generations of fashion lovers would get right away. The Chanel On the Pavements Messenger Bag checked multiple boxes.”

The design details make that connection undeniable. The upper features a dirty-dyed, olive-toned canvas that feels lived-in from day one. The classic Vans jazz stripe trades clean leather for frayed, multicolor tweed, a direct nod to Chanel’s signature fabric. Scattered across the upper are enamel pins that flip Chanel’s smiley-face and yin-yang motifs through Vans’ own lens, while leather accents and metal hardware elevate the finish. It’s grungy, glamorous, and grounded all at once.

“Everything about the shoe was considered and custom-made,” Betty explains. “From the colors and thickness of the tweed, to the placement of the distressing and embroidered paint splatter, to the graphic motifs on each pin… It was truly a team effort to make sure the storytelling was felt.”

The result? A sneaker that doesn’t just borrow from Chanel, it converses with it. This is luxury filtered through skate sensibility, where imperfection becomes intentional and wear tells a story. The Souvenir isn’t a souvenir from a single trip, it’s one from decades of culture converging: skaters in Southern California, models in Paris, rappers in London, and musicians in New York all intersecting through design.

And people noticed. The Souvenir Old Skool sold out almost instantly, proving that when streetwear and luxury meet in the middle, the world pays attention. As Betty reflects, “The reception has been extremely overwhelming, beautiful, and affirming. Seeing the interest is amazing, but the discourse and educational moments that have been brought up because of this shoe has been a pleasure to witness. I think more than anything, people loved the intentionality and care behind the design.”

From a wearability standpoint, the sneaker holds up beyond its concept. The materials feel premium — sturdy canvas that softens with wear, tweed that frays with character, and enamel pins that add personality without gimmick. It fits true to size, though wide-footed wearers may prefer a half size up. This attention to quality makes it one of Vans’ most elevated offerings to date.

But what truly sets the Souvenir apart is what it represents. It’s more than a reworked Old Skool, it’s a cultural remix. In a moment where artists like Lil Yachty and Central Cee blur the line between streetwear and high fashion, Vans steps confidently into that same conversation, proving skate culture has always influenced the runway. The Souvenir isn’t chasing luxury, it’s redefining it through authenticity.

So, is it a Flex, Trade or Fade? For me, this one’s a Flex — no question. The storytelling, the craftsmanship, and the symbolism all line up. It’s a sneaker that proves fashion, music, and skate culture aren’t living in separate worlds anymore — they’re sharing the same stage. The Souvenir Old Skool doesn’t just celebrate that connection; it embodies it.

But what do you think? Would you Flex, Trade, or Fade the Vans Old Skool 36 Souvenir?

John Lodge, bassist and vocalist for symphonic prog-rock greats The Moody Blues for over 50 years, died this week. A post from his family appeared on his official Facebook page Friday morning (Oct. 10) announcing that Lodge “has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us.” He was 82.

Lodge was born in the suburbs of Birmingham, England in 1948. After falling in love with rock and roll in its early days, he started playing in Birmingham bands in the early ’60s and met Ray Thomas, who would soon become a founding member of the Moody Blues. When that band’s original bassist Clint Warwick left the group in 1966, Lodge stepped in at his replacement.

At the time he joined the band, The Moody Blues had scored just one real chart hit, a blue-eyed soul cover of Bessie Banks’ “Go Now!” that peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1965. Following the addition of Lodge (as well as new guitarist and singer Justin Hayward), the band took a turn towards more symphonic, progressive and psychedelic rock. The band’s first album in its new configuration, 1967’s ambitious Days of Future Passed was not a big chart hit at first, but did spawn another Hot 100 hit in the No. 22-peaking “Tuesday Afternoon,” and began to win over a devoted fanbase with its lush arrangements and panoramic performance and presentation.

The band’s albums grew increasingly successful through the late ’60s and early ’70s, as the band hit the top five of the Billboard 200 with each of 1970’s A Question of Balance, 1971’s Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and 1972’s Seventh Sojourn — its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — while spinning off Hot 100 hits like 1970’s “Question” (No. 21) and 1971’s “The Story in Your Eyes” (No. 23). The band’s biggest hit of all would not come from these ’70s albums, however, but from a revived highlight of Days of Future Passed, as that album’s climactic epic “Nights in White Satin” reached No. 2 in late 1972, five years after its initial release.

Lodge’s sturdy bass lines were a big part of anchoring songs like “Satin” and 1973’s rollicking No. 12 hit “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” helping keep their majestic arrangements from ever drifting off into pomposity. Lodge also wrote and sang on “Singer,” as well as on 1972 No. 29 hit “Isn’t Life Strange,” and he and Hayward co-wrote and split lead vocals on the band’s 1981 No. 12 hit “Gemini Dream.”

Following the band’s massive 1972 commercial peak with Sojourn and the revitalized “Satin,” it went on hiatus, as Lodge and Hayward worked on the 1975 album Blue Jays, a top 20 Billboard 200 success with a couple minor Hot 100 hit singles in “I Dreamed Last Night” (No. 47) and “Blue Guitar” (No. 94) — the only hits Lodge ever scored on the chart under his own name. Lodge also released his solo debut with 1977’s Natural Avenue, though the album saw limited success.

The Moody Blues picked back up in the late ’70s, and continued to thrive through the ’80s with a poppier, more synth-than-strings-driven sound. The band even found success on MTV with 1986’s “Your Wildest Dreams,” its second and final top 10 Hot 100 hit (No. 9), thanks to a plot-driven, Brian Grant-directed video. In the ’90s, the band’s commercial success dwindled, but it continued touring successfully well into the 21st century, with Lodge staying on as a core member until its official dissolution in 2018, the year the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Lodge also recorded a second solo album in 2015, 10,000 Light Years Ago, and began touring solo, including a 2019 stint supporting fellow prog rock titans Yes. The same year, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award from the Prog Awards, honoring his half-century of greatness within the genre. Most recently, he released this February’s solo EP Love Conquers All.

The cause of Lodge’s death is still unknown. See the complete Facebook post announcing his passing below, as well as a clips of a few of his most legendary works with The Moody Blues, and the title track to his final solo release.

Announcement from John’s Family

It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that John Lodge, our darling husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and brother has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us. As anyone who knew this massive hearted man knows, it was his enduring love of his wife, Kirsten, and his family, that was the most important thing to him, followed by his passion for music, and his faith.

He was never happier than being on stage – he was ‘Just a ‘Singer in a Rock and Roll Band’ and he adored performing with his band and son-in-law, Jon (vocalist with YES), and being able to continue sharing this music with his fans. It gave him even more joy to be able to work with his daughter Emily and son Kristian and spend time watching his grandson John-Henry play football and dream of him playing for Birmingham City one day!

John peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved-ones and the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. We will forever miss his love, smile, kindness, and his absolute and never-ending support. We are heartbroken, but will walk forwards into peace surrounded by the love he had for each of us. As John would always say at the end of the show, thank you for keeping the faith.

Please understand that we are not making any further comments, however we would like to leave you with John’s song ’Whispering Angels’ whilst we take a moment to reflect on this incredible man who touched so many lives.”

It’s an embarrassment of riches for Team Michael on this season of The Voice, and on Monday’s new episode, two of Bublé’s singers — Jazz McKenzie and Trinity — go head-to-head for an astonishingly impressive Battle, and you can watch it early on Billboard.

The two vocalists offered a jazzy masterclass with their performance of Jamiroquai‘s “Virtual Insanity,” trading lines and lushly harmonizing on the 1996 top 40 Pop Airplay hit and MTV staple, with its memorable moving-walkway music video. Jazz and Trinity totally reinvent the song in the Battle, imagining: What if “Virtual Insanity” were instead a duet between Jill Scott and Erykah Badu?

The Voice coach Snoop Dogg took notice of the song’s revamp, marveling, “Heavens to Murgatroyd! Lord have mercy! I went on tour with Jamiroquai – y’all put some herbs and spices on that man’s song.”

Snoop also acknowledged the difficulty of Bublé’s decision — “This is two four-chair turns. Mike, I know you’re not happy about this” — while their fellow coach Reba McEntire quipped: “I am.”

All the non-Bublé coaches were licking their lips at the chance to steal one of the singers, with Niall Horan saying, “If I’m stealing anyone, I want one of you two. … Bublé, you’re in big trouble.” Horan also poked fun at how the Battle got him moving, joking, “I dislocated a hip. I know that’s gonna be on the Internet.”

But it’s all going to come down to Bublé on Monday. “Trinity, I love the jazz thing,” he said. “You were just improvising and this is just effortless and easy for you. Jazz, you have this wonderful, powerful voice, and this is the essence of what this show is about.”

So who will he pick? You’ll have to tune in Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streaming on Peacock to find out, and you can watch their full Battle and deliberation exclusively on Billboard below.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

We are just months away from the release of the highly-anticipated second half of Wicked, Wicked: For Good, and everyone’s getting excited, including Ariana Grande.

If you didn’t know, film’s second half is set to release in theaters on Nov. 21. Grande is so excited for the release, in fact, that she dropped a Wicked: For Good-inspired makeup collection under her beauty brand R.E.M. Beauty. The limited-edition collection includes nine Wicked-inspired products, including everything from eyeshadows and blush to plumping glosses and so much more, all imbued with the spirit of the films and the unbreakable bond between Glinda, portrayed by Grande, and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. Pricing ranges from $20 to $65.

You can shop the full collection, brushes and all, right now at Ulta Beauty. You’d better be quick, however, R.E.M. Beauty’s past Wicked collection went fast, and we’re sure this one will too. To help you shop like a beauty expert, we’ve picked out five of our favorites from the collection that we think are worth the splurge. We’ll be breaking down pricing, formula and everything in between. Keep reading to shop Grande’s Wicked: For Good collection.

R.E.M. Beauty Wicked Cherry Blossom Blush Palette

$40

Buy Now at ulta

A three shadow blush palette.

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Blush is one of our favorite parts of any makeup routine. It truly brings any look to life. This $40 Cherry Blossom Blush Palette is a great piece to have in your makeup kit because it offers users many ways to flush all in one product. You’ve got three pans of blush, one matte, one shimmer & one with a melange finish, meaning it’s mottled with shimmer.

Each shade is a warm pink in varying hues that will give you different effects when applied. The matte finish is your standard wash of color, while the other two shades offer a flush with a slight wash of shimmer, giving your look that extra oomph. We’d recommend this product to our readers with a lighter complexion, while the Coral palette in the Wicked collection might work best for those with deeper complexions.

R.E.M. Beauty Elphaba Makeup Set

$65

Buy Now at ulta

A four-piece makeup collection.

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Four products for the price of one? Sign us up. This Elphaba Makeup Set retails for $65, that is roughly $16.25 per item. The set comes with a liquid eyeshadow, blush & lip stick, lip liner and a glossy balm. Every color featured in the collection is inspired by Elphaba’s color palette. The liquid eyeshadow is a bronzy hue with green undertones.

The shadow is blendable and doesn’t crease despite ample weartime. The blush & lip stick is a berry tone in a balmy formula that works on both the lips and cheeks, as the name suggests. The lip liner is formulated to work with the accompanying glossy balm. The liner is chocolate brown while the lippie is a plum hue. This set is well worth the price tag.

R.E.M. Beauty Wicked Glinda Makeup Set

$65

Buy Now at ulta

A four-piece makeup set.

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Like the Elphaba set, the Glinda set is inspired by Glinda’s opalescent pink-heavy color scheme and retails for $65. You get four products: a liquid eyeshadow, a glow stick, lip liner and a glossy balm. The eyeshadow is a non-creasing blendable purple hue with a duochrome pink and blue shift. The glow stick is similarly shiny with a lavender and pink shift. It can be used on the lips and cheeks for a unique shine. The lip liner is a comfortable, smudge-proof formula in a warm pink hue that works well with the accompanying pink glossy balm with iridescent shimmers throughout. Like the last set, you’re getting a great value for the price.  

R.E.M. Beauty Wicked Ozian Forest Eyeshadow Palette

$60

Buy Now at ulta

A 12 pan eyeshadow palette.

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This is one of those products that is a must-buy in our books. This Ozian Forest Eyeshadow Palette retails for $60 and comes with a total of 12 shadows, including a mix of mattes and shimmers. The color scheme is pretty neutral, save for some greens and pinks here and there. The mattes are pigmented but extremely user-friendly, blending out with the simplest of touches. The shimmers are equally as impactful, giving even the simplest of eyelooks a head-turning aspect. Whether you want this palette for everyday use or to create something bold and unforgettable, these shadows will get you there.

R.E.M. Beauty Wicked Poppy Plumping Lip Gloss

$20

Buy Now at ulta

A plumping gloss in a shimmering finish.

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The plumpest pout in all of Oz can be yours with this Wicked Poppy Plumping Lip Gloss. Retailing for $20, the gloss comes in three shades total, although we like the Pretty as Poppy shade the best. These glosses are both pigmented and hydrating, sitting comfortably on the lips without that stinging or burning feeling you get with most plumping products.

The plumping effect is gentle, activated through ingredients like vanilla-spiced pepper, cotton seed oil, and botanical retinol. These combined ingredients stimulate the skin, creating a warm, tingling sensation, essentially increasing blood flow to the lips to make them appear plumper. It’s not magic like Glinda would have you believe. It’s all science, baby.