Once upon a time, circa 2013, Born X Raised co-founders Chris “Spanto” Printup and Alex “2Tone” Erdmann hosted a traditional Sadie Hawkins dance in a small wooden hall in Highland Park in Los Angeles as an ode to the city in which the brand was founded and an effort to bring together the creative communities of the region. Today, with much more social capital, the annual event exists as a staple festivity of the holiday season and an excuse for L.A. creatives to prepare their finest looks, let their mom take pictures of them on the staircase, and dance the night away with their friends and lovers alike.

In collaboration with Vans, the 11th annual Born X Raised Sadie Hawkins Winter Formal was held recently at L.A.’s Union Station—adorned appropriately for this year’s casino theme with Casinola poker tables. Guests wandered from the tables to the dance floor as a collection of talented DJ sets filled the night: Mathieu, Dam Funk, WondaGurl, and others, as well as a surprise performance from Miguel. 

The winter formal only happens once a year, so it mustn’t be missed—The Kid LAROI, A$AP Nast, Freddie Gibbs, and Adéla were among the top names in attendance for the night to remember. To mark the occasion, Vans and Born X Raised debuted a reimagined edition of Vans’ classic slip-on, available only to guests of this exclusive event. 

From Prom to Homecoming, the Spring Dance to the Winter Formal, Born X Raised has championed their own kind of tradition: a ballad to the forever student.