These $75 Sneakers Have Reached Cult Status, and I Have the Outfits to Prove It

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(Image credit: @josefinehj)

Buzzy items that take hold over the fashion community usually come with a steep price tag—Totême's internet-famous scarf coat, Balenciaga's Cagole knee boots, Miu Miu's ballet flats… The list goes on. But there is some financial relief when it comes to It sneakers. In this world, it's usually the simplest or most normcore styles that get the most attention (just look at the eternal popularity of Chuck Taylor high-tops and Nike Blazers), and they're usually relatively affordable. The latest entry in this It-sneaker canon? Adidas Samba sneakers.

From Paris to New York, fashion people have embraced the classic soccer sneakers, pairing them with everything from maxi skirts to tailored trousers and jeans. Adidas Sambas' narrow silhouette and streamlined design make them ideal for almost any type of look, and their practicality means they're super easy to style. But in case you're low on ideas, I gathered a few fashion person–approved outfits to reference when times get tough. Keep scrolling to see them all. 

The Sneakers

First, let's get to the sneakers. While Sambas do come in a variety of special-edition colorways, the main colors people seem to love are classic black and white. Both are popular among fashion people, so it all comes down to personal preference. Since they're gaining traction online, it's better to jump on them now than later. Getting them via Amazon is the cheapest and most time-efficient option.

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

Style tip: Shearling-jacket season is in full swing, so it makes perfect sense to pair the cold-weather staple with jeans and a pair of Samba sneakers.

Shop the look:

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(Image credit: @anoukyve)

Style tip: If going full shearling and leather is too aggressive, opt for a suede topper instead. A shade of tan feels both autumnal and elevated. 

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(Image credit: @aude_julie)

Style tip: As it turns out, Adidas Sambas and a midi skirt are a prime combo. To dress it down, throw on an easy flannel shirt. 

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(Image credit: @josefinehj)

Style tip: If you're deep into this season's trends, you probably already own another major trend blowing up right now—a distressed leather jacket. Here's an easy way to pull it off every day.

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(Image credit: @lindatol_)

Style tip: Some of the best outfits reinterpret standard dress codes, like this polished-meets-relaxed combination of loose trousers, a chunky cable-knit sweater, and Samba sneakers.

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Style tip: This slip dress is the ultimate one-and-done piece, but its powers become magnified with the addition of cool sneakers. Add a tailored coat for extra sophistication.

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(Image credit: @endlesslyloveclub)

Style tip: A blazer and jeans are fashion-person go-tos, but the tried-and-true pairing feels even more leveled up with the addition of cool kicks.

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(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

Style tip: While we're on the topic of maxi skirts, why not try one with a simple tank top and sneakers?

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(Image credit: @annelauremais)

Style tip: Navy striped sweaters are one of those preppy pieces that prove their worth season after season. For a modern take, wear it with a micro miniskirt (stockings or no stockings, it's up to you) and, of course, Sambas.

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Up next: 12 Designer It Items All the Cool Fashion People Are Wearing Right Now

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.