These $75 Sneakers Have Reached Cult Status, and I Have the Outfits to Prove It
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.
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:
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.
Shop the look:
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.
Shop the look:
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.
Shop the look:
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.
Shop the look:
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.
Shop the look:
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.
Shop the look:
Style tip: While we're on the topic of maxi skirts, why not try one with a simple tank top and sneakers?
Shop the look:
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.
Shop the look:
Up next: 12 Designer It Items All the Cool Fashion People Are Wearing Right Now
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.
-
I'm a Fashion Editor—I Reach for These 2 Pieces When I Don't Know What to Wear
Ready in 10 minutes or less.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Suki Waterhouse Wore the New Adidas It Sneakers to Coachella With a Fur Coat
Get a pair before they're sold out everywhere.
By Allyson Payer
-
The Controversial Pant-and-Shoe Combo the Fashion Set Is Wearing Right Now
Outfit inspo from Paris to NYC.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Lily Collins Just Wore the French It Sneakers That Are Nothing Like Sambas
But just as cool.
By Allyson Payer
-
The Only 9 Jackets You Need for Spring, According to Fashion People
There's something for everyone.
By Remy Farrell
-
9 Sneakers That Are as Cool as Sambas But Not Owned by Everyone
No disrespect to the Sambas in your closet.
By Allyson Payer
-
And Now, 5 Elevated Ways to Wear Your Jeans in 2024
Denim devotees, unite.
By Grace O'Connell Joshua
-
I'm Saving This '90s Supermodel's Airport Looks for All My Travel Days in 2024
Each one is comfortable and super chic.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes