The One Trainer Brand French Women Always Reach For

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(Image credit: @modedamour)

Ever since I saw Phoebe Philo walk out at the end of Celine shows during her tenure wearing Adidas Stan Smiths shoes, I've kept a pair in my wardrobe—just like many other chic women I know. The style embodies elevated fashion and captures that certain je ne sais quoi of modern-day dressing. I've effortlessly paired mine with tailored jackets and office-ready trousers, as well as with dresses and a denim jacket in summer and jeans and sweatshirts for busy errand days. If a pair of trainers could represent a French woman, it would undoubtedly be a pair of Adidas sneakers.

Beyond being simple, white leather shoes, the entire Adidas brand has become synonymous with cool, French girl style in recent years. The brand's Sambas embody the spirit of fun-loving, trend-forward individuals hanging out in the Marais neighbourhood. Ultraboosts grace the feet of stylish, on-the-go mums picking up produce and taking their impeccably dressed babies to the Louvre. For the fashion-savvy, the Stan Smith reigns supreme (although we do have a soft spot for colorful Gazelles too).

And if you're anything like me, you want an affordable sneaker that can complement any outfit. Fortunately, nearly all of Adidas' bestselling, easy-to-wear styles are priced at £150 or below. Plus, if these looks can't convince you of French women's obsession with Adidas shoes, I honestly don't know what will.

Shop Adidas Trainers:

1. Stan Smiths

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(Image credit: @aida.bdji)

Style Notes: Stan smiths are simple, chic and go with just about everything in your wardrobe, all year round. What more could you want?

Shop the shoe:

2. Superstars

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(Image credit: @aude_julie)

Style Notes: These have held icon status for over 50 years. Chances are you already own and love a pair, but if not, shop them below! 

Shop the shoe:

3. Sambas

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

Style Notes: The shoe of the season (or even year) is here to stay. They're selling out fast, but we promise to update you as soon as they're in stock.

Shop the shoe:

4. Gazelles

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(Image credit: @annelauremais)

Style Notes: Cool people wear Gazelles. Fact.

Shop the shoe:

Next Up: The 8-Piece Capsule Wardrobe French Women Rely On in the Summer

This story originally appeared on Who What Wear US and has since been updated.

Promo image: @anoukyve

Assistant Shopping Editor
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)