HOW TO STYLE THE ADIDAS SAMBA

The adidas Originals Samba. You won’t have scrolled far on your IG feed recently without spotting a pair of these iconic lace-up trainers on the feet of someone beautiful. The viral shoe hailed by Lyst as ‘the sneaker of the year’ is a celebrity and influencer favourite, worn by anyone who’s anyone, from Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber to Hailey Bieber and Rihanna. But the It-girl favourite is nothing new. Launched in 1949, these retro kicks go way back and have a storied, celeb-studded past.

Originally designed for playing football, Sambas soon made their mark off the pitch when UK football’s terrace ‘Casuals’ adopted them during the ‘70s. Across the pond, adidas’ links to American hip-hop and skate culture saw the brand adopted by both tribes. Fast forward to the ‘90s and Sambas were a Britpop favourite, worn by Oasis’ Gallagher brothers as they battled it out to reign supreme on the UK music charts. They have the sort of hyper-cool heritage and cultural cachet that most trainers can only dream of and are adidas’ second most popular design of all time, next to the Superstar sneakers. Tempered by its football and music associations, today the humble Samba is one of the most popular fashion items in the world…

But how do you style your Sambas? How do you make them work for different occasions and how many ways can you wear them? Well, that’s where we come in.

This is FLANNELS 3-Ways, your new styling BFF. We’re breaking down three ways to style the most important items in your closet. And this is how to style the most popular sneakers in the world, the adidas Originals Sambas. Whether you’re going in on preppy, sporty styles, dressing it up or keeing it casual, this is how to wear your adidas Originals Sambas for multiple occasions, with help from Prada, Acne Studios, Givenchy and more.

We’re no strangers to trainers as after-dark attire here at FLANNELS. Whether you’re dressing up for the office or heading ‘out-out’, a pair of Sambas can hold their own against the best heels out there. And they’re not in the business of pinching your toes.

A black, draped mini skirt serves as a smart base for this dressed-up look. Pair with Prada’s boxy camp-collar shirt. Cut in silk with feminine floral embroidery that’s off set by a sporty, retro silhouette. It’s peak athletic glam, as only Prada can.

But the devil is in the details. And this devil likes to shine. We’re going for big energy glamour here. Think crystals, rhinestones, and more rhinestones. Moschino’s embellished black satin bag fits the bill, and Saint Laurent’s sparkling hoop earrings will bring your Sambas from day to night with the ease of a seasoned fashion professional. The devil wears adidas now, too.

Dress code: cool casual. We’re serving up a heavy dose of laid-back luxe with Acne’s khaki camo joggers. Paired with your classic black and white Sambas and a black leather vest, this look pays homage the camo-wearing Samba heyday of ‘80s casual culture and ‘90s Britpop. Even the Gallagher’s would be proud. Maybe. Play alongside some fashion heavyweights with a touch of the aughts about them – read: Givenchy’s denim Antigona bag and elite eyewear courtesy of Bottega Veneta’s cult intrecciato sunnies. The cornerstones of cool-girl dressing.

An oversized Acne Studios stripe shirt provides a bit of polish. You want to look like you tried, but not too hard. Ultimately, it all comes back to the trainers. Your look is only as good as the Sambas you wear it with, after all.

Lean into the preppy, sporty aesthetic by pairing your Sambas with a diamond-knit sweater and a pair of knee-high socks. Prada’s camel-coloured cashmere polo wouldn’t look out of place on a (very stylish) golf course and really hits the modern preppy mark. Like Cher Horowitz and Elle Woods met and had a fashion lovechild.

Before someone mistakes you for a ‘90s Ivy League grad, dress it down with a pair of jorts. Prada’s low-waist Bermudas are a big vibe. And paired with Acne Studio’s big bulky leather bomber? It’s a look straight out of the hip-hop playbook that the Sambas are famously linked with. The likes of Rihanna and Hailey Bieber have vouched for the Samba-and-shorts combo – both have been spotted wearing their black classics with a pair of denim cut-offs. And if it’s good enough for Rhianna, it’s good enough for us. To finish, Bottega Veneta’s coveted Kalimero Cha-Cha Bag brings the whole ensemble firmly up to date.