There’s no denying that adidas Sambas have had the world in a chokehold for the past few years – up until the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was spotted wearing a pair, that is. It was the endorsement that absolutely no one wanted, and the fashion set has been desperately searching for an unsmeared alternative ever since.
Of course, in the fast-moving world of trainers, a new ‘It’ style is released almost weekly, with the likes of Nike’s Cortez, Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 and Puma Speedcats all enjoying their moment in the limelight– but none have shown quite the same staying power as the Samba. There is one style I’ve spotted quietly rising up the ranks of late, however, that does seem to be a strong contender…
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Introducing adidas’ SL 72 OG trainers, that, in their latest metallic silver and navy colourway, are fast becoming a fashion insider favourite. I’ve had my eye on them ever since the SS25 edition of London Fashion Week back in September, when I saw them subtly poking out from beneath the baggy jeans and long skirts of a handful of street style stars – and three months on, I’m still obsessed.
adidas SL 72 OG Shoes
Like the Samba, they have all the makings of the perfect everyday shoe: they’re casual yet cool, incredibly comfortable, super versatile, affordable, and feel both nostalgic and modern at the same time. The silver colourway also adds a touch of cool-girl festive sparkle into the mix – ideal for someone who, like me, tends towards head-to-toe black outfits and muted colour palettes. It’s telling, too, that this particular style has been more or less constantly sold out since it launched, serving only to add to its desirability more.
My fortunes changed last week, however, when I spotted three industry insiders wearing the silver SL OGs in a single day – and was told they are finally back in stock. One of them was Natalie Hughes, a freelance fashion editor, who couldn’t stop singing the style’s praises: ‘My other shoes have been somewhat neglected since I purchased a pair of silver SL 72s in the summer – they go with everything and, unlike many of my shoes, are wonderfully comfortable. I’m particularly enjoying wearing them with colourful socks, baggy jeans and a faux-fur coat this season.’
Naturally, I purchased them immediately, and am counting down the minutes until they arrive. I’ve already planned a handful of festive looks featuring said shoes as the centrepiece – and I have a sneaking suspicion I won’t be the only one doing so, either.
If silver shoes aren’t quite your bag however, fear not, for adidas has released the SL 72 OG trainers in a variety of other chic colourways – including the season’s trending brown, classic black-and-white, and fun colour pop combinations of pink and red, and lavender and orange.
And serving only to further prove my point that these are the cult trainers du jour, luxury activewear brand Sporty & Rich has just collaborated with adidas to release – you guessed it – its own limited-edition take on the SL 72 OGs, just months after it did the same for Sambas. Let the online shopping stampede commence…
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Adidas SL72 Sporty & Rich Originals Shoes
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Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.