Over the past few years, I’ve fallen in love with sneakers and their casual-cool vibe. Out of the many sneakers I’ve tried, only a few have risen to the top. So I thought I’d share my top 3 favorite sneakers and where you can find them.
Adidas Samba
See the full outfits: one| two | three | four | five | six
Last fall, I tried really hard to resist the call of the Samba. I talked myself out of them because they were “too popular”.
UGGGHHHHH. Is there anything more tiring than not liking something (that you actually like) because it’s too mainstream and you want to be DiFfErEnT?
Happily, I decided to give up on this way of thinking — I got Sambas last year and I’m so happy about it! :D
There was a moment there when you couldn’t get your hands on a Samba to save your life. Thankfully, things have changed, and it’s way easier to snag a pair.
From my perspective, Sambas are less of a fashion status symbol now (as they were a couple of years ago). Instead, they are more like a foundational essential for your wardrobe, similar to a pair of just-right jeans or a favorite plain white tee. They are a true classic.
I have them in black and white, and when I travel, there’s *always* one pair in my suitcase. There’s something about a Samba that’s proportionally perfect. They have a slim profile, but they feel substantial and padded. They look amazing with everything — dresses, baggy jeans, shorts, skirts, socks, no socks. You name it, it looks amazing.
SIZING: I wear a M6.5/W7.5. (For reference, I’m a 38 in Birkenstocks and my foot is 24cm)
WHERE TO BUY: Finish Line, Adidas, Nordstrom, Revolve and Dick’s Sporting Goods
New Balance 530
See the full outfits: one| two | three | four | five | six
Walking a couple miles each day is one of my favorite ways to stay sane, get outdoors, and connect to my body. My old walking shoes were getting pretty worn out after years of heavy use, so I recently decided to update to the New Balance 530s. I love how supportive and breathable they are.
Choosing a walking shoe that’s also beloved by the fashion crowd was the best decision ever! For some reason, up until just recently, I never factored my personal style into my walking clothes. But that’s changed this year, and I’m letting my enthusiasm for fashion spill over into my walking clothes.
And it turns out, I don’t just wear them for walking — they look great with a low-key coffee shop outfit too. I like that they have 90s dad sneaker vibes without being too chunky or over the top.
SIZING: I wear a M6/W7.5 (For reference, I’m a 38 in Birkenstocks and my foot is 24cm)
WHERE TO BUY: They are in stock at New Balance, Anthropologie, or Free People
Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66
See the full outfits: one| two | three | four | five
The Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers are my most recent shoe addition and I am infatuated with their retro look. I have the original fit in black/white and the SD fit in green/red/yellow.
If you want a unique sneaker (and some of fashion clout) these are the sneakers to get. Since they come in a rainbow of colors and are harder to find, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be wearing the same shoe as someone else in the room.
Compared to the Samba, these have a slightly slimmer profile. To me, they *really* shine with shorts or dresses, which makes them perfect for spring. The stripes are super flattering and even elongate the leg a bit. The back tab is one of my favorite little details on the shoe, and I always want to show it off instead of covering it with a pant. (But they also look great with full-length pants too!)
Onitsuka Tiger stopped producing shoes in the US recently, so you have to get them via third party. I made my first-ever GOAT purchase for these Tigers and felt confident in GOAT’s vetting process. Shipping took a little while (about two weeks) but it was worth the wait!
SIZING: I wear a M6.5 (For reference, I’m a 38 in Birkenstocks and my foot is 24cm)
WHERE TO BUY THEM: GOAT or StockX (I highly recommend springing for the SD version of the sneakers if you can. They cost a little bit more, but have more support in the footbed and an even more streamlined silhouette.)
• • •
And there you have it!
Are any of these sneakers on your wish list? Do you already have any of ’em? Feel free to share in the comments!
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Hope your weekend is full of good things that lift you up. <3
I feel the same way about the Sambas! I actually have a pair of black ones that I’ve had since I played indoor soccer for one season in 2012 but I have the hardest time styling them! The tongue feels really tall (maybe the new ones are different?!) and any time I put them on, I feel like they don’t look right :-/
I recently retired my Adidas Stan Smiths which I wore for YEARS. I got a pair of Golas and loooove them. They feel like a nod to an underground fashion rebel group who wants a cool pair of kicks that fly under the radar. Or maybe it’s all in my head.
Anywhooooo if you ever wanted to do a post styling black Sambas (or dark sneakers in general?), I’d be here for it.
LOVE Golas and completely agree that they feel like a cool, under-the-radar sneaker. :) I’ve definitely got thoughts on styling black/dark sneakers, so I’ll work on that post. Great idea Chelsea!
love it! how do you keep your sneakers so pristine? they don’t look like they’ve ever heard of outdoors! :)
Awww nooo that’s exactly what I DON’T want them to look like. LOL. Some of these pictures are older from when the shoes were newer so maybe that’s why? Plus I live in a city where we mostly drive instead of walk places. But if you’re wanting to clean your sneaks, nothing works as well as a Magic Eraser. :)
Did you find it took ages to break in your Sambas? I have a pair of suede gazelles that were comfy from day 1 but I’m really struggling with my Sambas!
Hi Rachel! :) I didn’t! My Sambas were comfy right out of the box.