i don't like adidas sambas
There, I said it. Now can we move on?
Now that I have all of the TikTok fashion gurus here (I’m kidding, sort of) let me reiterate. I don’t like Adidas Sambas. Why, you ask? Well, let me set the scene for you.
It’s a Saturday morning and I’m at Dick’s Sporting Goods to pick out new running shoes (I have fallen victim to the allure of Hokas) with my mom. I figured while I was there I might as well try on the Adidas Sambas since they were right there, after all. I had been debating on adding a Samba to my shoe rotation, especially because my go- tos for the past 6 years have been chunky dad sneakers (live laugh love my New Balance 530s), but I never found myself in a position to actually try them for myself. One pair in particular stood out me: a white/ off white/ teal color way. Even my mom, yes, the same mother who said my Simone Rocha Crocs were ugly, said that she loved the look of them. I eagerly took the shoes out of the box and laced them up just to see that they looked…
Like bowling shoes. They looked like fucking bowling shoes. And not even in a camp way that’s kind of iconic! I thought that this must be a joke, there was no way that THE shoes of 2024 looked this ridiculous on my feet. I shook off the idea that I looked like I was about to lead my bowling team to victory at our local alley and decided the least I could do was take a lap and see if they lived up to the hype.
Let me tell you, they most certainly did not. It felt like I was walking directly on the ground and you mean to tell me that everyone loves these and doesn’t find them uncomfortable in the slightest?
Here’s the kicker, though: I wanted to love the Sambas so badly. Yes, everyone and their mother has them, but that is for good reason. The Sambas offer a sleeker sneaker silhouette and an extensive range of colors, and I won’t lie they just look so cool. Of course, I have to mention that they have seemingly been the most iconic sneaker of 2024 and even most of 2023, which is saying something considering how fast the trend cycle currently moves.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel almost relieved when I realized that the Sambas just weren’t for me. I continually preach about authenticity in fashion, and I no longer had a reason to want to chase the Adidas Sambas dream. One of the biggest components of achieving a personal style that feels authentic to you is experimentation and seeing if the shoe fits (literally). Just because an item is trendy does not mean it has to be followed, especially when there are so many other, just as cool, alternatives on the market.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always be one to at least play around with a new trend, but something that I do need to remind myself of is that trends are not the defining feature of your wardrobe. It is more than alright to openly admit that that the “it” item of the season is simply just not for you, especially because defining personal style is equal parts leaning into what you love while clearly defining what you don’t.
If you’re loving your Sambas and they feel like the missing piece in your wardrobe, keep wearing them, I’m sure you rock them, trends aside. However if Sambas aren’t your thing, come join the party! If you need me, I’ll be on the hunt for my new sneaker obsession.