How PureWow Editors Actually Style Their Adidas Sneakers

Jillian Quint, Editor in Chief

The brown Samba sneaker is having a moment, and if you've been sleeping on it in favor of the classic white and black, now is the time to reconsider. White Sambas are crisp and clean. And, brown Sambas look like they've been yours since the ‘90s. 

“This spring, I’m going for full ‘90s mall vibes, which, for me, means roomy 100 percent cotton denim (Quince’s Bella Rigid Straight Jeans are chefs kiss), popped-collar button down, casual ball cap and suede Adidas in a muted colorway,” says Editor in Chief, Jillian Quint.

Deena Campbell, Fashion and Beauty Director

Metallic sneakers have no business being this versatile, and yet the silver metallic Samba keeps the same low, flat silhouette, but the finish changes everything. It reflects color back at you, which means the brighter the outfit, the better the shoe looks. A saturated top and a midi skirt (like this skirt from Mirth), something that might read as too sweet with a white sneaker, suddenly has some spice.

I wear my metallic Sambas with everything, but give me a colorful top and a midi skirt and I'm the happiest person in the room. Since I know you’re wondering,  I’m usually sockless or with a no-show sock. The millennial in me wouldn’t have it any other way.

Stephanie Maida, Senior Commerce Editor

Whereas most athletic shoes easily slide outfits into full gym-mode, white Sambas are the rare sneaks that look just as good on the way to a workout as they do on the way to the office. A chunky trainer reads as activewear. A white Samba reads as an outfit. Pair them with a fitted legging, an oversized sweatshirt or a cardigan, and you’re all set for running weekend errands. 

“Sambas feel so iconic and classic, but they have a slim enough footprint (no pun intended) not to overwhelm an outfit,” says Senior Commerce Editor, Stephanie Maida. “I like that I can play up their sportiness with athleisure looks or play it down with dresses and skirts. The best thing about them, though, is just how comfortable they are.”

Courtney Mason, Editorial Assistant

“I practically live in my Sambas,” says Editorial Assistant, Courtney Mason. “Not only are they extremely versatile, but they’re comfortable enough to get me through long work commutes and daily wear. I pair them with wide leg jeans, trousers, maxi dresses—and they never feel out of place with my outfits. They are a staple in my wardrobe, and I would happily buy another pair.”

That same ease is exactly why sambas work so well with a shirt dress. On its own, the silhouette can feel too crisp or office-leaning, but the sneaker instantly takes the edge off.

Catrina Yohay, Executive Managing Editor 

Leave it to Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay to find the most covetable pair in the lineup. The Adidas Originals Handball Spezial is the Samba's slightly more obscure cousin,  same low, flat silhouette, same suede construction, same vintage-inflected look, but in a chalky brown that reads as a neutral without being remotely dull. "If I had it my way, I'd collect this shoe in every color," Yohay says. "But my budget and closet space say otherwise." So she narrowed it down to one, and it was the right call: the chalky brown pulls the cargo pants together without making the outfit feel like a uniform, and the cow-print lining at the heel is a small, private joke that only comes out if you’re paying attention.