UK prime minister Rishi Sunak was in the news recently for sporting Adidas Samba. Since everyone (and their prime minister) is wearing this shoe, we bring you five other slimline styles to try if you don’t want to follow in anyone else’s footsteps
When news broke this week that British prime minister Rishi Sunak was spotted wearing the most popular sneakers of the year—the Adidas Samba—the fashion community debated whether it was time to hang them up.
Originally designed in 1949 as a football training shoe to combat icy grounds, the narrow silhouette of the Samba has proven to be the chic alternative to the chunky sneakers trend that dominated the late 2010s, and harking back to the popularity of plimsolls in the 2000s.
If you’re in the market for the style, but don’t want to follow in anyone else’s footsteps, these are five alternative shoes that fit the bill.
1. Adidas Handball Spezial
The Adidas Handball Spezial was made for playing handball on indoor courts in the ’70s, and the slim silhouette, combined with suede finish, make these similar in style to Adidas Samba. The retro athletic feel is prevalent, although there are slight differences as the Spezial features a shorter tongue and thinner laces.