I'm not here to sound the death knell for the Adidas Samba – but considering it has enjoyed nearly three years as the trainer of choice for fashion lovers, it's about time a new shoe took its crown.
The cool girls have spoken – the newest and most covetable sneaker to be seen in is the Adidas SL 72. Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, Lucy Williams and Emili Sindlev have all been photographed wearing the retro shoe, which was originally launched in the 1970s, and we're happy to report these trainers are now discounted in various colourways this Cyber Monday.
With its retro styling – complete with Adidas's iconic three stripes and trefoil logo the SL 72 is not dissimilar to the much-beloved Samba, though it's a little more slimline and a tad sportier.
Styling wise, do like Bella Hadid and team the brown and maroon pair with blue bootcut jeans, a white tank and a tan leather jacket, or make like content creator Anastasia Kaufmann and throw on a trench coat.
Off on hols? Wear your SL 72s on the plane (with an all-grey tracksuit and chic bag, like Emili Sindlev) and then at your destination, with flippy floral dresses and ankle socks – it's the perfect market-hopping outfit.
I'm also partial to the apple-green pair, as worn by Lucy Williams (with clashing green socks) and Emily Ratajkowski (with baggy trousers and a cardigan), for a jubilant pop of colour.
Designer Wales Bonner has been putting her spin on the SL 72 (as well as the Samba) since 2020, as part of the adidas Originals by Wales Bonner collection. And there are more SL 72 collabs in the work, including one with Sporty & Rich – the shoe in question is blue with yellow stripes, an ode to founder Emily Oberg's Swedish roots.
In the meantime, there are a whole host of versions to choose from. Like its sibling, the SL 72 comes in a variety of colourways, including '70s-inspired brown, bright green and petrol blue, which was the original colour of the shoe.
Shop our top SL 72 sale picks below. This is an incredibly rare opportunity to get your hands on them, as they sell out often and rarely go on sale. If you're not quite ready to let them go just yet, check out some other classic Adidas styles, yes, including the Sambas.
What does SL stand for in adidas SL 72
The trainers were first introduced during the 1972 Munich Olympics as part of Adidas' SL series. The abbreviation simply refers to 'Super Light,' meaning the shoes are light and airy so athletes can glide through without any extra weight coming from their trainers.
Do the SL 72 trainers run small, large or true to size?
Many retailers say the SL 72 trainers run true to size but having tried them on, I would say they run half a size small. For comparison, I am a UK 5.5 (EU 38.5) in the Adidas Gazelle; the same size in the SL 72 was a little small, so I opted for a UK 6 (EU 39), which fits perfectly.
