The One Sneaker Brand French Women Always Reach For
Ever since I saw Phoebe Philo walk out at the end of Celine shows during her tenure wearing Adidas Stan Smith shoes, I've kept a pair in my closet—just like many other chic women I know. The style embodies elevated fashion and captures that certain je ne sais quoi of modern-day dressing. I've effortlessly paired mine with tailored jackets and office-ready trousers and with jeans and oversize sweatshirts for busy errand days. If a pair of sneakers could represent a French woman, it would undoubtedly be a pair of Adidas sneakers.
Beyond its simple white leather shoes, the entire Adidas brand has become synonymous with cool French-girl style in recent years. Its Sambas embody the spirit of fun-loving, trend-forward individuals hanging out in the Marais neighborhood. Ultraboosts grace the feet of stylish on-the-go moms picking up produce and taking their impeccably dressed babies to the Louvre. For the fashion-savvy, the Stan Smiths reign supreme. (Although, I do have a soft spot for colorful Gazelles.)
If you're anything like me, you want affordable sneakers that can complement any outfit. Fortunately, nearly all of Adidas's best-selling styles are priced at $150 and below. If these looks can't convince you of French women's love for Adidas shoes, I honestly don't know what will. Below, explore all the pairs waiting in their virtual shopping carts.
What you need: Adidas Stan Smith sneakers
What you need: Adidas Superstar sneakers
What you need: Adidas Samba sneakers
What you need: Adidas Gazelle sneakers
I can totally see this pair on the streets of Paris under some straight-leg, light-wash denim.
Shop more Adidas shoes:
This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitiated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)
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