On a drizzly Saturday morning, umbrellas bloom along the avenue and puddles gather at every crosswalk. Days like this call for a sneaker with a little extra courage, and Adidas has just delivered it. Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner made the Samba the It sneaker of summer 2022. Since then, the slim suede classic has stayed firmly in the spotlight. This fall, it gets a surprising makeover. The newest version adds a zipped suede cover over the laces, which still hide underneath. A rubber mudguard wraps the toe and climbs halfway around the sides and back. Inside, a soft textile lining keeps every step cozy. The look borrows the playful spirit of hiking gear, now a favorite of fashion girls far from any mountain. Its natural habitat, after all, remains the city sidewalk.

From Frozen Pitches to Fashion Week

Adi Dassler designed the Samba in 1949 for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, to help footballers train on icy ground. Its name honored the music of the host country. Decades later, skaters and models turned it into a street-style legend.

The Rainy-Day Story of the Zipper

In 1923, the B.F. Goodrich Company coined the word zipper for its new rubber galoshes with hookless fasteners. Fittingly, this Samba borrows that rainy-day heritage. It also winks at gorpcore, the outdoorsy trend named after the trail mix hikers call gorp.

How to Wear the Zip-Up Samba

Pair the brown version, striped in purple, with a pleated midi skirt and a chunky cardigan. The sky blue style looks fresh with wide-leg jeans, while the all-black pair suits a long wool coat. For now, the collection is available only on the Adidas Japan website. Zip them up, and every puddle on the way to brunch becomes a tiny adventure, conquered in style.