My Most-Worn Sneakers Cost Just $100

Being a Fashion Girl is hard—especially for someone who more or less stumbled into the field unwittingly. A closet full of designer hand-me-downs or statuesque genes, I do not boast. Where the next fashion editor might have a Chanel collection and a well-studied strut, I have arthritis and hormonal acne. That’s all to say: I don’t always feel like I belong in the rooms I’m in. And as silly as it sounds, my footwear plays a consistent part in that. I always wear sneakers. Sometimes I’ll do the working-woman thing and bring a pair of heeled sandals to change into at the office, but usually not. Meanwhile, my peers dazzle with vintage Prada pumps or the latest trending flats. Woe is me.

Adidas Originals SL 72

This is all a quite long-winded way of leading you, reader, to my actual point. (I have one, I swear.) I’ve discovered a pair of sneakers that are somehow fashionable and wearable enough that I don’t fret over my footwear anymore. For the last year or so, I have worn my beloved Adidas SL72s over and over again. They are my most worn shoe, hands down, and among my most complimented, too. It doesn’t hurt that celebrities like Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and Suki Waterhouse are also fans of the sleek silhouette.

The cherry red hue adds a fashion-forward pop that makes the sneakers feel more like a choice and less like a concession. Plus, it zhuzhes up otherwise basic ensembles, like jeans and a white T-shirt. The SL72s comes in lots of fun color combos and is available in half sizes, and they clock in at just $100, which is a steal. If you’re the kind of shopper who considers cost per wear, I’ve made back my money two times over. My orthopedic soles live comfortably inside, and I don’t have to retie them every time I put them on. I’ve worn these sneakers for travel, to the office, and even to capital-F fashion events like New York Fashion Week. To me, the Adidas SL72s feel like the ultimate cheat code. They’re my way of blending into a scene of highly stylish people without jeopardizing my mobility. And that’s a major win in my book.

Why Trust ELLE

Every product featured on ELLE.com is independently researched, tested, or editor-approved. We only recommend products that we stand behind, and the merchandise featured on our site is always driven by editorial and product testing standards, not by affiliate deals or advertising relationships. Any content created in partnership with advertisers is marked as such.