As summer approaches, we can’t help but wonder: What will the next trending sneaker be? You might think popular sandal and flat styles will thrive, but the practical sneaker is as popular as ever. Yes, warm weather calls for open-toed shoes, but busy days spent walking from the park straight to dinner beg for a comfortable sneaker. Historically, summer is when the sneaker of the year is established, and Gen Z is already turning to its favorite brand, Adidas. If the Samba sneaker takeover of summers past and the brand’s highly coveted collaborations with Wales Bonner and Bad Bunny are any indication, Adidas’s latest styles are bound to become Gen Z favorites. And as a Gen Zer, I’ll be the first to say that we have four front-runners.
Late last fall, the retro SL 72 sneaker was spotted on almost every stylish celebrity that inspires Gen Z style, so of course, I’d wager those will make even more of a splash this summer. This spring, slim styles like the Tokyo and the viral Taekwondo—which you’ve probably seen in a pretty cow print all over viral mood boards—have been buzzing among the fashion set. Read on to shop the four Adidas styles Gen Z is coveting this spring and summer.
Taekwondo
Inspired by martial arts, the Taekwondo shoe is laceless and features a slim leather exterior that has an early 2000s street style feel. It makes for an extremely slip-on-and-go situation for those mornings when you just can’t. The cow print is my favorite—it’s such a fun statement-making shoe. The Taekwondo also comes in a pretty pink satin material and a glossy, on-trend silver shade.
SL 72
Another celeb favorite is the SL 72, and its bright colorways and vintage feel are the perfect combination for a viral Gen Z sneaker. The name pays homage to the year that the sneaker came out—it debuted during the 1972 Olympics as a runner’s shoe. Now, the updated style is just as lightweight and comes in a myriad of colors.
Country OG
The most under-the-radar sneaker on this list is the Country OG. But don’t count it out. The sneaker is similar to the SL 72, but it’s slightly slimmer and offers a more updated take on the retro running shoe silhouette. Fun fact: It debuted in 1970 as a cross-country running shoe. Need a new crisp white sneaker for summer? The all-white pair is ideal for casual looks.
Tokyo
Dubbed by editors as the next Samba (“With their sleek silhouette and modern feel, they capture everything we love about the Samba but with a fresh twist,” wrote Erin Fitzpatrick), the Tokyo sneaker has the cool factor of a soon-to-be-viral shoe. Another slim, retro-inspired shoe (can you tell this is a major sneaker trend this year?), it’s also beloved by stylish celebrities, and its updated but classic style is catching Gen Z’s eye.
