Sophie Turner Proves Her Adidas Sambas Can Outlive Any Other Sneaker Trend
You won't catch her in any other style.


My digital footprint speaks for itself: I'm clearly pro-chunky sneakers. (See my deep-dive into Dakota Johnson's trademark trainers for proof.) No matter how many articles I write, however, the slim sneaker community stands firm in its Adidas Sambas stance, with Sophie Turner as the supreme Sneakerhead-in-Chief.
The Game of Thrones alum's closet boasts four low-profile Sambas (that we know of), which she started collecting in 2022. She owns the black, white, and green versions, but the latter color gets the most bang for her buck. On July 9, the Northampton native was spotted in London's Notting Hill with her boyfriend, Peregrine Pearson. Turner avoided the limelight in cozy loungewear, most notably, her all-time favorite green sneakers.
Turner chose the original all-leather silhouette, which evolved from a style debuting in 1950 Germany into the official Adidas Samba introduced in 1972. Her quintessential Sambas featured reinforced T-toes and serrated triple stripes on each sidewall (an Adidas calling card). The rubber gum soles upped the nostalgia supplied by the already-retro uppers.
A Sambas-clad Sophie Turner explored Notting Hill hand-in-hand with her boyfriend.
The color started and ended with Turner's Sambas—she paired them with a two-tone groutfit. Even though the forecast showed a high of 89° Fahrenheit, the 29-year-old went with a heather gray long-sleeve. Its cropped hem offered a little reprieve from the London heat. Then, she slipped on low-waisted sweatpants in a slightly darker shade of gray. A micro-mini shoulder bag in ivory completed her off-duty outfit.
Turner's loyalties lie with Adidas, but on June 3, she teased the end of an era. At a SXSW London event, Turner swapped her signature Sambas for fellow Londoner Dua Lipa's favorite shoes: Puma Speedcats. The Puma newbie had never publicly worn the '90s racing-inspired sneakers before, but she looked quite comfortable in them alongside Khaite jeans. However, a month later, she came strolling back to her tried-and-trues, courtesy of Adidas.
At SXSW London, Sophie shocked fans in black Puma Speedcat sneakers.
If her latest looks signal anything, it's that Turner is experimenting with new sneakers (without deterring too far from skinny silhouettes). Perhaps she'll finally get my (not-so) subtle hint and give dad-ish New Balance sneakers a go.
Shop Adidas Sambas Inspired by Sophie Turner
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Meguire Hennes is the fashion staff writer at Marie Claire, where she breaks down the celebrity looks living rent-free in her head (and yours). Whether a star is walking the red carpet or posing on Instagram, Meguire will tell you who they're wearing and why. When she's not gushing about A-listers from J.Law to Rihanna, Meguire also covers breaking industry news.
Previously, Meguire was the fashion news writer at The Zoe Report. She received a bachelor's degree in fashion studies at Montclair State University, and has freelanced at Bustle, Women's Health, Well+Good, and more. You can find her words across the fashion, beauty, health, and wellness verticals, because her Libra moon wouldn't let her settle on one beat. Follow her on Instagram for BTS moments from her Marie Claire era.