I’ve written before about how Substack chats are one of the best ways to see honest opinions on purchases and collect genuine, crowdsourced recommendations.
If there's any Type A in me, the chaos and disorganization of the chats really brought it out. So, I embarked on a spreadsheet rescue mission to keep myself sane and to keep track of the top recommendations I wanted to revisit later.
I'm starting a series of these rec roundups from this giant spreadsheet for my subscribers - highlighting top questions and recommendations.
Today, we kick off with the #1 question that keeps popping up over and over again!
And the question is…
Are Sambas Still Cool? What’s The Next Samba?
Are Sambas Still In Style? Are We Still Wearing Sambas? What Is The Next Samba? What Are The Best Sneakers Other Than Sambas?
Our society is currently suffering from "Samba amnesia." This shoe has inflicted a crazed forgetfulness on us, erasing any memory of Life Before Or After The Samba. The Samba panic is all around: Are Sambas over? Should I still wear them? What's the next Samba?!
We reached peak Samba madness about a month ago when UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, wore Sambas and enraged millions around the globe:
Rishi Sunak actually ended up publicly apologizing for wearing those shoes. Has he apologized for other political offenses? No… but he sure was quick to patch things up with the sneakerheads!
Yes, Sambas are still very much a trend. They just won’t quit. Walk around New York for five minutes and every other woman is rocking wide-leg jeans and Sambas. But before we get into whether Sambas are still cool and what the next samba shoe is, let’s pause and reflect on the questions: “Can I still pull off Sambas? Are they still cool?” These questions really aren’t about the shoes themselves; they are about the fear of how we are perceived if we wear them.
I’ve discussed how watching trends can be both thrilling and perplexing. When a trend emerges, there's a pressure to participate, as if it's obligatory! Yet, when it becomes oversaturated or fades, there's a strong aversion, driven by the fear of conformity and the desire to be unique. It's an exhausting cycle of embracing or rejecting, even if you truly love what's currently popular.
It seems a bit silly or juvenile to categorize things as 'uncool,' or ‘corny’ simply because they're popular. Likewise, I steer clear of equating 'out of fashion' with 'bad.'
I don't want to echo the sentiment of "Don’t worry about what’s cool! Just wear what you want, who cares?" This advice really misses the mark for me. It ignores the reality that sometimes, what you want or have to wear might not make you feel good or stylish. And figuring it out is not that simple.
The truth is, developing your style, much like understanding yourself, requires time and patience. Especially if your life has been consumed by other priorities like figuring out a career, raising a child, or navigating tough times. It won't magically happen from a quick 20-minute brainstorm about "what you want."
I was chatting with my mom about how style evolves over a lifetime, and she basically said, “By the time you’ve got your style all figured out and you’ve found the perfect pants, you’ll be so old you’re pissing in them, and then who cares?" Pretty much sums it up.
Being too wrapped up in seeking validation for your choices is not a way to live. If you're wearing every trend under the sun at once, chances are you will end up looking like a clown! But I won’t blame people for not knowing exactly what they want.
Today's advice often swings between the pretty vague "just find your personal style!" and the prescriptive "buy these 5 tops!" (which might not even suit my body type). Shaming people for asking questions like "Is this cool? Is this okay?" seems pretty short-sighted, considering we're constantly bombarded with the message that we're not enough.
A more helpful approach for me is to ask: if everyone in the world disappeared, would I still choose to wear Sambas? Or, imagine being in a room full of people who actually care about you and love you regardless of what you wear. Would you still opt for Sambas? If the answer is yes, wear them. If you realize you're wearing something solely for the perception it creates for others, it's time to drop it.
Personally, I'm a big fan of Sambas. They hold a nostalgic charm for me, they were my go-to soccer shoes when I was seven years old. The simple silhouette resonates with my style. I believe anything that fits you well and brings genuine enjoyment becomes a classic! For me, that's Sambas. For you, it could be something entirely different.
But truth be told, as I was slipping on my "Sambas" earlier, I had a startling realization—they're actually Gazelles, not Sambas, and I've had them for 9 years! So, maybe don't listen to me, I’m an absolute poser!
Let’s hear from the real experts…
In my spreadsheet Sambas were mentioned 150 times.
The data told me:
59% were on Team 'Sambas-are-forever.' Sambas are classic and definitely not done!
22% were Samba-friendly but keeping their options open for other styles as well (alternatives below)
13% were left reeling by the relentless blisters and unforgiving fit of the Sambas, leading them to seek solace in other shoe options (I have a couple solutions)
6% were certified Samba haters, absolutely tired of seeing Sambas at every turn
Team “Sambas Are Forever” (59%)
They look good with everything. A sundress, long pants, shorts! Overdressed? Put on sambas. Underdressed? Put on sambas.
They are super comfortable when broken in.
They are a classic, they will never go out of style.
With all the cool new colorways and collabs, you've got plenty of options to let your individuality shine through.
P.S. Can they go back to normal price now? All you rookies are driving them through the roof…😉
Samba-Friendly But Other Low Profile Options (22%)
Other classic staple silhouettes that are friends of the Samba: Nike Dunks, Nike Air Force 1s, Puma Suede, Chucks, Vans.
Onitsuka Tigers which are basically now getting as popular as Sambas! Mexico 66, a legendary shoe!
Classic German Army Trainers. There are a bunch on Etsy. There’s a more feminine ballet play on them here1. Searching for german trainers also took me down the rabbit hole of browsing “Soviet Sneakers” like these and these and these. Adidas has a version of army trainers here. Also these are $19? They’ve got to be trash in person.
Nike: Court Legacy or Blazers or Cortez or Daybreak or Shadowrunner (weirdly similar to the Bode Astrograbber?)
GURL, Keds!
Sambas Gave Me Blisters (13%)
Are they killing your heels? Use a heel raising insole, they do work and can save your feet.
Wide feet? If you’re attached to Adidas, try the Spezial! Better for wider feet. Or Stan Smiths.
Certified Samba Haters (6%)
If they see another Samba they will gouge their eyes out.
Note: all you haters are cooler than me and I bow down. Now you better share the details of your latest cool shoe in the comments, so I may acquire a pair for myself, rendering them uncool in perpetuity.
Are you Samba Fatigued? Or Samba Invigorated? Are Onitsukas the new Samba? What’s after that? I’d love to hear from you.
🍒Total Rec
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Note these aren’t Paloma Wool, the depop seller has tagged the brand for exposure (super annoying, could sellers stop doing this?) They are originally from biscuitshop.co.kr
A) Not sure if my thoughts are relevant since I am of the male persuasion but B) I like your writing and POV so much, better than any men's substack I've round and C) I've been wearing Sambas since (as I recall) they became popular here as the best shoe for indoor soccer and am not giving them up no way no how but D) I do make my own very sharp colorways with Angelus leather paints which makes other Samba fans endlessly curious and envious so E) maybe that counts in my favor just a little? Anyway, thanks — this is just a fan letter.
This was a fun read! Maybe because I’m not a sneaker girl and I’ve been wearing the same Miss Stan sneakers for 15 years, I’m in the camp of “no opinion”… they simply don’t register in my mind as something to take note of (same with most sneakers - although I do love those German sneaks!) If you’re reading this, can someone tell me “why Sambas?” and not the very similar Gazelles? Is it something about the Sambas in particular? I DONT GET IT!! This is not shade, I’m not a sneaker person so I don’t get the appeal!!