Leave it to Adidas to shake up the sneaker world once again—this time with a surprising twist. Enter the Samballerina: a hybrid of the iconic Samba sneaker and the delicate structure of a ballet flat. Yep, it’s exactly as quirky and cool as it sounds.

At first glance, the Samballerina has the familiar DNA of the Samba—classic gum sole, sleek profile, and sporty edge. But then comes the curveball: a slimmed-down upper, soft rounded toe, and elastic strap across the top reminiscent of a ballerina slipper. It’s functional, but make it fashion. This new silhouette is part of Adidas’ push to blur the lines between streetwear and femininity. It taps into the balletcore trend (which exploded on TikTok and Pinterest) while honoring the sporty roots that made the Samba a streetwear staple. Think: Margot Fonteyn meets football terrace cool.

Style-wise, Samballerinas are surprisingly easy to wear. Pair them with wide-leg jeans and a cropped tee for that model-off-duty energy, or lean into the ballet aesthetic with flowy skirts, leg warmers, and an oversized sweater. Whether you’re heading to class or brunch, these shoes add that unexpected “oh, she knows what she’s doing” vibe. They’ve already been spotted on the feet of influencers, stylists, and fashion editors—and if the internet has anything to say about it, they’re about to sell out fast. Love them or raise your eyebrows, the Samballerina proves once again that when it comes to fashion, the unexpected pairings are often the most exciting.

Source: Project Devicione