CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ISN'T COMPLETEWITHOUT PICKING UP THESEADIDAS ORIGINALS ICONS

We’re sure we’re not the first to inform you that the Three Stripes’ venerated catalog of indoor soccer models remains lookbook fare, often the first thing reached for by the fashion-forward set of Gen Z. However, it’s that broad adoption in the next generation and the brand’s historical cachet since the 60’s that makes adi’s selections a one-size-fits-all option this Holiday season.

Given the sandbox we play in, it’s certainly no surprise that we’d lobby for the adidas Samba, Handball Spezial, or Gazelle as a match for the sneaker-crazed loved one on your list. Yet in a pinch, all three silhouette’s effortless stylability makes them a perfect choice if you’re stumped staring at anyone’s name.

We dove into adidas’ seasonal selections and came back up with a variety of options that you simply have to have represented under the tree for you and yours. Shop our choices using the shopping links attached, or follow our lead and dive into the full breadth of adi’s offerings HERE.

A-list collaborators like Wales Bonner made the Samba into a must-have with loud prints and materials, and the brand’s in-house designers have taken note. Ensure those who brighten up the room unwrap something to match this yellow/black, built on patent leather for some show-stopping sheen. For those who lean more “quiet confidence” than “center of attention,” reach for the “Shadow Navy” or “Grey Five.” While neutral palettes on each make for an easy connection to the model’s hallowed history, plaid insoles on one and a patch of grey suede on the other ensure both pairs carry some renewed energy into the festive season.

Cozied up by the fire is the ideal December vista for a reason, and with sneaker rotations increasingly shifting towards comfort-first, the adidas Gazelle checks all of those boxes. Swapping out its traditional leather for mohair knits, this “Magic Beige” adds “Team Victory Red” stripes for a bit of extra edge. Even in its base composition, the Gazelle offers up some excellent finish touches for the snappiest dressers, whether it’s for those who prefer classic aesthetics in a “Cargo Brown” or the risk-takers in a tropical “Acid Mint/Flash Orange.”

Finally, though there are few feelings better than knocking out the perfect niche gift, oftentimes it’s the functional purchases that you’ll be thanked for over and over again. The timeless 70’s construction of the Handball Spezial easily places it in that category. That’s displayed over three “everyday driver” colorways, all of which you can grab now to have the trickiest names squared away weeks ahead. Double down on the silhouette’s timeless appeal with a “Preloved Green” or “Trace Khaki,” or draw a bit outside the lines with an “Aurora Plum,” sneaking in some Y2K flair with “Silver Metallic” stripes.