“Where did the summer go?” No matter your age, it feels like we all sing the same refrain around this time of year, united in wishes for just a couple more long days to really complete the season. There’s barely any time to be bittersweet, though. The end of warm weather means that school days are just around the corner, but luckily for us, adidas has been drawing up their first day outfit months ahead of time.
 
If you somehow haven’t noticed, adidas’ core models have become as common a sight in hallways and on campuses as they are within lookbooks. It’s no doubt a win for adidas fans, but that widespread adoption means that standing apart from the crowd can be that much more difficult.
 
To help you or anyone in your life gear up for a new semester, we’ve compiled nine of our favorite options across three models, each threading the needle between “new year, new me” shine and the adidas heritage we all know and love. For those who want to let their personality shine all the more, each of our selections leaves plenty of room for customization, ensuring you can keep the new shoe excitement long after you first pull your pair out the box. Peruse our choices ahead using the attached links, or tap in here to check out the full adidas.com Back to School catalog.

Steeped in the same football history as its older cousin, the adidas Gazelle champions the same low-pro bonafides with suede uppers that carry a bit more refinement into the new season. While the earliest test of any new kicks comes with the first wear, that material edge will be just as suited for autumn as it is for spring, a reliable partner from the opening bell to the last. We’ve hand-picked three primary color options that are sure to make a strong first impression, whether you’re putting a jolt every step in “Shock Yellow,” lighting the way in “Preloved Scarlet,” or keeping things icy in “Lucid Blue.”

You won’t be able to go very far without spotting a pair of adidas Sambas, and while its classic black and white remains just as stylish as the day it first debuted, we take it you’ve got a more discerning palette. Fashion-meets-streetwear moments played no small part in what brought the Samba its renewed life, but it doesn’t take a runway-ready price tag to tap into that same energy. The adidas Samba Lace is a perfect example, replacing the Three Stripes branding with elevated fabrics while maintaining the silhouette’s no-frills charm elsewhere. If that material switch-up is enough to satisfy, the classic “Carbon” has your name on it, but pastel takes in “Wonder Quartz” and “Clear Sky” drive home the delicate do-over. This pink pair is sold out, but there will be restocks in the future. Sign-up for adidas adiClub to stay up to date.

While catering to the low-key is an adidas strong suit, we’ll freely admit that not everyone wants to fly under the radar. If you’re someone who loves to make an entrance, look no further than the adidas Gazelle Bold, flipping the script of the indoor soccer icon with triple-height cushioning underfoot. Balance out that super stack sole with an earthy “Cream White/Collegiate Green” if you prefer to let the hardware speak for itself. Or, cut the opposite way by doubling down completely on the model’s built-in attitude; neon “Clear Mint” or “Orange” options build can’t-miss colorways on top of a silhouette that’s already hard to overlook.