Honestly, most high-fashion sneaker collaborations are a bit of a letdown. You usually get a standard silhouette with a tiny logo slapped on the heel and a price tag that makes your eyes water. But the adidas x Gucci Gazelle was different. It didn't just feel like a marketing stunt; it felt like a genuine love letter to the 1970s terrace culture that made the original Gazelle an icon in the first place. When Alessandro Michele—Gucci’s former creative director and a notorious vintage obsessive—decided to mess with the Three Stripes, he didn't play it safe. He went all in on the textures, the colors, and that specific brand of "ugly-cool" nostalgia that only he can really pull off.
The shoe first popped up during the "Exquisite Gucci" Fall/Winter 2022 runway show. People lost their minds. It wasn't just one colorway; it was a flood of velvet, snakeskin, and monogrammed canvas. It felt expensive but grounded.
What the Adidas x Gucci Gazelle Got Right
Most people think the Gazelle is just a Gazelle. It's not. The adidas x Gucci Gazelle used a slightly different shape than your standard $100 pair from the mall. It leaned into the "Gazelle Indoor" DNA, which features a semi-translucent gum sole that wraps slightly higher up the midsole. This gives it a chunkier, more premium stance.
Then there’s the craftsmanship. These weren't made in the usual factories. They were "Made in Italy." That matters. When you hold a pair, the weight is different. The leather lining is buttery. The stitching is tight. You aren't just paying for the Gucci name; you’re paying for a level of construction that adidas simply doesn't apply to its mass-market releases.
Michele played with materials that shouldn't work on a sneaker but somehow did. We saw yellow velvet with red stripes. We saw green suede mixed with pink. There was even a pair covered in the classic Gucci "GG" monogram canvas that looked like something a flashy Italian uncle would wear to a football match in 1978. It was bold. It was loud. It was exactly what the sneaker world needed at a time when everything was starting to look like a variation of a white leather dunk.
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The Cultural Connection
You can't talk about this shoe without talking about the history of the Gazelle itself. It’s been a staple since 1966. It was the shoe of the Britpop era, the shoe of the B-boys, and the shoe of the casuals. By partnering with Gucci, adidas tapped into a specific "Sloane Ranger" meets "London Terrace" vibe. It’s a mix of high-class luxury and gritty street culture.
Take the "Pink" colorway, for example. It features a bright pink velvet upper with black accents and a yellow heel tab. On paper? It sounds hideous. In person? It’s a masterpiece. It captures that 70s disco-meets-trackside aesthetic perfectly. It’s the kind of shoe that Harry Styles or Rihanna would—and did—wear effortlessly. It’s not trying to be a "tech" shoe. It’s a fashion piece, plain and simple.
Debunking the Price Tag Myth
Is it overpriced? Probably. Retail was hovering around $850. That’s a massive jump from a standard Gazelle. But here’s the thing: if you look at the resale market on platforms like StockX or GOAT, these shoes have held their value surprisingly well. Unlike many "luxury" sneakers that end up at 50% off in an outlet mall, the adidas x Gucci Gazelle remains a sought-after item.
Why? Because it’s a capsule of a specific moment in fashion. With Alessandro Michele having moved on from Gucci, these pieces represent a peak era of "maximalist" Gucci. They are collectibles now. You're buying a piece of fashion history, not just something to beat up at the gym.
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Fit, Sizing, and the Reality of Wearing Them
Kinda weirdly, these run big. If you're looking to pick up a pair on the secondary market, you’ve gotta be careful. Most enthusiasts suggest going a half-size or even a full size down. Because they are made with premium Italian leathers and velvets, they have more "give" than a standard synthetic sneaker. They stretch. They mold to your foot.
Don't expect them to feel like a cloud. There’s no Boost technology here. No carbon plates. No fancy foam. It’s a flat, rubber-soled sneaker. It’s comfortable for a day of walking around a gallery or grabbing a coffee, but don’t try to run a marathon in them. The luxury is in the materials, not the "ride."
The Details That Matter
- The Tongue: Usually features a co-branded logo with "Gucci" written under the Adidas Trefoil. It’s often textured or ribbed, mimicking vintage football boots.
- The Box: Even the packaging is elite. You get a bright green box with the co-branding and individual dust bags for each shoe. It feels like an event just to open them.
- The Laces: They often come with multiple lace options, allowing you to dial the "loudness" up or down.
Why the Hype Hasn't Died
Usually, these collabs have a shelf life of about six months before everyone moves on to the next big thing. But the adidas x Gucci Gazelle is still all over Instagram and TikTok. It’s because the Gazelle is a timeless silhouette. It doesn't go out of style. While the "Dad shoe" trend or the "Mega-platform" trend might fade, a slim, low-profile sneaker is forever.
Gucci knew this. They didn't try to reinvent the wheel; they just polished it. They took a shoe that everyone already loved and made it the best version of itself. They leaned into the "clutter core" aesthetic—mixing patterns and textures—which is still very much a thing in 2026.
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Is it Still Worth Buying?
If you can find them for a decent price, absolutely. They represent a crossover that actually made sense. It wasn't just two logos stuck together; it was a shared language of 70s sportswear. If you appreciate the history of the Three Stripes but want something that feels more "adult" and refined, this is the shoe.
Just stay away from the cheap knockoffs. The whole point of this shoe is the material quality. A fake pair of velvet Gazelles looks like a DIY project gone wrong. You want that Italian-made structure. You want the way the light hits the velvet. You want the weight of that gum sole.
Real-World Action Steps for Buyers
- Check the Heel Tab: On authentic pairs, the "Gucci" text and the Trefoil should be perfectly aligned and embossed, not just printed.
- Size Down: Seriously. Unless you have extremely wide feet, go at least a half-size down from your usual adidas size.
- Inspect the Velvet: If you're going for a velvet pair, check for "crushing." Velvet can hold permanent marks if stored poorly.
- Verify the Seller: Only buy from reputable platforms that offer authentication. These are some of the most faked shoes of the last five years.
- Look for the "Made in Italy" Stamp: It’s usually on the insole and the inside of the tongue. It’s a hallmark of the collection.
The adidas x Gucci Gazelle isn't just a sneaker. It's a vibe. It's a piece of art you can wear on your feet. Whether you're a hardcore sneakerhead or just someone who appreciates good design, it’s hard to deny that this collab set a new bar for what "luxury sport" can actually look like when people stop playing it safe.