If we're honest, we aren't wearers of much Diesel or their streetwear spinoff, 55DSL. However, we're in a minority with that wardrobe choice. The brands are huge. Massive. Not in a two tees and a blog way, but genuinely massive. You know that though. You know about the clever ads, the stores and the dream job-related promotions. The fact we don't wear much probably doesn't harm their share prices. Ultimately, we've got a healthy respect for the Diesel empire, especially after Maurizio Marchiori became one of the minds to give style magazines a kick up the arse with 'Tar' in all its perfect-bound finery. 55DSL is 15 years old this year, and while that makes us feel extremely old, we're here to talk trainers here, and their adidas collaboration is a pleasant surprise. A really, really big surprise.


The Nizza has been elevated by Originals in current seasons, and here it fits in perfectly without any forced justifications. The best ideas should just make sense without fuss. The correlation between the red, white and blue of adidas's ABA Americana colourway and the 55DSL logo colours means it was destined to look like this. Oddly enough we were talking about the benefits of applying that look to this canvas silhouette late last year. Great minds and all that. With the white-on-white rubber toe bumper and the blue and red 3-Stripes, an awkward shoe to rework looks fantastic. The correlating metal eyelets, special collaboration logo on the tongue and heel and 'XV YEARS' lettering make their point well, while the printed branding toward the collar is a little busy. But steer away from the wacky laces, stick with the white numbers and you've got a very good double-act done right.