Chocolate brown is a perfectly sensible sneaker color. adidas has found a way to make it slightly less sensible. The new SL 72 OG in Preloved Brown dresses its narrow running-shoe shape in a mixture of warm brown and deep maroon, with pale yellow stripes and laces providing a little custard-colored contrast. So far, so autumnal.

Then you notice the sparkle. Small rhinestones cover sections of the upper, catching the light between the brown panels. It's the sneaker equivalent of putting sprinkles on a very good chocolate cake: unnecessary, enjoyable, and probably the reason you picked this one over everything else in the display.

The shape keeps the embellishment from taking over. This is still a lean retro runner, with a pointed-looking front, low collar, and a narrow sole edged in black. A pale midsole and thin blue line break up the darker colors underneath. Even with all those little reflective points, the shoe holds on to its sporty outline.

That makes for a useful balance. The brown palette will settle into denim, corduroy, and other fall staples; the sparkle gives you something to look at when the rest of the outfit is doing the sensible thing.

The adidas SL 72 OG Preloved Brown/Almost Yellow/Maroon is available on the brand's US website for $120 in women's sizing.

Consider the sprinkles included.

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