PUMA has just introduced the Avanti LS, a limited-edition sneaker designed by Rihanna that revisits the brand’s classic Avanti silhouette and gives it a twist. Taking cues from PUMA’s deep archive of football-inspired footwear, the Avanti LS is a more modern and fashion-forward shoe that still maintains the skeleton of its vintage counterpart.
The shoe is dressed in royal blue suede with gold detailing, a cream-colored Formstrip, and a gum sole—features reminiscent of PUMA’s legendary King football boot—but the most interesting update is the heel, which now has short gum studs, a clear reference to early turf football shoes.
This is not the first time that PUMA has visited football culture once again through a lifestyle lens since the brand has a history of taking performance footwear and adapting it for off-pitch use, whether through collaborations or archival reissues. Rihanna’s new design is another addition to this story, as it kept the shoe’s connection to the sport while adapting it for everyday wear. The businesswoman herself has already been spotted wearing the sneaker in various settings—from dining out at Giorgio Baldi to walking the streets of New York—further placing these sneakers in the streetwear aesthetics sphere of fashion.
