Latest news with #NikeAirRift
Elle
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
This Low-Key, Affordable Sneaker Is About to Have Its Biggest Comeback Yet
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. If you need any further proof that the '80s are back in a big way, look no further than the runways. Yuppies, power suits, and oversized accessories are all enjoying a renewed moment in the mainstream. Luxury fashion is once again experimenting with indulgence, and styling stood out as a huge factor across recent collections (especially as men's fashion week becomes an increasingly popular event). Amid the excess, one simple sneaker, which has ebbed and flowed in popularity over the past 100-plus years, is finding its way back into the limelight: Keds. The biggest hint as to the shoe's revival? The rise of the ultra-minimalist sneaker. The silhouette feels like a natural progression of the already trending ballet styles seen across brands like Puma and Louis Vuitton. Not to mention the Nike Air Rift, which is finally getting the funky footwear appreciation it deserves. Even high-fashion circles are not immune: Michael Rider's debut for Celine was filled with low-key leather footwear. Seeing his relaxed contemporary-dance-like shoes pad down the runway with beautifully crafted jackets and wide-legged tailored trousers felt simultaneously modern and nostalgic—an increasingly common aesthetic combination given designers' current penchant for re-editioned accessories and '80s styling. Gone are the days of circa-2018 chunky dad sneakers that were too heavy to pack in your suitcase for fear of an overweight luggage fee. With the simple sneaker renaissance, there's no doubt we're about to see Keds return to embody the sense of high-low dressing and ultimate sartorial ease that defined its 20th-century heyday. Birthed in 1916, the canvas and rubber shoe initially gained popularity as one of the first pairs of athletic sneakers; however, its stylish appeal quickly escalated as it graced the feet of stars including Marilyn Monroe in Clash by Night (1952) and Audrey Hepburn in Two for the Road (1967). Yoko Ono even wore Keds as a part of her bridal ensemble for her nuptials with John Lennon. Jennifer Grey famously sported them in Dirty Dancing, further catapulting the shoe into stardom and permanently associating the silhouette with that carefree '80s prep-meets-aerobics-workout look. Cut to the 21st century, and the sneaker experienced its first renaissance as the brand continued to tap into celebrity power, partnering with The O.C.'s Mischa Barton as the face of its mid-2000s campaigns. Some celebrities and former spokespeople, like Lana Del Rey, never stopped wearing them either. (Perhaps that's why her style has always remained so relatable to her fans.) Of course, Keds aren't the only 2000s It item to begin to trickle back into the mainstream. Following recent celebrity co-signs, including Charli XCX at Glastonbury and Timothée Chalamet in New York City, McQueen skull scarves are bringing nostalgia back in all the right ways. Not to mention that, also on the Celine runway, a new version of the Phantom bag made a reappearance. Although, in comparison to these other accessories, the shoe can point to nearly a century of style longevity—the ultimate proof that the fashion tides always come back around.
Hypebeast
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Nike Fits the Air Rift "Botanical/Team Red" With Elegant Floral Embroidery
Name:Nike Air Rift 'Botanical/Team Red'SKU:IH7318-677Colorway:Team Red/Pale IvoryRetail Price:TBCRelease Date:July 17, 2025Retailers:Nike Nikehas debuted theAir Riftsilhouette in a 'Botanical/Team Red' iteration. The upcoming women's exclusive arrives with deep red leather uppers and white floral embroidery across the toebox, medial panels and strap tab. Branding is minimal this time around, with a Nike Air logo on the insoles, a mini swoosh embroidery just above the Tabi-like split toe and a cursive Nike embroidery on the heel strap tab. The shoe rests on a matching red midsole and outsole, while the midfoot strap ensures a comfortable fit.
Elle
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Step Into Summer's Most Daring Shoe Trend
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. When Margiela introduced the Tabi boot in 1988, its split-toe design quickly earned cult status. Decades later, in 2025, the once-niche silhouette is nearly as ubiquitous as the Adidas Samba. But in a market now saturated with cloven-toe footwear, one quiet contender has been waiting in the wings: the Nike Air Rift. As the weather warms, you may have noticed an unusual number of bulbous, cleft-toe sneakers shuffling through the streets. You're not imagining it. The Nike Air Rift is just one of many toe-centric shoes currently enjoying a fashion moment—joining the ranks of Vibram's FiveFingers barefoot runners, Tory Burch's subtle slit silhouettes, and Kiko Kostadinov's split-toe Asics. What sets the Air Rift apart is its unique fusion of several of today's most sought-after footwear design elements: the streamlined elegance of a ballet flat—think Puma's Speedcat Ballet or Louis Vuitton's Sneakerina—combined with the avant-garde edge of the Tabi and the all-day comfort of a sneaker. And the hype is backed by numbers: according to Poshmark, searches for 'Nike Air Rift' have surged by 95 percent since December 2024. Despite its newfound trendiness, the Nike Air Rift actually debuted back in 1996. Designed by Nike's Kip Buck—an avid long-distance runner—the silhouette was named after Kenya's Great Rift Valley, a nod to both the region's rich running legacy and its dramatic terrain. According to Lynne Bredfelt, the brand's director of North America communications, the valley's physical landscape directly inspired the shoe's distinctive split-toe design. Sneaker historian Nicholas Smith describes the Air Rift as an outlier in Nike's archive, launched during a period when the brand was embracing a more experimental approach. It blended features from various athletic shoes, embodying the era's push toward versatile 'cross trainers.' Until Nike re-released a suede version in 2024, the Air Rift was nearly impossible to find outside of resale platforms. Longtime fans like Fadia Kader, a talent executive at Netflix, went to great lengths to track them down—she recalls asking a friend in South Korea to ship her rare colorways. At the peak of her obsession, Kader owned 30 pairs; today, that number is closer to 10. Though technically never discontinued—Nike dropped a Liberty print iteration in 2015 and a mesh version in 2016—the Air Rift is now making a full-fledged comeback, just in time for summer, with a breathable mesh update built for high heat. 'They're not a sneaker, they're not a sandal, and they're not a ballet flat. They're perpetually unsettling,' says Kate Bauer, a content creator and PhD student. By nearly all accounts, the Air Rift delivers a level of comfort that borders on mythic. 'They're the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I can do 20,000 steps in them with no socks on and be great,' says trend forecaster and content creator Mandy Lee, often dubbed the 'Queen of Freaky Shoes.' Lee picked up her first pair in 2023. At the time, her posts about the unconventional silhouette drew a fair share of criticism. Now, she says, the response is overwhelmingly positive—a testament to the Air Rift's slow-burn ascent from oddball to icon. And at $145–$170, the Air Rift offers a far more accessible entry point into the world of split-toe footwear. 'If you're not quite ready to invest $1,000 in a pair of Tabis, it's a good way to enter that world and get the same cool factor without spending a ton of money,' says Melissa Muzyczka, a designer, content creator, and devoted Tabi fan. Additionally, the Air Rift's patchwork, Frankenstein-like aesthetic makes it surprisingly versatile, effortlessly complementing a wide range of outfits. 'They look very chic but sporty at the same time,' Kader says. 'You can dress them up or dress them down. I wear them with dresses all the time, but then I'll wear them with leggings, shorts, or overalls. They give a little bit of everything.' Love them or hate them, the Air Rift is impossible to ignore—both online and IRL. If you're planning to invest in just one pair of shoes this summer, these are guaranteed to be the most versatile. 'I'm not a minimalist at all, but I could easily go a month just wearing those and be pretty content,' Lee adds.
