The sneaker of the ‘70s. Donned by the most enthusiastic marathoners, casual joggers and sports buffs, this landmark trainer eventually became household for the everyday person. Sleek and innovative, the Nike Cortez broke boundaries thanks to its unique cushioning and colour options. First designed in 1965 by Nike co-founder, Bill Bowerman, the Cortez was constantly changed and updated with the brand even introducing the female-specific Senorita Cortez, which undoubtedly cemented its unisex appeal. It’s no secret that the iconic racer is a fond favourite of Nike’s vast catalog. The Cortez continues to be updated and released making it one of the most tried and true sneakers there is.

This season saw the classic trainer dressed in a smooth premium leather upper with reptile-like embossed side swoosh. Sticking to the popular colour palette of the now, Nike released this Cortez in three different colours - Black, Stone and Dark Loden. Such a beautiful execution required a person in the know when it comes to style to do this historic gem justice with today’s fashions trends.

That’s why we paired this sneaker with Norfolk based style enthusiast, Brittany Bathgate. Combining her minimalistic, clean aesthetic wardrobe pieces with the iconic ‘70s runner, Bathgate successfully took the sporting hero and turned it into an everyday must-have. Sharing her thoughts on the sneaker via her blog, brittanybathgate.co.uk, Bathgate says of the Cortez, “The classic running silhouette has stepped up a notch, improving the aesthetics from it's previous sporty vibe to a refined, pared back softer feminine feel.” And we completely agree. This release of the Cortez has a place in every girl’s sneaker collection purely because it’s so classic, can be worn with anything for any casual or dressy occasion thanks to its sleek and minimalistic look, and it comes in three of the it colours of the season. So, if you’ve been needing something a bit smarter for work, try the Black. If you want something casual for the weekend to pair with denim, try the Bone. Or, if you’ve always wanted to try a different colour that still looks dressy but isn’t black like the 50 other shoes you have, try the Dark Loden. We promise you will love this sneak!