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A.L.C. freshens up the iconic Nike Cortez sneaker

Julie Tong
The new Cortez by A.L.C. collection. (Photo: courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C; art: Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Style)
The new Cortez by A.L.C. collection. (Photo: courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C; art: Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Style)

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To be honest, I’m not a sneaker person and never have been — until now. This new collaboration between Nike and A.L.C. has got me all fired up. It’s a new spin on the classic Nike Cortez sneakers — which have been worn by everyone from the late actress Farrah Fawcett to it-model Bella Hadid, and even Forrest Gump.

The new Cortez by A.L.C. comes in three colors — blush, gray, and light brown — and they retail for $100. The shoes still embrace a relaxed feel, but feature a few new elevated elements. For example, the sneakers come in a luxurious suede upper and feature a snakeskin textured back, brass hardware, and extra long laces that can be used to style in different ways — like around your ankles for a ballet-style look. I especially love the vintage look of the Cortez. After all, they’ve been around for more than 40 years!

The new light brown, blush, and grey sneaker colors from Cortez by A.L.C. (photo: courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C.)
The new light-brown, blush, and gray sneaker colors from Cortez by A.L.C. (Photo: courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C.)

To some, it might sound like an odd partnership, but in reality, it’s a seamless collaboration. Andrea Lieberman, the founder and brains behind her womenswear line, A.L.C., has been styling her collection with Cortez sneakers for years. The sneakers pair effortlessly with her line of minimal, elevated basics (e.g.. wide-leg trousers, bell-sleeved blouses, ribbed sweaters, etc.).

I’ve been looking for new sneakers to replace my old Stan Smiths for a while now and these make the perfect subs. I personally prefer the clean-cut light-brown version, as I feel that they’re the most versatile and pair most easily with my wardrobe. Although, considering the heightened obsession with millennial pink nowadays, the blush version might be a great option too. But you can’t go wrong with the gray version, which looks more black in person.

Models Cindy Bruna and Bhumika Arora in the new Cortez by A.L.C. collection (Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C.)
Models Cindy Bruna and Bhumika Arora in the new Cortez by A.L.C. collection (Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C.)

So how do I plan to wear them? I’m lucky enough to work in a creative environment where I can dress casually, so I’m excited to wear them to work by pairing it with a classic LBD. And I’m equally excited to wear them on the weekends with my go-to boyfriend jeans and a nice, comfy, oversized tee — or throw them on when I’m traveling.

I suggest sizing up a half size if you want to wear them with thicker socks, as they are a bit on the snug side.

One last note: A.L.C. tapped none other than Olympian Gabby Douglas to front the campaign, along with models Bhumika Arora and Cindy Bruna. I mean, if gold medalist Douglas can get behind these sneakers — maybe there’s something to them?

Olympian Gabby Douglas in the blush Cortez by A.L.C. sneakers. (Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C.)
Olympian Gabby Douglas in the blush Cortez by A.L.C. sneakers. (Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Levitt/A.L.C.)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this story are solely those of the editor. This is not a sponsored post or an advertorial.

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