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NikeSkims, the watershed partnership between sportswear giant Nike and Kim Kardashian‘s label-of-the-moment Skims, has just made a splash in the world of footwear. As of January 26, 10 a.m. EST, you can officially shop the joint brand’s Rift Mesh shoe on both skims.com and nike.com for $150 — marking an arrival footwear insiders couldn’t stop talking about in the past few weeks, with the waitlist for the stepper filling up on Skims as soon as it was first announced.
All this is to say: The NikeSkims Rift Mesh deserves your full attention, and you only have a limited amount of time to snag it online before an inevitable “out of stock” notification comes into play, the very same one that has affected similarly viral Skims launches like the Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap and Faux Hair Thong. The style’s pièce de résistance is, without a doubt, that tabi-toe construction, popularized last year by the in-crowd — who finally reconsidered the circa-1988 Maison Margiela Tabi or else gave in to other split-toe silhouettes from brands such as WoodChuckSato. But hoove-adjacent fashions aren’t a contemporary invention in the least, instead originating in 15th-century Japan in the form of split-toe socks, which were a common accompaniment to kimonos. Who knew such creations would one day receive the Skims treatment?
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NikeSkims’ Rift Mesh, which nods to some of the “sneakerina” offerings that were unrolled in tandem with the recent balletcore obsession, can be purchased in three colorways: Black, Velvet Brown, or the lighter Archaeo Brown. If color trends are any indication, we think Archaeo will sell out first, but Kardashian herself has promoted the all-black iteration in a getup punctuated by semi-sheer leggings, a NikeSkims zip-up, and a glossy leather jacket sourced from Phoebe Philo — so it’s safe to say all three hues will eventually go the way of the Dodo.
NikeSkims Rift Mesh Shoe in Black
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
NikeSkims Rift Mesh Shoe in Velvet Brown
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
NikeSkims Rift Mesh Shoe in Archaeo Brown
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
Designed to offer better foot articulation, alongside a secure fit granted by that single strap across the front, a barefoot feel thanks to the shoe’s low-pro midsole, and mesh-based breathability, the Rift Mesh is something that can take you from the pilates studio to the lunch date with ease — being memorable and movement-ready at once. Passerby might not be able to spot those subtle co-branding touches on the strap and high-traction outsole, but they’ll still know the sneaker when they see it.
“The Rift isn’t just a shoe – it’s a ’90s icon that women everywhere have fallen in love with. Together with Nike, we focused on creating a version that feels minimalist, sleek, and flattering,” Kardashian said in a press release.
She was referring to Nike’s O.G. Rift model, of course, which had more of an influence on the design codes of this NikeSkims category expansion than any Maison Margiela number ever could. Coming into the world in 1996, the Nike Air Rift paid homage to the fault line in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, per Nike, by featuring a split upper. It also had an intentionally second-skin sensation, being formulated with “input from barefoot long-distance runners in Kenya.”
Re-releasing in 2015, the Nike Air Rift soon found its way over to the shoe racks of everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to Sarah Jessica Parker (who said “yes” to the funky innovation even earlier, in the 2000s). It only takes one look at the relevant paparazzi shots to effectively gauge how to style your own NikeSkims purchase. Lawrence, for instance, chose an urban-cool ensemble of a loose graphic tee, bucket hat, and bright-red sweats, while SJP formalized things courtesy of a cable-knit sweater, scarf, and rolled-up green bottoms.
It’s only a matter of time before 2026’s fashion insiders start showing off their Rift Mesh acquisitions with workout coordinates, denim-and-wool-coat equations, and even dresses come spring. One hard-and-fast rule to live by in this case? The wrong-shoe theory, crafting a rebellious visual narrative by juxtaposing what you put on your feet and what you wear on your bod.
With this NikeSkims Rift Mesh drop, you’ll already be halfway there.
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NikeSkims Rift Mesh Shoe in Black
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
NikeSkims Rift Mesh Shoe in Velvet Brown
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
NikeSkims Rift Mesh Shoe in Archaeo Brown
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
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Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD and FN. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska frequently covers instant-hit footwear collaborations that are actually worth the hype.