What perfect timing for Riccardo Tisci to unveil his new sneaker collaboration with Nike: His men’s collection last week was basketball-themed, and sneakers are practically the unofficial symbol of this week’s couture shows, after appearing on the runways at Dior and Chanel.
Yesterday, the Givenchy creative director unveiled the first picture of the collaboration, which is to be called NikeRT — a move that’s simultaneously self-referential and revealingly Twitter-centric. The image, which will presumably appear in the forthcoming issue of Vogue, features Tisci holding model Joan Smalls over one shoulder. Smalls is wearing the shoes, which are called Nike x RT AF1 Hi Boots, and appear to be a grand embellishment of Nike’s Air Force 1s of yore. The shoes themselves are white, with gold swooshes and a neon ring of color around the ankle. The calf on the leg is black, with accents of orange and blue – and a metallic tongue. They appear to be something you’d wear to a casual gladiator match in the year 2050. The shoes, which are available this spring, apparently retail for $225.
