The Nike Cortez Gets a Cali-Cool Designer Collab—and It Could Be Fall’s It-Shoe

The classic Nike Cortez is back with a brand-new look. The it-sneaker might have started as a training shoe when it was first introduced in the '70s, but it's since become a retro athleisure staple. And now,  thanks to designer Andrea Lieberman of Los Angeles-based A.L.C., it's being totally reinvented in a limited-edition collab.

With luxe, neutral colors, the sneakers go with everything, making them easy to rock whether you're at the gym or in the office.

The Cortez by A.L.C. is unlike any previous renditions: With luxe, neutral colors, each pair can go anywhere, making them easy to rock whether you're at the gym, on the street, or in the office.

The $100 shoe also features a snakeskin print on the heel and extra-long laces with brass tips that can be tied around the ankles for a ballet-inspired look. And as a sneaky added bonus, each pair features an inspirational quote—"Do it. Own it," "Think how you can," or "Love more"—on the footbeds to power every step with a little extra positive thinking.

To add to the #girlpower vibe, the new styles are showcased in a campaign featuring gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast (and apple cider vinegar genius) Gabby Douglas.

The sneakers are available August 25 at Nike x Nordstrom sneaker boutiques, as well as Nordstrom the Grove. Then, starting August 28, you can snag a pair in stores and online at nike.com and alcltd.com. And with your favorite celebs becoming bona fide sneakerheads, there's no time like the present to up your game—you know, just in case you run into Bey and Jay at SoulCycle.

Why not pair your inspirational-quote-emblazoned kicks with an empowering-message-inscribed bag from the Coach X Selena Gomez collection? And then try out fitness classes the star swears by.