This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the iconic Swoosh, originally created by graphic design student Carolyn Davidson on June 18, 1971. To commemorate this, we visit the rich history of the first-ever shoes to feature Nike’s iconic Swoosh, the Nike Cortez. This shoe is so essential to Nike’s success that some may even say that Nike wouldn’t have existed without them. In 1964, Nike, then known as Blue Ribbon Sports, started out by importing Japanese footwear into the U.S. Three years later, Nike collaborated with the Japanese footwear brand to design the first rendition of what we now know as the Nike Cortez. The shoes became so popular that they couldn’t keep up with the demand. This triggered Blue Ribbon Sports to rebrand itself as Nike in 1971 and began manufacturing its own shoes. A year later, Nike released its first shoe, the Cortez, which featured the unmistakable Swoosh.
Similar to its original release, the shoes exploded in popularity and became one of the most popular running shoes of its time. Despite misconceptions that the Nike Cortez has been discontinued, the classic shoes continue to be a staple sneaker on Nike. Scroll for our complete Nike Cortez guide.
The Nike Cortez offers a narrower toe box, so we recommend going half a US size up, especially if you have wide feet. For example, if you normally get a US9 Air Force 1, then you should opt for a US9.5 Nike Cortez. However, note that models that are made of leather and suede will stretch out over time so if the shoes are a little tight at first, don’t worry as they’ll loosen up as you break them in.
Check out the sizing charts to find the perfect fit and choose from a wide array of colorways at Nike.com.
Most Nike Cortez shoes are made with leather which gives the shoe a timeless appearance. With the shoe retaining its iconic design since 1972, it has a retro aesthetic, making it perfect for vintage-inspired outfits.
Its narrow and sleek shape also gives the shoe a slender profile hence making it easy to pair it with different clothing styles without overwhelming the overall look. That said, you can dress the Nike Cortez down or up depending on the occasion. Style them with pants and polo for an elevated look, or with shorts to stay cool in our scorching tropical heat. Scroll down for some of our favorite Cortez fits!
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Now that you know how to style them, grab your pair at Nike.com.