The Nike Cortez, first immortalized by Farrah Fawcett, is back in focus as Katie Holmes and Jennifer Aniston bring the heritage sneaker into 2025 — this time in a re-engineered, eco-conscious update.
All products featured on Ethos have been independently selected by our editorial team.
When you buy something through our links, Ethos may earn an affiliate commission.
The Nike Cortez is having another moment. Katie Holmes was recently photographed wearing the retro sneakers on the streets of New York, while Jennifer Aniston posted her own look featuring a similar style. The renewed interest marks a comeback for one of Nike’s most recognizable silhouettes, now reissued in sustainable materials.
Holmes paired her white Cortez sneakers with a red knit, brown flared pants, and aviator sunglasses — a look that felt easy and understated, but still distinctly polished. Aniston’s post offered its own nod to nostalgia: a white ribbed top, blue jeans, and a pair of classic white Cortez with the red Swoosh and blue heel stripe.
A cultural classic
First released in 1972, the Cortez was Nike’s debut running shoe, designed by cofounder Bill Bowerman to combine comfort and durability for long-distance runners. It quickly became more than just performance gear. By the late 1970s, the white leather sneaker with its bright red and blue detailing had evolved into a cultural touchstone.
That transformation can largely be traced back to one image: Farrah Fawcett coasting down a Los Angeles street on a skateboard, wearing her white Cortez. The photo, captured in 1977 during the filming of Charlie’s Angels, made its way across magazines and television screens, cementing the shoe as an emblem of California ease. According to sneaker historian Nicholas Smith, “The Cortez was never just a running shoe. It became a reflection of American optimism at a particular moment in time.”
In the years that followed, the Cortez continued to appear across fashion, film, and music. Whitney Houston famously wore a pair during her 1991 Super Bowl performance, while Tom Hanks’s character in Forrest Gump introduced the style to a new generation. The minimalist shape and simple color palette helped the sneaker transcend trends.
The modern update
The latest version of the Cortez takes that legacy forward with subtle design changes and a more sustainable approach. Nike’s new Cortez Textile features a re-engineered upper made from a mix of recycled polyester and synthetic suede. According to Nike, “This product is made with at least twenty percent recycled content by weight,” part of its ongoing Move to Zero initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions and waste. The sneaker also includes a foam midsole with a wedge insert and a herringbone outsole — classic details that have defined the Cortez since its inception.
Nike’s 2024 sustainability report showed progress across its materials sourcing, noting that recycled polyester accounted for 63 percent of its total polyester volume. The brand’s broader sustainability platform has centered on circular design and responsible manufacturing, including programs like Nike Refurbished and Nike Grind, which recycles manufacturing scrap and end-of-life footwear into new materials. The Cortez’s reintroduction under this framework signals how heritage styles can evolve without losing their cultural resonance.
Celebrity style has always played a role in shaping the Cortez’s appeal. That influence has come through once again. Both Aniston and Holmes have cultivated reputations for effortless, grounded style — anchored by well-cut denim, neutral knits, and timeless accessories.
Holmes’s look offered a nod to the 1970s through its warm color palette and relaxed shapes. Aniston’s styling carried the same sense of ease — modern yet familiar, a kind of understated confidence the Cortez has always embodied. The parallels to Fawcett’s outfit weren’t lost on fans; many noted the deliberate callback in Aniston’s Instagram caption and photo pairing.
The Cortez’s longevity rests on more than nostalgia. It’s a design that connects performance and personality; it’s sleek, minimal, and immediately recognizable. Its ability to sit comfortably at the intersection of sport and fashion has made it a recurring favorite for everyone from streetwear enthusiasts to luxury stylists. Even within Nike’s current lineup, the Cortez remains one of its most enduring franchises.
NIKE
Cortez Sneaker Red
NIKE
Cortez Sneaker White
NIKE
Cortez Sneaker White
NIKE
Cortez Sneaker Grey
Related on Ethos:
