I Usually Don’t Wear Trainers, But These Nikes Might Have (Surprisingly) Just Converted Me

It turns out I’m more obsessed with shoes than I thought. Not just generally obsessed, but worryingly drawn to what can only be described as weird shoes. The kind of shoes that raise eyebrows on escalators. The kind that don’t just finish an outfit, but start unsolicited conversations. I own [redacted] pairs of shoes, and very few could be described as remotely sensible. There are crystal-covered mules that look like disco balls for your feet, shearling-tasselled loafers and furry flip flops that defy seasonality, multiple pairs of rubberised clogs that resemble children’s toys, and a collection of split-toe boots that make every trip through airport security a minor ordeal, mainly because of the weird stares I get.

There are even a few trainers in the mix, although they rarely leave the house unless they’re going somewhere with a tilting floor or to the closest shop. So, I surprised even myself when a new pair of Nikes - trainers, no less - recently caused a mild cardiac event.: the Nike Air Rift. A split-toe, cut-out, Velcro-strapped situation that reads more orthopaedic holiday sandals than streetwear. And yet, somehow, I’m obsessed.

The more astute among you will know that the Air Rift isn’t new. Nike launched it in 1996, drawing on the biomechanics of Kenyan barefoot runners. Its name? A nod to the Great Rift Valley. Its premise? Natural motion. If it feels vaguely familiar, that’s probably because you’ve seen a similar hoof-like silhouette on the feet of someone sipping a turmeric latte outside a brutalist café in Dalston. That would be the Maison Margiela Tabi, equally divisive, equally camel-toed, though far more self-consciously intellectual. If you’re now thinking ‘No way!, this isn’t a shoe for grown-ups’, just take a look at forever muses Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Anniston, who donned the two-toed trainers when they were around the first time.

Apparently, I’m not the only one developing a taste for the toe-curious. Footwear is getting odder by the month. Crocs come with platform heels, jelly shoes, once reserved for avoiding sea urchins, are stomping through offices. There are the Vibram five-toe glove-shoes that make feet look freshly taxidermied. And let’s not forget the Sneakerina, a baffling hybrid of ballet pump and sportswear that somehow is thriving on the feet of Gen Z.

Before you ask, the Air Rifts are outrageously comfortable; light, bouncy, no friction between toes. I wear mine withloose jeans or tailored trousers, which somehow offsets their inherent ridiculousness. A friend recently styled hers with a camo mini and ribbed socks. It worked… disturbingly well.

So yes, I’ve joined the ranks of people wearing split-toe trainers with genuine conviction. The shoe will divide opinion, certainly. But what else is new? The best ones always do.

Henrik Lischke is the senior fashion features editor at Grazia. Prior to that, he held the role of commerce writer at British Vogue, and was junior fashion editor at The Sunday Times Style. A first-class honours Fashion Journalism graduate from UAL: London College of fashion, Henrik is invariably on the lookout for the newest talent in fashion, that is driving the industry forward, and shining the spotlight on them whenever possible. He’s also got a passion for interiors design and the arts. Follow Henrik on Instagram @henriklischke.