Dressed in a Tibi plaid suit, a Nike bra top, and caramel-colored Cortez sneakers, tennis superstar Maria Sharapova looked poised to conquer the runway more than the tennis court. At Bandier’s pop-up in Soho, Nike hosted a celebration for the upcoming release of Sharapova’s second reworking of Nike’s signature Cortez sneakers. “I love wearing them with relaxed-cut suits or an elegant slip dress with a blazer for evening,” the tennis ace said of her latest effort. “I grew up wearing the Cortez as a teenager so having the opportunity to design my second pair this season is somewhat surreal.”
But what is it that Sharapova likes so much about the relaxed silhouette? “Their shape and sole are so iconic that it’s always a fun challenge to rework the details,” said Sharapova, whose first version, a blush-tone sneaker with gold accents, was released in March. Another benefit for the jet-setting tennis ace? Versatility. “I like footwear that takes me day to night no matter what the rest of my outfit is,” said Sharapova, who will be in New York competing at this year’s U.S. Open tournament.
As Sharapova is a front row fixture during New York Fashion Week, what other items will the superstar be pairing with her new kicks? “An oversized trench coat,” she says. And perhaps soon we’ll see her in a new Nike style: Sharapova said she’d love to put her own spin on Huaraches. “I’ve been wearing that style a lot, and there [is] a lot to play with designing that shoe.” No doubt it will be a grand slam of a result.
