Nike’s Latest Cortez Premium Sneakers Don’t Have Swooshes on the Outside

Nike has produced quite a few pairs of iconic sneakers in their half-century history. The Nike Cortez has been one of those pairs ever since it was released during the 1972 Olympics in Germany, and we wanted a pair from the moment we first saw Tom Hanks unbox a pair in the movie Forrest Gump. Nike has iterated on the beloved red / white / blue design since the Cortez was released. But they’ve never gone as minimal as they did with the new Classic Cortez Premium. The new black and white options of the Cortez retain the silhouette you’re familiar with while changing up a few of the design elements. The genuine leather sneaker has been stripped of the outside swoosh, and the inside swoosh is the same color as the rest of the upper. The heel tab and tongue tab keep the Nike branding, but the overall area is not color blocked in a contrasting color like it normally is. If you’re looking for a new, minimal take on a classic pair of kicks, these are it.