It’s still early July, but summer 2026 could be shaping up to be the season of the Nike Air Rift. The cult favorite split-toe shoe has quietly been completing the looks of celebrities hailing from the worlds of sport, entertainment and beyond.
Jennifer Lawrence got it on the look before the warmer months returned. La Ligne shared a photo on social media of the actress in December wearing the black and white Nike Air Rift Breathe sneakers with a pair of blue jeans and a scarf from the New York City brand, as well as an embroidered Prada cardigan — making the shoes an unexpected-yet-cool accent to her look. Fast forward to June, and Nike athlete and Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu shared a slide deck of just two images to Instagram: first a photo of herself, then a close-up of the NikeSkims Rift Mesh style in an off-white color worn with wide-leg pants.
The Nike AirRift launched in spring 1996 as the athletic giant’s first tabi shoe and the start of its efforts to make footwear which facilitates natural motion. Partially based on input from Kenyan long-distance runners, the split toe and the shoe’s moniker are inspired by Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The style has been revived at various points through the years, with 2026 releases hailing from NikeSkims.
A range of notable names lately have proven the versatility and popularity of the AirRift. Below, FN examines how celebrities have been styling the trendy tabi.
Sarah Sherman is seen outside “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” on July 9, 2026 in New York City.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Sarah Sherman, whose taste in bold footwear came through in a 2025 collaboration with John Fluevog, stepped out on Thursday in a hot pink Air Rift which complemented a green-and-white striped jumpsuit.
Flo Milli attends the BET Experience Celebrity Basketball Game at USC Galen Center on June 25 in Los Angeles.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET
Flo Milli gave her stamp of approval to the Air Rift with a white set worn at the BET Experience Celebrity Basketball Game in June. She paired the shoes with chunky knit socks and a sporty set including shorts and a ruched tank.
Rama Duwaji wears Nike shoes to the Knicks “Keys to the City” ceremony at City Hall Plaza on Thursday.
Getty Images
First lady of New York City Rama Duwaji attended the New York Knicks “Keys to the City” ceremony following the championship parade in June wearing a black version of the Air Rift which reinvented the style with a double strap design. She paired the shoes with a custom design by Miss Claire Sullivan which combined three Knicks championship shirts.
Lisa for NikeSkims.
Nike/Skims
Kim Kardashian’s brand Skims and Nike came together to launch the brand NikeSkims in 2025, and its first shoe release was the Rift Mesh, which came out in January. Then came the Rift Satin, which K-pop star Lisa modeled in a spring 2026 campaign showcasing NikeSkim’s first head-to-toe system of dress.
