Sole Styling #4 - How To Style the Nike Air Force 1

While the idea of naming the perfect sneaker might be somewhat subjective, we're willing to bet a vast portion of sneakerheads would undoubtedly choose the Nike Air Force 1. This now iconic silhouette debuted on shelves all the way back in 1982, but despite its current repute, some might be surprised to learn that it wasn't an overnight success.

Just two years on from its release, Nike wanted to cease production of the shoe, and when fans of the silhouette found out, they cleared the stores of every pair they could find. After seeing the uplift in sales, Nike continued to produce the AF1, and the rest was history.

The shoe itself was crafted by Nike designer Bruce Kilgore as his first attempt at a basketball shoe, drawing its name from Air Force One plane that the President of the United States travels in. In its original form, it featured a high-top upper alongside a strap closure, but it's fair to say things have evolved since then. From the point of its inception, there have now been over a whopping 2000 Nike AF1 colourways released, and it's highly unlikely that's going to slow down any time soon.

Nowadays, the Nike Air Force 1 exists as nothing short of a legend in the game, with most sneakerheads possessing at least one pair in their rotation. Given the popularity of this shoe, we thought we'd offer some inspiration on how to style this model direct from The Sole Supplier office! So if you're looking for some new tips, inspiration or ideas, keep reading the article for all our suggestions!

Kicking things off, we have our very own John styling his pair of show-stopping Nike Air Force 1 "Sashiko." This pair made its debut back in February of 2021 and simply exemplifies Nike's interest in Japanese craft. Its upper is comprised of unique swashes offering stylish tones such as navy, black, white and grey, all of which work in unison to produce a striking appearance.

With a shoe so eccentric, sometimes it's best to dial back your outfit and let the silhouette do the talking, and that's exactly what John has opted for with this fit. With summer in full swing, John has paired a simple T-Shirt with shorts to stay ready for the warm weather. On the upper, he dons a crisp white tee, with details arriving courtesy of his black shades and silver chain necklace.

On the lower portion of the outfit, he wears a navy pair of Nike Shorts, matching with similar tones found on the "Sashiko." In addition, a pair of white Nike socks offer additional colour blocking, bringing the outfit together in sync.

Continuing with the summer theme, is The Sole Supplier CEO, George. For this fit, George opts for a classic warm-weather look to compliment his pair of Nike AF1 "Pixel White." The "Pixel White" arrived on the scene back in November of 2020 and offered a modernised makeover to the classic all-white AF1 silhouette we're all so familiar with. Unlike its predecessor, this shoe offers glitched panels and details, providing a unique take on the norm.

From the top, George dons a classic white T-Shirt from the brand Market. This tee features a large frontal graphic showcasing an array of cacti in green and yellow tones with the brand's logo subtly worked in. It's worth noting, that simple colour-blocked sneakers like the "Pixel White" offer the option to take your other layers to a different eclectic level without it looking like too much is going on.

Moving on to the lower layers, and George opts to inject some more colour into the look with a pair of pastel sweat shorts. These shorts arrived in a washed pastel blue tone, complete with contrasting white drawstrings. Finally, the look is finished with yet another pair of white Nike socks.

For our third look, Alim dons nothing short of a classic with a monochromatic-styled look. Regardless of how many times you've seen it, sometimes you just can't beat a fresh pair of Nike Air Force 1 '07 "Triple White," and this fit simply proves it.

Starting from the top, Alim wears a simple logo T-Shirt from Amsterdam fashion and lifestyle brand Daily Paper. This T-Shirt showcases a straightforward relaxed fit, finished with a contrasting black Daily Paper logo on the chest.

On the legs, he wears a pair of fresh grey tracksuit bottoms courtesy of New York's own Aimé Leon Dore. These joggers boast a straight fit with a cuffed ankle, ideal for displaying whatever kicks you just so happen to be wearing. To finish, a small Aimé Leon Dore logo is found on the upper left leg.

Our fourth and final AF1 and outfit combination comes courtesy of Chloe. For this outfit, Chloe has opted for a relaxed and on-the-move look made up of a few key elements. On the feet, she dons a pair of Nike Air Force 1 Low "Black Paisley," a colourway that first made its debut onto the scene in late 2021. This particular model offers a touch of detail in the form of a black paisley pattern Swoosh atop its crisp white base.

On the upper portion of the look, she wears an oversized grey T-Shirt, complete with a retro-styled print on the front. The faded and washed effect of the T-Shirt offers a nostalgic appearance, perfect for everyday styling. On the legs, she wears a pair of legging shorts with an all-black base, ideal for breaking up the separate portions of the look. Finally, to top it all off, we see a white Nike trainer sock

For more on our Sole Styling series, check out the articles below!