What do you get when you mix a sports aesthetic with burgundy? A stunning pair of shoes, that’s what! Here is our attempt at what we think that might look like, by mixing in a bit of style into the classic runner, the Air Max 90.

Our creation comes in a predominantly burgundy upper, except for hits of racer pink on the tick and Nike branding on the tongue. The midsole is also burgundy and is matched with a racer pink outsole and TPU overlay around the Air bubble. Altogether the shoe’s two-tone look is quite rare for a sneaker these days, it undeniably makes for a clean appearance.

The burgundy color is in reference to the famous wine grown in the Burgundy region of France, and is therefore associated with being sophisticated, and tasteful. It has been used numerous times on sneakers, but particularly on the Air Jordan 6 “Bourdeaux,” which Michael Jordan wore in the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Jam.” Not only does the burgundy color have connotations of fine dining, however, but it is a warm, cozy color that provides a perfect contrast to the more striking racer pink highlights on the shoe.

The racer pink parts of the shoe are inspired by running shoes, which would often be dressed in bright colors so that they would be noticed by nearby traffic. Air Max’s have often used neon greens to add some visibility, as well as 3M reflective material, but we decided to go for a racer pink. This color was most notably used on the Off-White x Nike Zoom Fly sneaker that was released back in 2018. It can be quite garish on its own but paired with the burgundy, it allows the most important parts of the sneaker to stand out. In the case of the Air Max 90, it draws attention to the Air bubble and the iconic Nike branding.

We think these concept Air Max 90’s are perfect for an ath-leisure look and would work very well with skinny jeans or grey joggers. The darker base of the shoe also means they would work well as an everyday sneaker, as they won’t show scuffs and stains as much as a lighter color shoe would. Plus, the Air Max 90 has a well-padded upper and is well-ventilated thanks to its mesh components, so it could offer a comfortable ride without the wearer getting too hot in the summer.