Y2K Worlds Collide in Nike’s New Kitten Heel-Inspired Shox Z

Published August 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM

Mesh runners aren’t the only Y2K footwear trend back in full force. We’ll forgive you if you haven’t renewed your Vogue subscription since the news broke that Anna Wintour was stepping down, but the kitten heel is back. And on the slightly raised heels of an era-appropriate Jessica Alba collabo at Manolo Blahnik (we’ll forgive you if you missed that one, too), Nike is jumping on the trend with the Shox Z, a brand new low-profile women’s silhouette bringing together the best the millennium had to offer in casual and formal footwear.

Taking the iconic Nike Shox technology and slimming it down to a horizontal stack in the forefoot that slopes up into small columns at the heel, the raised heel influence is immediately recognizable. The upper is made of a light, breathable textile with a faux leather racing stripe on the toe as a reference to OG Shox models, and textured side panels that give ReactX Rejuven8 vibes. The midsole brings together cushy foam and bouncy Shox support with a thin waffle outsole underneath.

The Shox Z will be released in five debut colorways: Metallic Silver/Black, Black/University Red, Light Bone/Black, Velvet Brown/Pink, and Dark Team Red/Black. All five pairs are constructed with monochrome uppers and a splash of color in the Shox unit.

The first five colorways of the Nike Shox Z will be released for Holiday 2025 through Nike retailers in-store and online. Available exclusively in women’s sizing, the retail price is set at $135. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.