Fashion People in Switzerland and Portugal Agree That This Will Be 2026's It Sneaker

Let’s get straight to it: the Nike Shox is shaping up to be the defining sneaker of 2026.

Yes, those Nike Shox—the early-2000s icons with their unmistakable spring-loaded heel columns. At first glance, the comeback might seem unlikely, but let me explain. In February, TikTok creator Danielle Pheloung issued a casual statement: “A quick PSA, we’re bringing back Nike Shox.” It may have started as a nostalgic nod, but the momentum hasn’t slowed since. If anything, it confirmed what my instincts told me: the Shox revival isn’t just a blip—it’s about to be a full-blown return.

Soon after Pheloung’s post, I began spotting them regularly on fashion people in Portugal. These weren’t throwback looks either. Shox were styled everything from wide-leg trousers to miniskirts, reimagining the sneaker as a fashion statement rather than a purely functional relic like it was in the 2000s. And their color choices? Bold, saturated, and playful—a visual cue that fashion right now is leaning toward joyful maximalism.

So why are Nike Shox having a moment now? For one, the U.S. is almost always a few beats behind Europe in terms of sneaker trends, and this is no exception. More importantly, American style is currently in an era of eclecticism and sport-infused dressing, making the return of a bold, unconventional silhouette like the Shox feel timely and inevitable.