Andrew Rizzo Is Nike borrowing a bit of Vans’ sauce? We’ll stop short of calling it outright copycatting, but the parallels between Vans Old Skool and Nike Air Force 1 styles in recent seasons are tough to ignore.
First came the Chanel-inspired Vans Old Skool “Souvenir,” a major win for the SoCal brand that landed firmly in 2025 “Sneaker of the Year” conversations. Nike followed with the Air Force 1 “Boucle,” not a one-to-one recreation, but a clearly similar take on distressed, 2010s-inspired fashion cues.
More recently, Vans has been pushing its “Pearlized” series heavy, applying pearl detailing and pre-distressed finishes to staples like the Old Skool and Slip-On. Now, an upcoming Air Force 1 enters the chat with clear nods to that playbook, set to release soon in women’s sizing. Official images show a “Triple White” tumbled leather base, elevated by an assortment of pearls in varying sizes across the Swoosh. Nike has dropped pearl and stone-adorned Forces before, but the timing on this pair is enough to raise an eyebrow.
The Nike Air Force 1 Low “Pearlized” is expected to release Summer 2026 in women’s sizes, with pricing still under wraps at the time of writing. Check out official images below if you’re considering copping, and hit our Sneaker Release Dates page to stay on top of upcoming Nike drops.
WHERE TO BUY
Womens Nike Air Force 1 Low
US 2026
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| Retailer | Release type | Status |
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| Nikestore | Standard | Check Site |
