After claiming her first Olympic gold medal in the United States women’s 4×100 relay on Friday, Sha’Carri Richardson once again captured the spotlight the following day, not just for her athletic prowess, but for her bold fashion statement while attending Team USA men’s basketball game. Seated courtside with notable personalities like Carmelo Anthony and Jimmy Fallon, Richardson donned an ensemble that combined a matching denim jacket and jeans, highlighted by a striking red Pharrell Williams-designed Louis Vuitton Speedy P9 bag. However, it was her unique, custom-made corset crafted from deconstructed Nike Dunk sneakers that truly set social media on fire.
This eye-catching top was the work of designer Cierra Boyd, who is known on Instagram as @friskmegood. Boyd has built a reputation for transforming sneakers into innovative clothing items, and her online store offers a variety of sneaker corsets crafted from popular shoe styles such as the Air Jordan 1, Nike Dunk, Nike Air Force 1, and Nike Air Max 1. The price range for these one-of-a-kind pieces typically falls between $225 and $325.
Boyd’s designs typically utilize a single sneaker style for each corset, but for Richardson, she created something entirely unique. The custom corset blended several colorways of the Nike Dunk Low, including “Medium Curry,” “Medium Olive Hemp,” and “Cacao Wow.” This distinctive piece not only showcased Richardson’s fashion-forward approach but also highlighted Boyd’s creative expertise.
In a behind-the-scenes look shared on Instagram, Boyd revealed the meticulous process involved in crafting Richardson’s bespoke corset. She considered 12 different earth-tone Nike Dunk Lows before settling on the final combination. Boyd also mentioned that she designed matching bottoms for the outfit, although these were not displayed during the event.
While the specifics of Richardson’s sponsorship deal with Nike remain undisclosed, there is widespread speculation that it is a highly lucrative arrangement. Richardson has been prominently featured in several of Nike’s recent campaigns, including the Jacquemus x Nike Spring 2024 collaboration and the brand’s “Winning Isn’t for Everyone” campaign. Her association with Nike has undoubtedly elevated her status as both an athlete and a style icon.
Richardson’s flair for making bold fashion statements was also evident during her gold-medal-winning performance in the U.S. women’s 4x100m relay final on Friday. She wore a pair of Nike Maxfly 2 track spikes in a vibrant “Electric Green” color, adorned with Nike’s safari print. While many of her teammates opted for the “Electric Orange” version of the spikes, Nike provided Richardson with her own exclusive colorway, further emphasizing her unique position within the brand’s roster of athletes.
The weekend was a triumphant one for Team USA beyond Richardson’s accomplishments. On Saturday, the men’s basketball team secured its 17th Olympic gold medal by defeating France with a score of 98-87. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the U.S. women’s basketball team narrowly edged out France 67-66 to claim their eighth consecutive gold medal, marking a historic achievement as the first basketball team in Olympic history to do so.
Richardson’s presence at these events, coupled with her daring fashion choices, ensured that she remained in the public eye, even off the track. Her collaboration with Boyd not only underscores her commitment to pushing the boundaries of fashion but also reflects a broader trend of athletes using their platform to explore and express their personal style. As Richardson continues to make waves in both the sports and fashion worlds, her influence is likely to grow, solidifying her status as a multifaceted icon who excels both on and off the track.
