Running shoes and basketball sneakers became a defining part of celebrity off-duty style in the mid-2010s, when leggings, sweatshirts, and performance footwear regularly moved beyond the gym.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Bella Hadid, and Kylie Jenner each took a different approach, from lightweight Nike Flyknits and Nike Free runners to glossy Air Jordan 11s—three examples of how Nike sneakers moved from performance footwear to everyday fashion.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Adds a Pop of Blue With Nike Free 4.0 Flyknits
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley gave her gym style a colorful footwear update when she stepped out in Los Angeles on March 21, 2016, pairing light blue Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit running shoes with black Nike leggings and a gray Rodarte sweatshirt.
At 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm) tall with a US shoe size 9, Huntington-Whiteley is often featured on Best Quality Luxury Shoes Online Store in towering designer heels, but her workout wardrobe shows a more practical side of her footwear rotation.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wears Burberry sunglasses with her hair pulled into a ponytail after a Los Angeles workout on March 21, 2016 (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
For the workout, Huntington-Whiteley paired a gray Rodarte sweatshirt with black Nike Epic Lux Dri-FIT cropped leggings and Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit running shoes in the Copa/Blue Lagoon/Grand Purple/Black colorway.
The bright Flyknit sneakers stood out against the otherwise neutral gray-and-black outfit. Designed as a flexible running shoe, the Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit combined a lightweight, foot-hugging knit upper with a 6mm heel-to-toe offset and a flexible sole with hexagonal grooves designed to allow multidirectional movement.
The Flyknits weren’t a one-off choice for Huntington-Whiteley. Her earlier gym looks also featured Nike Free training shoes, including pink Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 sneakers in 2014.
A close-up of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s light blue Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit running shoes with black Swooshes and flexible white soles (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
She finished the athleisure look with Burberry 3051 sunglasses, Anita Ko Diamond Loop earrings, her Neil Lane engagement ring, and a black Saint Laurent Monogram crocodile-embossed leather chain bag.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley pairs light blue Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit sneakers with black Nike leggings and a gray Rodarte sweatshirt in Los Angeles (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
Huntington-Whiteley also shared a look at her post-workout stretching session following her Body by Simone workout.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley stretches after a Body by Simone workout in Los Angeles (Credit: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Instagram)
Why the Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit Stood Out
The Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit sat between the more minimal Free 3.0 and the more cushioned Free 5.0 in Nike’s Free lineup. Its Flyknit upper provided a close, sock-like fit, while the 6mm heel-to-toe offset and flexible grooved sole were designed to encourage more natural foot movement.
Its streamlined shape also worked beyond running, fitting easily into the leggings-and-sneakers athleisure looks that became a familiar part of celebrity off-duty style during the mid-2010s.
Huntington-Whiteley wasn’t the only celebrity photographed in the model. Hilary Duff wore black Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit sneakers with colorful capri leggings and a relaxed sweatshirt, while Kendall Jenner styled black-and-gray Nike Free 4.0 Flyknits with leggings and high-fashion outerwear.
Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit running shoe in the Copa/Blue Lagoon/Grand Purple/Black colorway worn by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
The original Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit has been discontinued, so finding a pair today generally means looking to the resale market. As of September 2026, StockX lists Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit sneakers in several colorways, although availability and asking prices vary by colorway and size.
Because older and discontinued Nike models can turn up through multiple resale channels, it’s worth checking the details before buying. Our guide to spotting fake Nike shoes covers details such as the shoebox, SKU, tongue label, stitching, materials, Swoosh placement, midsoles, and outsoles when assessing a pair.
Bella Hadid Pairs Nike Free Run 3 Sneakers With Black-and-White Athleisure
At 5 feet 8 inches (172.7 cm) tall with a US shoe size 8.5, Bella Hadid’s footwear rotation stretches from towering designer heels to technical sneakers. On February 18, 2016, she stepped out in West Hollywood wearing Nike Free Run 3 sneakers in Summit White/Gamma Grey/Metallic Red Bronze with a black-and-white workout look.
Hadid paired the low-profile running shoes with Alo Yoga Goddess leggings, a Solow Dotted Herringbone sports bra, a pale bomber jacket, and a Vianel suede baseball cap. The white sneakers continued the outfit’s contrasting lower half, while their Metallic Red Bronze Swooshes added a subtle touch of color.
Bella Hadid wears white Nike Free Run 3 sneakers with black-and-white Alo Yoga leggings in West Hollywood on February 18, 2016 (Credit: Cousart / JFXimages / WENN)
Bella Hadid completes her workout-inspired look with a Vianel suede cap, Solow sports bra, Alo Yoga Goddess leggings, and Nike Free Run 3 sneakers (Credit: Cousart / JFXimages / WENN)
A closer look shows the streamlined Free Run 3 silhouette in a mostly white-and-gray palette, finished with a Metallic Red Bronze Swoosh.
A closer look at Bella Hadid’s Nike Free Run 3 sneakers in Summit White/Gamma Grey/Metallic Red Bronze (Credit: Cousart / JFXimages / WENN)
Hadid’s Free Run 3 and Huntington-Whiteley’s Free 4.0 Flyknit illustrate two variations on Nike’s flexible Free concept. Both had low-profile proportions that paired easily with the leggings, sports bras, and lightweight layers common in mid-2010s athleisure.
That combination remained part of Hadid’s off-duty wardrobe well beyond 2016. She later paired black Alo Yoga leggings with white Nike Air Max sneakers after a Pilates session in Los Angeles, revisiting the same gym-to-street formula with a different Nike silhouette.
As of September 2026, StockX lists a selection of Nike Free Run 3 models on the resale market, although Bella Hadid’s exact Summit White/Gamma Grey/Metallic Red Bronze colorway may not be available and listings vary by size and condition.
Kylie Jenner Goes Monochrome in Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue” Sneakers
The sneaker story shifts from lightweight running shoes to basketball heritage with Kylie Jenner. At 5 feet 6 inches (167.6 cm) tall with a US shoe size 8, Jenner has been featured on Best Quality Luxury Shoes Online Store in everything from stilettos to Nike sneakers.
On January 12, 2016, she stepped out in Beverly Hills wearing Air Jordan 11 Retro “Gamma Blue” sneakers with black leggings and an oversized black hoodie.
The sneakers provided the main point of contrast. The predominantly black Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue” featured the silhouette’s distinctive glossy patent-leather mudguard, with Gamma Blue and yellow accents adding small flashes of color. Jenner wore hers with black socks and leggings, allowing the patent finish and colored details to stand out against the monochrome outfit.
Kylie Jenner pairs an all-black hoodie-and-leggings look with Air Jordan 11 Retro “Gamma Blue” sneakers in Beverly Hills on January 12, 2016 (Credit: WENN)
A closer look at Kylie Jenner’s Air Jordan 11 Retro “Gamma Blue” sneakers, featuring glossy black patent leather and blue outsole accents (Credit: WENN)
The Air Jordan 11 wasn’t Jenner’s first time using a basketball sneaker to break up an all-black outfit. In May 2015, she paired black-and-infrared Air Jordan 6 Retro sneakers with black leggings and a cropped top, showing how Jordans had already become part of her off-duty footwear rotation.
The comparison with Huntington-Whiteley’s Nike Free 4.0 Flyknits shows two very different approaches to sneaker-based off-duty dressing. Jenner’s basketball-derived Air Jordan 11 was structured and glossy, while Huntington-Whiteley’s lightweight knit Free 4.0 was designed around running and flexible movement.
That contrast also reflects the broader evolution of athletic footwear into street style. Our guide to Air Jordan sneakers and authentication looks at the basketball roots, sneaker culture, popular silhouettes, and counterfeit issues surrounding the Jordan line.
The “Gamma Blue” colorway has also returned since Jenner wore the earlier release. As of September 2026, StockX lists Air Jordan 11 Retro “Gamma Blue” sneakers from both the original 2013 release and the 2025 retro, with availability and asking prices varying by size and edition.
Air Jordan 11 Retro “Gamma Blue” sneakers in black with Gamma Blue and yellow accents