Claire Sullivan Couture Dress for adidas

Designer Claire Sullivan has unveiled a bespoke couture gown designed specifically for the adidas ADIZERO EVO SL Zip running sneaker. The project is documented in a new lookbook shot in New York City, featuring a runner sprinting through the streets in the voluminous dress.

Claire Sullivan stated that tutus are a classic staple of her work. "We have a lot of really beautiful, lightweight tulle in this," she said. The designer explained her inspiration came from the sensation of the shoe. "I love that the shoe feels like you’re floating when you’re wearing it, so I wanted to have that element in the look as well."

The Design and Construction

The dress mirrors the lightweight construction of the sneaker. It utilizes cascading tiers of lightweight tulle and tightly gathered taffeta ruching.

The resulting tutu and dramatic train give the garment a strong structural presence while remaining fluid. As the runner moves through the city, the fabric billows behind her, intended to evoke the weightless sensation of wearing the sneaker.

Integrating Athletic Identity

The styling integrates the sneaker's branding directly into the gown's motion. Three bold, graphic stripes slice diagonally across the runner’s torso. Variations of this stripe motif are hidden along the sides of the tutu and trail down the back of the train.

Inspired by the sneaker's aerodynamic zipper closure, an exposed, oversized metallic zipper acts as the focal hardware of the bodice. This detail nods to the hidden laces underneath the sneaker's zip.

Sullivan expressed her enjoyment in working with the adidas branding. "It was so fun, because when else am I going to have the opportunity to play with The Three Stripes?" she said. "I love when you’re able to play with brand identity and put your own spin on it, thinking entirely outside the box."

A Narrative of Joy and Nostalgia

The lookbook is grounded in a narrative of embodied joy. It frames high-performance details through a lens of childhood nostalgia and dress-up fantasy.

Inspired by vintage ’90s running photography, the imagery aims to capture a relentless, joyful energy. The project sends a gown-clad runner sprinting through New York City.

It serves as a reminder of what happens when we embrace our inner child and have fun with what we wear. The adidas ADIZERO EVO SL Zip sneaker is available now on the adidas Running website and at select retailers.