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This article contains affiliate links. Purchases may earn Señora Era a commission at no extra cost to you. Señora Era received the APL Riviera as a gift from APL. All opinions are our own.
Every season there is one shoe that everyone with good taste seems to land on at the same time. This fall it is the APL Riviera. It is the first pick in our Señora Holiday List for her, it opens our Luxury Gifts for Women guide, Oprah named it to her 2026 Favorite Things list, and goop is carrying it. When those three lists agree, pay attention.
The Story Behind APL
APL (Athletic Propulsion Labs) was started in 2009 by twin brothers Adam and Ryan Goldston, who played basketball at USC and wanted to jump higher. Sneakers run in the family: their dad, Mark Goldston, was Reebok’s chief marketing officer when it launched the famous Reebok Pump, the first shoe with a built-in inflation system, and later ran L.A. Gear during its light-up sneaker era. The twins’ first shoe, the Concept 1, hid a spring-loaded “Load ‘N Launch” system in the forefoot. In October 2010 the NBA banned it for giving players an “undue competitive advantage,” the first time the league had banned a shoe for performance. APL put “Banned by the NBA” on everything, and a cult brand was born.
Hollywood followed. The Goldstons have been close to the Kardashian family since they were kids, and Kris Jenner, Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have all been seen in APL. So have Jennifer Garner, Sofia Richie Grainge, Hilary Duff, Lady Gaga, Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Alba and Sophie Turner, which is how APL became the off-duty sneaker of the A-list.
What the APL Riviera Is
The Riviera, launched this summer, is APL’s take on a fashion sneaker: a slim, low-profile court shoe inspired by coastal Europe, made with premium canvas and suede and leather overlays, APL’s signature A-stitch, a new side logo and a padded collar. Underneath is the same cushioned midsole that makes APL so comfortable. It is $295.
APL Women’s Riviera Sneaker
Premium canvas, suede and leather on a low-profile court shape, with APL’s cushioning underneath.
$295
Why It’s the Sneaker of the Season
- It looks like fashion, not the gym. The shape is slim and retro, closer to a European designer sneaker than a running shoe, so it works with tailored trousers and a long coat.
- It feels like APL. You get the walk-all-day comfort the brand is known for, without the chunky sole.
- The approval is unanimous. APL has a long history with Oprah (the TechLoom Bliss, the Chelsea and the Lusso slides all made her list in past years), and the Riviera adds goop’s stamp too.
- The colors are quietly expensive. Ivory with chocolate and tan, clay with tundra, black with ivory and a terracotta with greige. Nothing loud, everything easy.
The Colors to Know
Our pick is Ivory / Chocolate / Tan, the warm brown version that goes with every fall coat. Clay / Ivory / Tundra is the colorway goop carries, and the all-Ivory is the cleanest choice if you want it to read like a classic white sneaker. There is also Black / Ivory, Ivory / Navy / Fatigue and Terracotta / Ivory / Greige.
Sizing and Care
APL makes all of its shoes unisex, and the women’s size runs 1.5 sizes off the men’s (a women’s 9 equals a men’s 7.5). Reviewers say the Riviera fits true to your usual APL size. Because it is made with suede and leather, it is not waterproof, so save it for dry days and give it a little suede care now and then.
How We’re Wearing It
- With straight-leg jeans, a cashmere crewneck and a long camel coat.
- With wide-leg wool trousers and a crisp white shirt for a polished weekday.
- With a slip skirt and an oversized sweater when you want a dress-down dinner look.
If you are buying one fashion sneaker this year, or gifting one, this is it. Shop the APL Riviera here.