The stylish have always been tagged infamously with, well, discomfort. How much walking can you really do with 3” heels without the painful battle scares of blisters and “new shoe bites”?
Recent years have seen the rise of the casual chic, where oversized pullovers (I’m looking at you, Joyrich) and colourful sneakers have become a staple – particularly in the Korean Pop fandom. As the top bringers of airport fashion, they have won my heart with that chilled-out yet pulled together causal style. They could be donning anything from a the standard T-shirt and Jeans to a shirt dress, but ultimately, what pulls the whole look together lays at their feet.
New Balance (FB/Instagram) continues to embrace this trend by releasing a new extensive and incredibly colourful range of foot wear perfect for anyone from the gym-goer to the style crusader. With up to 6 ranges, from the sports-ready Fresh Foam Boracay and Fresh Foam Zante Press, to the style favourites, Adrenaline, 530, 574 and the White Instinct, their S/S15 collection promises to be a classic for every occasion.
Fresh Foam Boracay & Zante Press
Gone are the days where tacky and dull looking running wear ruled the gym. I don’t know about you, but looking fresh and colourful sure gets my mood into the tedious affair of running (especially on a monotonous treadmill). To add, running on mechanical surfaces like the treadmill can prove hazardous to our knees and ankles unlike the soft surfaces of, say, grass or a laid-out track. The updated and thicker New Balance Fresh Foam promises to counter that, allowing runners a cushiony smooth and soft stride no matter the location.
So, what exactly is this Fresh Foam New Balance keeps gushing about? It is essentially an innovative midsole created from a single piece of foam helps to provide a more natural, under foot feel. This year sees a refresh of the two of their successful fresh foam series, in terms of their “Science of Soft” and the look of the entire construct.
Both iterations addresses the cons of their predecessors while improving on their already sought after qualities to make up this pair of data-driven kicks. Notably, the foot bed remains pleasingly comfortable to the touch with the Fresh Foam continuing to provide a moderately firm and springy support – all while being incredibly lightweight. Particularly, the Boracay series sees a new ultra-push cushioning and reduced 4mm midsole offset, suitable for marathoners (long runs/heavy mileage).
In fact, with the Fresh Foam Zante Press being named as Wear Competitor Magazine’s 2015 Road Shoe of the Year, they must be doing something right. Suited more for the aspiring road-runners (anyone got this old school looney toon reference?), it boasts a smoother heel-to-toe transition, and an incredibly apt colour palette of neon yellow and red. As for myself, that Neon Red Zante for women was the show stealer – albeit striking, the black patent on the side makes it an easy and effortless match to my work out ensemble.
Adrenaline
Now, something a little more my speed; the Adrenaline pack!
Featuring vibrant designs in three models for your choosing; the CRT300, 580 and MRT996 is armed with the mission of pragmatic comfort and bringing our bold and fun personalities to life.
First stop, the slim-fitting court shoes CRT300 comes in four bright and cheery colours of Yellow, Blue, Orange and Gray (looking more like silver to me). It is the most fitting of the Spring/Summer theme as it features a tropical floral print reminiscent of board shorts you see on Miami Beach.
Seeing that its New Balance, the shoes comes with more punch than the usual sneakers. CRT300 actually contains a REVlite Midsole (another of their innovative foam), for that lightweight and cushiony spring you get in every step. Whether you’d be off to travel, café-hopping or, simply because you have a niece that refuses to give you a moment of peace, it is the perfect pair of worry-free kicks for a pulled-together casual look any day and anywhere.
Having made its rounds in Tokyo as a streetwear cult classic, the MRT580 returns with a bold and contrasting revamp of Red, White and Black. Not only does it have the lightweight REVlite cushioning, but also comes with their Lightning Dry technology to keep feet dry and comfortable – a winning combination for our weather, won’t you agree?
Technical details aside, the alternating suede and nylon material gives off a mid-90s types of technical sneaker style. It is sort of old school, with a new century colour update. The RED MRT580, whose colour combination in theory sounded disastrous to me, was my pick. Its vibrant spectrum of red, neon yellow and blue easily brings life to a muted outfit, or works as a colour-complimenting accessory.
The laid-back MRL996, is one that truly brings out the fun and cheery personality of anyone who wears it. It features a sweeter combination of vibrant colours, however, it could easily turn edgy with the right outfit as well. Interestingly, it continues to play with textures with the suede and nylon upper topped with leather details. All without comprising on comfort as it still features the REVlite sole, if I must add. You would be able to satisfy your wanderlust and your #OOTD posts without question.
530
Even the old school 530 (reminds me of those Nsync, Backstreet Boys days) makes a comeback, featuring another of New Balance’s soft cushioning; ENCAP. Focused on the midsole, the tough polyurethane rim makes for better support and durability.
574
Created way back in 1988, the 574 represents a cornerstone of New Balance’s classic design. Having already an extensive colour resume, this year continues its revamp; maintaining its title as being “Always Classic, Always In Style”
The bright colours and contrasting design does not lose out to the other featured revamps. With the seemingly limitless options in both colours and textures, you are bound to find that one perfect pair (or maybe two).
White Instinct
Back when I was in school, I loathed wearing that tasteless white shoe that I even had to constantly “clean up” with the correction fluid-looking liquid from Bata. From then on, I refused to wear anything that reminded me of those uniform days – but New Balance may have just turned me around with their White Instinct series.
As part of the celebration of their rich heritage (of more than a 100 years!), they have taken the whole aesthetic of their classic design into the depths of minimalism – to birth a trio of crisp and clean kicks perfect for, literally, any style.
The series breathes an air of luxury thanks to the use of premium materials. Particularly, the M1400 features a leather upper that can adds a play of texture on your whole outfit. The best part? The all-white versatility gives that ease in dressing up for every occasion, including not looking like you gave up on casual Fridays.
A Simple Classic for All Occasion
Is New Balance on a dark mastermind quest to take control of my entire life savings?
I was completely overwhelmed by New Balance’s SS15 collection; not only have they given a vibrant and on-trend colour update on their classics, they have also improved the overall functionality of their running shoes. Honestly, I am unable to pick a sure win favourite among this extensive collection. Each of them can be easily slipped on, and let me head out the door without a mirror check – the classic sneaker style and colours make it incredibly easy to match and does not restrict to you to any particular look. Top that with the guaranteed comfort (that have kept athletes and casual wearers coming back for more), I can head out for an entire day, or even bring it for travel and know that I would not have to worry about turning up on “Top 10 Fashion Don’ts” or look like an obvious fish-out-of-water tourist.
New Balance shoes featured will be available at all New Balance stores and partners (including Footlocker).
About the Writer
Jessica is a young lady of many obsessions. She gets herself into everything ranging from the latest in the monochrome fashion world (she only wears black, and sometimes, white) to convincing the masses that Community is the best TV series ever made.
Currently, she enjoys looking like Sailor Mercury had a baby with Wednesday Addams.
