New Balance's All-Black 991 Is Surprisingly Colorful

Double Tap to ZoomSneakersNew Balance Took Its 991 to the TailorsHow do you make an all-black dad shoe a little more interesting? Stitch it up. Just ask New Balance. In collaboration with London-based jewelry brand Bleue Burnham, New Balance remixed its classic blacked-out Made in UK 991v1 sneaker with colorful contrast stitching that match the jeweler's collection of colorful assorted stones.Thin multi-color stitching lines the entire shoe, as well as the mid-foot and the "N" logo. It's kind of paradoxical in a way. An all-black sneaker that still encompasses most of the colors of the rainbow. Basically, New Balance took one of its most pristine sneakers to the tailor, and it was all for the better. Elsewhere, black pebbled leather keeps things dusky and demure.Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.These little colorful inserts add just enough va va voom to the shoe without taking away the inherent charm of a classic black dad shoe, which New Balance obviously knows very well. Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.Just take a look at the JJJJound 990, the Triple Black 204L, and the sooty 880R. NB understands that black is the new black. As such, the dad shoe savant is constantly looking for new ways to build upon its established elderly sneaker lore.Obviously, there's only so much you can do to an all-black shoe before it leaves the bounds of blacked-out territory. As such, the brand has embraced subtle ways to upgrade simple black sneakers without eradicating the monotone baseline that makes these shoes what they are.Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping and subscribe to Shopper for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.We RecommendNew Balance’s Retro Dad Shoe Is Serving Something SaltyFall Has Found Its Perfect Suede Dad Sneaker, It's New Balance (Obviously)New Balance Issues an All-American Cotton Candy ClassicNew Balance’s New Skate Shoe Is Having a Shell of a TimeFrom Converse to adidas, the Seven Best Sneakers to Cop This WeekWhat To Read NextNew Balance's All-Black 991 Is Surprisingly ColorfulNike’s Running Sneaker Has No Business Looking This FastStella McCartney's Latest adidas Runner Is a Fluffy Winter WonderOogie Boogie Just Got His Own Nike Court ShoeSKIMS' Latest Split-Toe Sneakers Are a Slimline Chocolate TreatNew Balance’s Retro Dad Shoe Is Serving Something Salty