Now over 30 years old, the versatile New Balance 550 makes a couture comeback, thanks to their collaboration with the New York design house Aimé Leon Dore. If you’ve managed to get your hands on a pair, you’ve got a great starting point for a killer casual look.
The return
It was the late 1980s and New Balance was looking for a way to make a name for itself in the basketball shoe business. And for good reason. Air Jordans (first released to the public in 1985) were the This shoe. They were so popular that they broke out of the niche world of athletics and into the mainstream.
New Balance tried the 650 and 480, both of which sported taller tops, much like the original Air Jordans. The 550 debuted with a lower cut around the ankle, which was much more comfortable, but not as supportive on the basketball court. They didn’t quite catch fire like New Balance hoped, and they more or less disappeared from the radar of kick connoisseurs.
Fast forward to 2014. Entrepreneur Teddy Santis founded Aimé Leon Dore and began his raid on ’90s fashion, fueled by his fond nostalgia for Queens culture. He came across the New Balance 550, and the rest is history.
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He’s now the creative director of New Balance’s “Made In USA” line, and he’s hard at work on the 550 line. The Taupe version of the New Balance/Aimé Leon Dore collaboration even made our list of best luxury sneakers. .
With this invigorated push, we are bound to start seeing New Balance 550 on feet everywhere.
How to style your New Balance 550
The New Balance 550 matches almost any casual outfit you can createbut there are definite trends that you can use as a reference point when creating your look.
On the legs, we saw jeans (usually blue) paired with New Balance Aimé Leon Dore 550. The shoes provide a nice period of cleanliness at the bottom of the exclamation mark formed by the rest of your body.
If jeans aren’t your gear, don’t be afraid to try corduroys or even semi-formal pleated pants for your New Balance 550 outfit. Shorts will also do the trick. We suggest keeping your tights limited to a single tone as opposed to a splatter print (there is such a thing as being too 1990s).
Your top acts as the counterpoint to your pants. If you’ve opted for a muted color at the bottom, you’ve left yourself room to throw on a hoodie or a brightly printed shirt.
If you’ve opted for a more colorful version of the shoe, like the New Balance 550 Red, try a neutral tone like a brown or gray for your legs, then pair red on top for a bright yet balanced effect.
Whether your look is semi-formal or casual is entirely up to you. That’s what makes the 550 so impressive: it pairs well with a wide range of presentations.
For the ladies
The 550 is a perfectly slim shoe for both women and men. However, if you prefer something a little more feminine, you can choose from our cultivated list of the best sneakers for women.
Either way, all of the tips above will also work for you. Decide how casual you want your look to be, then build from your shoes. Women have the added benefit that the 550 makes an incredibly cute addition to summer dresses and playful skirts.