The New Balance 57/40 Evolves the Classic 574
Over the years, have attempted to fiddle with the near-perfect , which has spawned at least a half dozen variations such as the 574S and 574 Fresh Foam. Now, the 57/40 continues to remix the popular silhouette, following its debut earlier this year, by mixing together multiple elements from classic colourways.
It’s both a material and colour play here, with a prominent inclusion of different leather and suede finishes. Perforated panels have come to define some of the most coveted retro runner releases in the past decade or so, thus New Balance hope to channel that same energy here on the toe box and ankle collar.
NB are also known for using some of the finest suede in the game, so it’s no surprise the fluffy stuff shows up on the majority of the upper – though the dark shades of black and navy may not make it immediately obvious.
Some strong clashing comes via burgundy and blue accents, which shouldn’t work in theory, but somehow does in practice. Elsewhere, neutral grey accents show this design doesn’t stray too far from NB’s core colours. Colourway aside, the modern layered look and exaggerated midsole proportions keep the aesthetics in 2021.
The New Balance 57/40 is out now from New Balance Japan, but expect international availability to follow.