New Balance has long been the uniform of the normcore devotee, its running sneakers are just utilitarian enough and below the radar to be effortlessly cool. Likewise, Stance socks have been ruling the sock game for quite some time now, turning an often boring and overlooked essential into an exciting and seductive accessory. Both brands are synonymous with making the nerdy and anonymous cool, so it was only a matter of time before they paired up to introduce the New Balance x Stance collection.
The fruits of this partnership have resulted in three new pairs of shoes and custom designed socks to match them. The first in this achingly cool pairing is the 997 Stance x NB First Of All, a homage to bi-coastal American style. Offered in a rose and sand colorway, the sneakers were designed to reflect the brownstone homes that are found in New Balance’s Boston headquarters. The inside of each features a special graphic, one on the left for the West Coast (representing Stance’s headquarters) and one on the right for the East Coast (for New Balance). The accompanying pair of marled gray socks also include the coordinates of each brand’s HQ inside their cuffs.
The 1978 Stance x NB First Of All are designed to reflect Stance’s San Clemente base with a special edition of the 1978 in a beachy color scheme. The inside of the shoes and socks feature each brand’s West and East Coast headquarters’ logos and coordinates.
The FuelCore Sonic Stance X NB All Time is perhaps the most futuristic of all three. Designed in pursuit of attaining GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) status, this mantra is printed in gold onto the sneaker’s white and gray textured upper. Goat printed insoles further the theme. The shoes themselves are geared towards runners, with a Boa System for a more specialized fit and REVlite cushioning for a lightweight and responsive ride. The accompanying Stance socks also have a performance enhancing design with texturing, support and flecks of gold throughout.