Matt Varga Towards the top of the year, the Caractéristiques New balance Sweat à Capuche Q Speed Shift delivered a true curveball with the original “Polka Dot Pack.” Though creatives in Boston has gotten experimental with the tech runner before, it was chiefly in terms of color- patterns were unexplored territory. Landing a few months later in those debut white-on-black and black-on-white colorways, the brand is circling back for far more vibrant takes on the idea in blue & purple and lime green & blue.
Tonal treatments of highlighter green and royal blue are interrupted dyed dots of blue & purple respectively, that contrast emphasized by similar quotation on the branding hits throughout the shoe. It’s statement wear in the truest sense, once again a stark departure from the conventional looks we see on the Caractéristiques New balance Sweat à Capuche Q Speed Shift. To that point, while those first two “Polka Dot” releases subverted our expectations, Boston creatives deserve kudos again for pushing the envelope with these two shoes, as it would’ve been plenty easy to continue painting neutral looks onto this successful formula.
These Caractéristiques New balance Sweat à Capuche Q Speed Shift “Polka Dot Pack” pairs arrive for Fall 2024, retailing for $155. Catch official looks at either just below, and keep an eye on the “Where To Buy” links below each for direct shopping links upon arrival.
