Like the much-maligned Pontiac Aztek, New Balance‘s 1700 sacrifices looks for performance, but unlike the snout-nosed Aztek, in the right (read: Japanese) hands the 1700 can become a star. Case in point, Beauty & Youth‘s collaborative contribution on the profile.
Starting with an upper almost entirely covered with dark navy suede, this Japanese-guided iteration also boasts a mesh toebox. The caramel leather wrapped around the heelcap, tongue & lace bed furnish it an elegant contrast to the suede that’s reminiscent of a varsity jacket’s sleeves.
The understated aesthetic belies a circus inside — the insole is a vibrant collage of small images that coalesces at the heel with cobranded logos. Of course, the 1700′s shapely midsole remains, offering a level of comfort akin to walking on Tempur-Pedics.
The 1700 is for $160 USD at Kith’s Manhattan location and webstore.
