New Balance has turned heads with its latest footwear design that sees its classic sneaker remodeled as a loafer.
Founded in Boston, the sportswear brand has built a massive audience with its reliable sneakers, appealing to Boomers and Gen Z alike.
However, the brand’s new creation, developed in collaboration with Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe, has attracted attention, and not for the right reasons.
The esteemed designer is known to mastermind cutting-edge designs, with his creations often costing more than £1,000.
Now, his loafers have caused a storm on social media, with viewers unable to understand the ‘grandpa’ shoes – not to mention the alleged £155 price tag.
New Balance has proven it can do more than just sportswear with its latest cutting-edge design: sporty loafers (pictured)
While the shoes are not scheduled to go on sale later this year, according to What is traffic jam?Photographs of the new design were leaked online.
The sneakers come in silver and gray and have the look of a sneaker while also being shaped like loafers.
However, after photos of the shoe appeared online, viewers quickly expressed concerns about the design.
One said: “This is what happens when the leading dad shoe maker gets too confident and thinks it can just expand into grandpa shoes.”
A second joked: “Thank you for making this for my 1983 feet.” A third wrote: “Those are the ugliest sneakers I’ve ever seen.”
Weighing in on the backlash, a fourth user took to the comments section and said, “I’ve never seen anything worse.”
MailOnline has contacted New Balance for comment.
This comes after fashion lovers raved about ballet flats. The ballet slipper is a combination that looks both hyper-feminine and streetwear-ready.
The silver and white shoes have not yet been released, but they have already caused a stir on social media.
Created in collaboration with Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe, the shoes combine sportswear and business attire.
Designers like Sandy Liang, Rombaut, JW Pei, and even Skechers have chunky, modern footwear creations that are sure to be the hottest trend of the summer.
Balletcore has been all the rage for the last few years, with celebrities wearing feminine pink wrap tops, nude tights, tutus, legwarmers, corsets, ribbons and bows.
Bella Hadid donned legwarmers and Emily Ratajkowski donned the Nutcracker in a white tutu, and Generation Z is fawning over classical ballerinas.
But now, instead of the super flat bottom that can lead to foot problems like bunions, according to podiatrists, these ballet flats have super thick, comfortable soles.
Dublin-born fashion designer Simone Rocha started the trend in September 2020 with ballet slippers and has since changed materials, opting for an even more durable sole over time.
The shoes, which feature silver and white material, are said to release in stores later this year.
After photos of the shoes hit social media, users flocked to share their thoughts, but many were unimpressed.
Rocha’s creations sell for around $1,000, so women on TikTok have been searching for more affordable offerings and documenting their search for ‘chunky ballet flats’ and how they style them.
Creators like Amy Jane Garrity and Catherine Anne Chiang have shared videos on TikTok about how to style the sneakers.
Paris-based brand Rombaut is another designer of flats and sneakers, calling them their “futuristic take on the ballerina shoe,” and shoppers love the sweet style, which has repeatedly sold out on their website.
The vegan Aura sneaker in pink satin is covered in bows and sells for 380 euros, or $412, and is still hard to come by after launching four years ago.
The brand, led by founder and creative director Mats Rombaut, makes designs in red velvet and covered in silver studs for a special touch that have been described as sexy orthopedic shoes.
Celebrities like Doja Cat, Pink Pantheress, Bella Hadid, Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus are fans of the sustainable, biodegradable and gender-neutral brand.