The Silver Lining: New Balance Embraces 2024's Metallic Sneaker Trend

While you may not know it if you live in England, the summer fashion season is now well underway and has been for some time. Normally we see this period dominated by increases in demand for triple-white styles, however this year we’ve noticed a different trend taking dominance as the hottest of the season. After a long period of low-profile terrace styles being a must-have, it looks like sneakerheads are now having their heads turned by retro-futuristic styles. In fact, since the start of 2024 we’ve seen a 24% increase in searches for "metallic sneakers", a trend which has been spearheaded by retro-runner silhouettes such as the New Balance 1906 and 860v2.

There have been numerous metallic silver New Balance colourways released in the past 6 months, all of which have epitomised exactly what this new wave of silver sneakers is all about. Combining our love for nostalgic styles with a demand for modern comfort and technology to create something which is unique and surprisingly versatile.

We wanted to dive into the metallic sneaker trend and explore how New Balance has managed to leverage their running brand heritage to create something truly special.

Starting with a short history lesson, New Balance is no stranger to the metallic sneaker game. In fact, the 1906 silhouette was actually inspired by their sneaker releases in the 2000s. As we all know, fashion moves in cycles, with the new generation always looking to the past for inspiration. This is where they found love for metallic sneakers and a desire for retro styles. While it feels weird to call the 2000’s “retro”, the turn of the new millennia happened almost 25 years ago now! As can be seen in other trends on the TikTok ‘For You page’ such as cargo pants and leopard prints, people are finding new inspiration by looking at this unique period in fashion and its no wonder they found the NB 1906R as an accessible way to explore this trend.

Alongside this desire to look to the past, there’s simultaneously been an increase in people looking to modern technologies within their personal styles. Nothing better shows this than the rise of “gorpcore”, with gore-tex and technical garments being seen on the streets of London more often than they’ve been seen on the peaks of the pennines. Following on from 2020’s lockdown, the value of comfort and functionality in fashion skyrocketed and hasn’t come down since which again has led people to discover New Balance's ABZORB and N-ergy technology found in many of their retro runners.

These seemingly dichotic trends have both found a home in the New Balance 1906 and some of the brands other silhouettes, with the 1906R and 860v2 offering a classic take on the 00s silver sneaker, whilst the 1906A "Tech Explosion" and newly debuted NB 1000 offering a more technical and modern approach to the metallic sneaker trend.

So, how have The Sole Supplier and Sole Womens team been styling the silver sneaker trend? As just mentioned, New Balance’s recent releases have made it easier than ever to style these retro metallic styles, by dropping a range of incredible colourways to choose from. Whether you're looking to balance the silver accents with neutral tones, such as with the New Balance 1906R “Metallic Silver Sea Salt”, or looking for something with a pop of colour such as the NB 860v2 “Green/Silver”, every style and aethetic is covered.

On the men’s side, John, Taylor and Dan all took on an outfit challenge to see who could style a variety of silver New Balance trainers the best, with each one bringing their own twist to the challenge. John opted for a variety of lighter, neutral tones throughout his 'fit, balancing the complete metallic upper of his NB 1000 “Silver”. Taylor on the other hand went for a more streetwear-centric outfit. Pairing his metallic 860s with a wide, dark denim pant and heavy jacket. The result is the perfect transitional outfit to see you between seasons. Finally, Dan styles his NB 1906Rs in a more casual, sporty look, proving that the silver sneaker trend can be worn with your classic everyday outfits effortlessly.

For all our Sole Women audience looking for styling tips, don't worry, we've got you covered as well! Emily took three different silver New Balance sneakers and managed to style them in three entirely different ways. For our sporty girls, Emily found pairing the 860v2 “Indigo/Silver” with a tapered jogger and a racer vest the perfect way to match the luxe-athleisure trend we’re seeing at the moment. If you’re looking to dress your sneakers up, she also found they go just as well with an oversized blazer and a pair of shorts for that girl-on-the-go look. Lastly, for an urban-chic look, Emily paired her metallic silver 1906Rs with a long ruffle skirt, oversized tee and a pair of sporty sunglasses which will see you through the whole (admittedly short) British summer.

If you’re looking to make the most of the silver sneaker trend, you need to add a pair of these New Balance runners to your collection. From the upcoming Basement x New Balance 1906R to the newly released 1906R “Angora Navy”, there’s now more options than ever to get the look that’s right for you.