Brand: Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance

Model: 993

Release Date: Raffle now open for November 12

Price: $265

Buy: Online raffle at Aimé Leon Dore's website

Editor's Notes: The wait is finally over. After months of speculation and debate amongst New Balance and ALD fans alike, Aimé Leon Dore has finally confirmed via Instagram that the collaboration is real, and is about to drop.

Both colorways featured in the ALD Fall/Winter 2021 lookbook have been officially unveiled, and are both set to drop via online raffle. You know what that means – prepare yourself to take an L. If the fanfare of the past few months and the IG comment section is anything to go by, these won't be an easy cop.

Sometimes the anticipation in the build-up to a sneaker drop can feel suffocatingly long. You're teased, and then you wait, and wait, and wait.

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but the mystery surrounding sneaker releases, especially collaborative silhouettes, can be quite the drag. Damn you, microwave era.

Aimé Leon Dore's Fall/Winter 2021 lookbook revealed a masterful collection that has since rolled on and quickly off shelves. While the apparel and accessories alone were plenty to get excited about and leave pockets hurting, I can't stop thinking about the New Balance 993s that made a sneaky appearance within a few looks, most notably on the feet of Action Bronson.

Over the past couple of months, there has been a wildfire of speculation regarding the shoe. On Reddit, many argued that both colorways pictured in the lookbook would be general releases from New Balance and subsequently were nothing to get excited about. The minority, however, disagreed – and it seems like they were right.

The first pair takes on the popular "Beef & Broccoli" coloring that has appeared on the Air Force 1 and several other silhouettes in the past, matching a deep brown with hints of green. For the second pair, a muted grey base is contrasted with blue and purple underlays, looking almost like an inverted version of its counterpart.

We're definitely far from short of 993 options this year, but hopefully, these will hit stores before the end of the year.

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