Brand: COMME des GARÇONS HOMME x New Balance

Model: 57/40

Release Date: October 1

Price: ¥40,700 (about $366)

Buy: Dover Street Market and Japanese

Editor's Notes: COMME des GARÇONS' workwear-centric HOMME sub-label — not to be confused with the adventurous mainline fare of COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS — may or may not still be headed by Junya Watanabe but it clearly still shares his taste given its latest footwear collaboration.

First seen at the brand's showroom presentation in January, the COMME des GARÇONS HOMME x New Balance 57/40 is just about ready to hit stores. It's as basic as basic gets, which is just how Junya likes it.

The COMME des GARÇONS designer's many New Balance tie-ups often hew towards the straightforward, keeping the core shape of the shoe intact while opting to add a logo here or a purposely bland colorway there.

Nothing wrong with being basic, though, and Watanabe knows the quiet strength in unsuspectingly versatile garments. His seasonal collections epitomize this ethos with unfuckable essentials upgraded with premium fabrication and stylistic flips (see: elevated liner jacket or ripstop paneled shirt)

Even if HOMME's New Balance 57/40 isn't a product of Watanabe's vision (CdG keeps quiet about the behind-the-scenes creatives who develop its clothes), it fits that mold. Its all-black-everything, from the GORE-TEX-lined black suede upper to the matching midsole, with only a CdGH-branded tongue tag to break up the monochrome facade.

The 57/40 has enjoyed a relatively low profile in recent months as silhouettes like the 327 and 2002r continue to enjoy the lion's share of attention. But occasional collaborations, like this one, and new colorways keep the chunky lifestyle shoe in the mix, a little bit.

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