In Crisp Black Leather, New Balance's Hybrid Loafer Has Never Been More Formal
For the first time since its debut Junya Watanabe collab, the New Balance 1906L (the L stands for loafer, FYI) ditches its usual technical mesh in favor of a full-leather build, making it feel more like a reimagined dress shoe than a souped-up sneaker.
In this stealthy, all-black execution, the New Balance 1906L sneaker is basically the footwear equivalent of those tailored suit pants that secretly hide their sweatpant-esque drawstring waist. It’s formal but built for movement.
Sporty business fans, rejoice.
At first glance, the New Balance loafer is disorienting. A penny loafer sits atop the sole of a high-performance running shoe, creating something that feels both familiar and a little alien. But that’s exactly why it works. It challenges what we think a loafer, or a sneaker, should be.
The smooth leather upper screams boardroom, while the chunky, cushioned sole is pure dad-shoe comfort. It’s a contradiction that somehow makes total sense, and that allows this hybrid silhouette to refuse to be boxed into one style lane.
The NB 1906L is the kind of shoe that forces you to rethink what a loafer and sneaker can be. You could wear these with a suit, and you could just as easily pair them with cargo pants and a hoodie.
Comfort-wise, this thing is peak NB. The 1906 sole unit, complete with shock-absorbing tech, guarantees absolute comfort. It’s a flex on tradition, a wink at the dress code, and already a viral sensation.
Would the old me have worn all-black running shoes disguised as loafers? Probably not. But in a time where these strange hybrids are becoming commonplace, I'm slowly warming up to the idea. After all, what are rules if they're not to be broken?
