New Balance's Luxe New Loafer Is Better Than Its Best
New Balance made it official: This is a classy party. NB changed the hybrid-shoe game permanently with its genre-bending 1906L sneaker-loafer back in 2024.
Now, a year later, New Balance is still classing up the place via elevated sneaker hybrids with its "Black/Angora" 1906L shoe.
Glossy detailing enhances the loafer's all-black base, giving this 1906L an even chicer disposition. The white mesh upper also adds a nice moment of contrast to the dapper shoe, shifting the general vibe from sporty loafer to tuxedo-esque stunner.
Divisive in nature, the sneaker-loafer presents a compelling case to be regarded as a footwear staple with each new iteration and upgrade. In just a year, these shoes have already shifted the footwear paradigm.
Before the release of the 1906L and even leading up to it, these shoes were seen as oddballs, off-putting by the non-believers, and speculation regarding the freaky shoe's future was mixed.
But now, with co-signs from Ganni, enough colorways to rival New Balance's OG dad shoe offerings, and the classed-up 1906L, available on the New Balance website for $144, it's hard to imagine a time B.S.: Before Snoafers.
Honestly, give NB a few more classy releases or collabs, and its sneaker-loafer might just overtake the popularity of some of New Balance's best sneakers. It's already halfway there.
Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase. Want to shop the products our editors actually love? Visit HS Shopping for recs on all things fashion, footwear, and beauty.