When New Balance first released the 990 in 1982, the dad shoe game was still, ironically, in its infancy.

Clunky, cookout shoes weren't the cool kids on the playground yet. More like an orthopedic outsider that wouldn't find its stride for years.

It's hard to remember now, but there was a time when dad shoes were a genuine fashion faux pas. Before Balenciaga got in the game, before NB revolutionized the sneaker loafer, NB's 990s were not poppin'.

But boy, when the tide turns, it turns big time.

These shifts are why we get New Balance spinoffs like the forthcoming 990v7, which builds on six generations of grayed-out dad shoes. From monkeys and sharks, to elderly dad shoes, evolution takes time.

NB's own brand of grayed-out progress has steadily climbed over the past 44 years and sure, it might seem like the dad shoe bubble burst overnight, but this ascent actually came from decades of gradual advancements every 15 or so years.

The Made in America 990v7 captures the classic gray goodness of the original sneaker, modernized for today's sneaker culture. FuelCell cushioning delivers springy propulsion, while the new TPU midfoot shank provides enhanced stability.

All of this culminates in a shoe that honors the roots that built it while blooming into something special all its own.

New Balance's latest 990 iteration releases on the New Balance website November 6 for $200. Daddy's home.

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