Nike has so much variety in its archive that it’s hard to pin down one particular design language to assign to the Swoosh. With that said, when you see the Nike Air Max Muse, it immediately conjures images of other familiar Nike silhouettes.

From the Nike Air Max Plus Tuned to the high arches and flowing upper of the Jordan 21, there’s a wealth of inspirations at play here. One thing is for sure though, the new Nike Air Max Muse Royal Pulse is the perfect colorway to spotlight this head-turning silhouette.

Of course, the Muse features a sizeable Air window to the heel, but while this is usually built into a larger sole unit, it differs in being totally separated here.

The chunky heel leads instead to a remarkably high bridge in the midfoot and an equally remarkably slim forefoot.

Although the sole unit is a central feature of this silhouette, we’re most impressed by the latest colorway. Resplendent in Royal Pulse, essentially a pastel blue, the upper stands in stark contrast to the brutalist black sole.

Under the Royal Pulse upper sits a finely checked fabric base layer which sets the foundations for a striking Light Crimson Swoosh to each side: an opposing and yet satisfying complementary color to the soft tones of Royal Pulse.

While previous colorways of the Nike Air Max Muse have fallen in line with the design’s sporty, futuristic silhouette, this one takes a different tack, emphasizing the shoe’s strength through contrast.

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