The New Balance 550 'Au Lait' Is Perfectly Caffeinated
Image Credit: END.
News on this release was first published on March 15, 2022.
Update June 30, 2022: The New Balance 550 'Au Lait' is making another appearance on the New Balance US web store. The caffeinated colourway will arrive on July 1.
Update March 30, 2022: After releasing on New Balance USA earlier this month, the NB550 'Au Lait' will now be served up over at END.! To score a pair, you'll need to enter the raffle which is currently open, and will close on April 1. Scroll down to enter – good luck!
have staked their claim in the retro basketball market with the , a low-key, low-cut silhouette from 1989 that's been repurposed into a lifestyle favourite. Though the 550 has previously appeared in simple colourways and been used as a collaborative centrepiece, New Balance are getting more adventurous with the model as it continues to grow in popularity – and one of its forthcoming releases is a sweet 'Au Lait' style for women.
'Au Lait' is the French name for coffee with hot milk, and that inspiration is translated in steaming style here. Off-white uppers are trimmed with creamy brown shades on the heel, tongue and midfoot trim, while grey suede is introduced into the mix on the mudguard and the midfoot's soft yellow N logo sits above a perforated leather quarter panel. Down below, even darker brown tones add contrast to the outsole to round off the look.
One of many 550s set to release in the coming months, the 'Au Lait' has been tapped for a March 15 release, though this exact date of arrival has yet to be confirmed by the brand. When it does drop, you can expect to pay $110 for a pair.
The New Balance 550 was first made famous by Aimé Leon Dore – so check out some of ALD's other influential collaborations by clicking .