PAUSE Picks: Top Sneaker Releases of the Week

Kicking off this week’s roster are Nike, who have yet again pulled something out of the nostalgia fire for this week’s line-up. Providing a new take on the chunky ‘dad’ shoe aesthetic, Nike and Yoon Ahn’s AMBUSH® have come together for two collaborative iterations of the 1990s classic, the Nike Air Adjust. Arriving in a standout black and purple colourway, the robust pair feature an elevated rubber midsole, a smooth suede upper composition, embroidered Nike toe box branding, as well as hits of AMBUSH® branding on the heel. The standout feature of this pair is its removable shrouds that cover the midfoot and utilise a purple hue inspired Nike Swoosh to add a distinct splash of colour to the pair.

Putting another classic into the mix, Vans and skateboarding-inspired brand and designer Bianca Chandôn have put forward a rough and ready version of the Vans Classic Slip-On VLT LX sneaker, and we’re not mad about it. The easy-to-wear pair feature Chandôn’s infamous star print, which comes in black, adorning the entirety of the white upper base. Keeping things minimalist, the pair boast simple Vans tag branding on the midfoot as well as Bianca Chandôn lettering on the insole, with a dirtied and worn upper and midsole forming a sneaker that you can beat up and not feel too bad about. A must-have for autumn.

Having previously released last week, the sold-out ICE STUDIOS x ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 sneaker is returning for a restock. Seemingly taking over the sneaker scene, the ASICS Gel-Kayano silhouette boasts a synthetic leather and mesh composition for the upper, with this pair being inspired by the aesthetic of ice as several shades of blue adorn the sneaker. Additionally, splashes of yellow provide a nice contrast on the original midsole tooling from 2008, which is composed from GEL™ technology cushioning, as well as on the rear heel where “Ice Studios” text sits. The all-blue pair are just as much a fashion statement as they are a running shoe. A restock is pending.

New Balance have positioned themselves as mainstays in these weekly listings, with this week being no different. The Boston-born brand have returned with the New Balance 2002R GORE-TEX ‘Magnet Grey’, which features a completely darkened colour palette. This pair screams winter, with the utilitarian all grey waterproof GORE-TEX fabric upper and pre-worn aesthetic making this a pair to wear on those terribly rainy days. Signature GORE-TEX and New Balance motifs are placed on the toe box and midfoot respectively, with a heavily cushioned midsole providing an extra layer of wearability to this pair.

Making sure this week’s line-up goes out with a bang are VETEMENTS, who have teamed up with New Rock for a rock-embellished platform sneaker. Bringing punk rock back to fashion, this latest VETEMENTS sneaker features an extremely elevated pink midfoot and heel, a bright pink suede upper composition, VETEMENTS branded laces and heel feature, gunmetal-tone logo hardware, as well as perforated midfoot panelling. This is most certainly an impulse buy.