PAUSE Picks: Top Sneaker Releases of the Week

Returning with another addition to their long-running partnership, Luxury fashion designer Rick Owens and Dr. Martens have joined forces for a collaborative iteration of the 1460 silhouette. Arriving in a high-top shape, the pair don Rick’s typically disruptive design ethos, boasting an 18-eyelet calf-height style, “Platinum” coloured hair outer leather composition, silver-tone eyelets, “Pearl” laces, as well as signature Dr. Martens’ features like a black chunky sole and yellow stitching. A winter wonder.

Tapping the Ryota Iwai-founded brand AURALEE for yet another iteration of a classic silhouette, New Balance have stepped forward with a wholly autumnal iteration of the XC-72 sneaker. Boasting a premium tonal hairy suede, nubuck, and smooth leather composition, the pair don a solid brown across the entirety of the upper as well as a robust, angular midsole unit. A thick patterned tread adorns the sole of the shoe, with a light shade beige colouring in the New Balance insignia on the tongue as well as the sock lining.

Pop princess Billie Eilish has continued her ongoing partnership with Nike and has provided a second take on the Nike Air Force 1 High ’07 silhouette, this time around putting forward a ‘Sequoia’ colourway. Boasting a darkened shade of green, the central standouts from the khaki pair include a signature up-the-ankle shape, an all-over suede composition, extreme strapping across the lacing and midfoot areas, in addition to hits of Billie Eilish’s ‘Blohsh’ insignia on the tongues and lace locks. A fine follow-up to Billie’s first ‘Mushroom’ colourway.

Bringing sneaker heads way back into the 90s, Nike and Social Status have reimagined the famous Air Penny 2 basketball shoe in a continuation of the brand’s previously released “Recess” collection of Air Max Penny 1s. Continuing the ongoing resurgence of 90s Nike silhouettes, this stylish iteration of the Air Penny 2 keeps the signature basketball-suited shape, adding to the look with a mixed baby blue and black suede upper, a swirling foam midfoot feature, a chunky action-ready composition, as well as hits of baby blue on various bits of Nike and Social Status branding. Give this left-of-centre choice a go.

Nike’s answer to New Balance? it looks like it. Putting forward a low-lying, sporty, and chunky sneaker, Nike are looking to capitalise on New Balance’s reign… and they’ve done a pretty good job. This ‘dad’ sneaker features an intertwining grey and white leather and mesh upper, with additional features including a signature Nike Air unit, a heel pull tab, a retro Nike Swoosh styling along the midfoot,  a brown padded tongue, as well as a textured black outsole.