PAUSE Picks: Top Sneaker Releases of the Week

Speeding through 2024, the sneaker world stops for nobody as UGG and LA’s Gallery Dept. zoom forward with their ready-to-wear Tasman Low. Arriving in a toned-down, yet standout ‘Black’ colourway, this popular UGG model replaces its typical soft touch suede with a more hardy roughened lamb suede, with the low-riding pair venturing beyond a stripped back aesthetic to insert a heft dose of colour through multicoloured crystal adornments, all of which are spread across the upper. Joining these standouts studs, signature yellow Gallery Dept. branding sits along the sock lining outer with laser-etched “UGG” lettering.

Yohji Yamamoto x adidas never ceases to amaze, and this pair of Y-3 S-GENDO RUN sneakers takes the cake as this week’s most outlandish effort. Keeping you almost suspended in mid-air, this pair follows on from its 2022 predecessor and utilises a signature black colour scheme for peak minimalism, with the sneaker’s hollow plate experimenting with the idea of negative space and elevation, acting as a nod to the Japanese concept of ‘Ma’ in which empty space helps create deeper meaning and shape. Utilising the advanced midsole technologies of the newest adidas running models with heritage aesthetics of the brand’s archival trainers, a sport-inspired breathable mesh, suede and leather upper sits atop the standout Lightstrike midsole and a hollow Pebax plate, with typical adidas Three Stripes and scribbled Yohji Yamamoto lettering making this a certified Y-3 classic.

Being an underrated celebrity favourite brand, Axel Arigato have incorporated the very essence of the runner with their latest menswear entry, titled ‘Satellite’. Adding to the brand’s fast-expanding product line, this footwear staple look to Y2K stylings for inspiration as this robust running and lifestyle sneaker is created using soft leathers whilst being paired with oval-structured air mesh and suede overlays, giving off a futuristic aura. Additionally, modern branded typography is also utilised throughout, being seen on the heal metallic gel panel, ripstop tongue tape and internal footwear sole, with the comfort-centric ‘AXLFoam” midsole unit making sure to prioritise increased shock absorption for those tougher days out and about.

Jacquemus and Nike’s J Force 1 sneaker is one of the more divisive of the past five years, with its relatively shapeless design and weaved midsole leaving a lot of sneaker heads perplexed as to its appeal. However, this latest entry brings in a faultless colour palette as brown and yellow dominate this spring-ready entry, with an intertwined midsole unit boasting these signature colours with a white rubberised outsole, a mixed material upper, in addition to minimal Nike mini Swooshes on the midfoot and heel area. One to keep your eye on.

We’ve all been there and done it with block colours over this past year, but give a fair shot at this latest pair from New Balance, as a striking take on the 991v2 takes the metaphorical floor. The heritage sneaker, which many give credit to for setting the standard of running sneakers moving forward at the beginning of the 21st century, plays on predicted colour trends here as a bright blue suede rips through the entirety of the upper, whilst a mixed white and grey midsole unit, matching New Balance insignia, and updated ABZORB SBS pods and ENCAP features brings this ‘Dad’ shoe right up to the modern day.