Look at the how the soft, gray suede wraps precisely around the gray mesh. Check out the way the rubber sole hugs the surface before bending slightly upward, contouring the toe. Marvel at the gray/white contrast just above the sole, adding that perfect splash of detail.
This isn't just a shoe, my friends.
It's the NEW BALANCE 996.
The year was 1996. That's crazy! I just this second noticed the irony in the numbers. I digress. The year was 1996 when I arrived in Washington, DC. Coming from my hometown, everything was different from the size of the city, to the slang, and just the culture in general. I've always been able to adapt to my surroundings so it didn't take me long to get comfortable. Matter of fact, I felt like I had just come home.
When you observe a group of people, you notice how they speak, the ways they interact, and especially how they dress. So it became evident to me that the 996 was a staple in the dress code. Always knowing New Balance as a running shoe, DC showed me that they were also made for chillin'. I saw heads rock them with everything from gray sweats to basketball shorts to jeans. With ankle socks, slouch socks, or no socks. Men, women, and kids all knew that you wasn't complete with a pair of these on your feet. The shoes were so much a part of the lifestyle that the natives never called them "New Balance." They simply referred to them by the numbers associated with the style.
"Lemme get a pair of them 996's, young. Size 10."
True sneaker aficionados know that there's other styles such as the 574, 576, 850, etc. But I never really saw too many people stray from the 996. One year, the company introduced a bunch of different colorways in the 574. Loads of people took the bait, but not me. I guess the saying holds true: Go with what got you here.
It's been 10 years since I left the District. I get back now and then, but I'm not embedded in the culture anymore. I wonder whether people still wear them. A recent attempt to find a pair leaves me almost certain that the model was discontinued. That would be a shame if little kids never got the chance to walk down the street in a fresh pair.
You gotta respect the classics.
Photo Credits:
http://solecollector.com/ (Gray 996)
loved em. had like two pair. best shoes to go to band practice in. wish i had a pair right now.
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