New Balance’s Next “It Shoe” Glistens In Patent Leather

With a design inspired jointly by slim-soled ’70s runners and Y2K-era silhouettes, the New Balance 204L is well positioned to take the crown as the... © Sneaker News, 2025. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us The post New Balance’s Next “It Shoe” Glistens In Patent Leather appeared first on Sneaker News. The post New Balance’s Next “It Shoe” Glistens In Patent Leather appeared first on Sneaker News.

With a design inspired jointly by slim-soled ’70s runners and Y2K-era silhouettes, the New Balance 204L is well positioned to take the crown as the Boston brand’s next “it shoe.” The model’s first few releases, including a collaboration by KITH, have sold out almost instantly, but there’s plenty left in the chamber for Fall/Winter 2025 and beyond. In checking off another major box, the 204L has now surfaced in an almost all-black colorway that’s just as classy as it is versatile.

New Balance has done well to flex the 204L’s versatility thus far, releasing both an all-suede version as well as a more techy mesh build. This “Black Patent” edition falls in the latter category, complete with a black mesh base and glossy patent leather overlays to match. The New Balance logo appears in black with a silver border, while white lining makes for easy styling with white socks (echoing a hot loafer trend).

The New Balance 204L “Black Patent” releases September 17th in Europe, but no US release date has been announced as of this writing. See official images below and stay tuned for further updates.

Elsewhere in the New Balance world, check out the Action Bronson 992s releasing in 2025.