This article is a mobile-friendly adaptation of the piece I wrote for my sister site, Hooked-on: "New Balance 991." If the subject interests you, I encourage you to visit the original on Hooked-on as well.
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The previous article covered the New Balance 1700 series. This one is about the 991.
Where the 1700 sits in the traditional New Balance lineage, the 991 — part of the 900-series — reads as something a little more modern. That's what this article is about.
New Balance 991 series.
The New Balance model I wore for years was the 998 — specifically the grey. I went through three pairs of it. When the third started to go, I went back to the New Balance website to order a replacement, and found the 998 had been discontinued.
The 991 was what came up as the closest available UK model. I went to the Roppongi 19:06 store to try them in person, found my size in stock, and asked for a fitting. The specialist fitter helped with sizing and fit, I walked around in them for a while, and the feel was good. That was the first time I bought the 991 — in grey.
Rare yellow model.
Once I was happy with how a shoe feels, I tend to buy a spare. The spare I found was this yellow-upper 991. Yellow works well with navy, and given that jeans are the foundation of most of what I wear, the pairing made sense — but yellow sneakers are surprisingly hard to find, and I'd never owned a pair before. I came across this one while looking for a spare 991 and bought it immediately.
Purchased online.
I would have preferred to be fitted in store, but the timing landed in the middle of the pandemic — reduced opening hours, and little inclination to head into a crowded part of the city. Since I already knew my size from the grey 991, I ordered through the New Balance official website.
When the shoes arrived, the yellow turned out to be something different from what I'd expected from the grey: a warm, slightly nuanced yellow that reads as considered rather than obvious. I reach for them almost every time I'm in dark-coloured denim.
Styling.
A yellow-based sneaker works best against deeper denim — the contrast is better. The pair I come back to most is a 1955 Levi's 501XX (paper patch era), where the indigo has faded to a clean blue and the stitching has gone to a softened yellow. The combination with the yellow 991 is a natural one. Rigid Boncoura 66 or Tender would also work, but the suede picks up dye transfer, so I'm waiting until those jeans are a little more worn in before pairing them.
※ Tender is designed to be worn rolled up, so dye transfer isn't a concern with those.
Levi's 501XX 1955.
Worn here with a just-right inseam 1955 Levi's 501XX. The indigo has faded to a clean, even blue, and the stitching has softened to a faded yellow — a natural match for the yellow 991.
The warm yellow suede sits well against the grey mesh of the upper and the white of the sole — a combination that works without trying.
Blue jeans and a white T-shirt is the default summer outfit. The yellow sneaker at the foot adds exactly the right amount of interest without disrupting anything.
No particular coordination required — it comes together without effort, which is why I wear them so often.
The colour combination reads a little like tan leather shoes — but being a sports sneaker, the overall result is more casual and natural.
Details.
- Pigskin suede and mesh combination upper
- Rubber sole
- Visible ABZORB cushioning
Favourite Point.
- Excellent breathability from the mesh upper
- Comfortable underfoot from a sole profile developed through genuine research
- A design that follows function — looks like what it is
- A slightly modern take on a classic that has held its design for years
- A colourway that looks rare — because it is
Keep in Mind.
- As noted in the 1700 article: the excellent cushioning works against you in situations where a thin, firm sole is an advantage — manual transmission cars, road bikes. Not an issue once you're used to it.
Conclude.
Like the 1700, the 900-series began as a running shoe. The functional design has crossed into fashion, and plenty of people wear them as a style choice. The cushioning caveat I've noted is genuinely irrelevant to most people — for anyone without those specific concerns, this is a sneaker with no real weaknesses.
The yellow 991 in particular has become one of my most-reached-for pairs. Against dark denim it works almost automatically, and the combination of colourway, construction, and comfort makes it easy to recommend without reservation.
Purchasing Store.
The yellow 991 was purchased online through the New Balance official store, due to the timing of the pandemic.
With things returning to normal, if the opportunity arises, visiting an official store is worth it — the specialist fitters will help you find the pair that actually suits your foot, and the result is a more satisfying purchase.