SNS Presents: New Balance 997 "Grey Day" Pack

New Balance’s own holiday, the so-called ”Grey Day” has been ongoing for quite some time, which indeed makes sense, as their iconic colorways often are based on the neutral theme. This time, New Balance reimagined the retro-runner 997, one in its original form, as well as one of the updated Sport iteration. Flipping the concept, the typical tongue branding has been moved to the side panels, boasting now the “new balance, Made in USA” embroidery on the OG silhouette, and leaving it off the tongue. The modern New Balance 997S version keeps it rather original, featuring a silver metallic “N” logo, and bold ENCAP REVEAL midsole.

To accompany the release, we went to Manhattan to give the two pairs the deserved subtle spotlight. Styled by New Yorker Michael Baquerizo, the classic and modern silhouettes fit perfectly into the surroundings and merge into one beautiful picture.

The New Balance 997 “Grey Day” Pack is available here.

Photography by SNS resident Jonathan Padilla

SNS: Hi Michael, you have styled the latest Sneakersnstuff editorial for the New Balance Grey Pack. How did you get your start in styling?

Michael: I started styling when the men's clothing store I was working for launched ecommerce. At the time we were a small team of 4 so we all did what we had to to get stuff online, and the more I did, the more the brands we sold were interested in my work. When I left the store, I'd already had a list of smaller clients all very interested in letting me do my own thing. Minimal involvement from the clients let my point of view shine through. 

From browsing through your portfolio, you keep it classic when it comes to styling, how do you get inspired?

I grew up in New York, Queens specifically, so I have a strong emotional attachment to the styles and brands that were popular as I was growing up. I would say that  despite all of its changes, New York still does inspire me creatively on a regular basis - mostly through small pockets of 'hope'. Visually, i'm as interested in the 'Old Money' looks of the Upper East Side as I am in true urban styles in an around the rest of the city. New York is very much like living on set of a perpetual movie. No one is dressing incorrectly, only as they should for the movie they've been cast in.

What's your approach when you work with a legendary product such as the New Balance 997?

I think I treat the product as if it has it's own personality, a narrative that's been created over time by history and it's wearers. I consider what that personality is and if I think it applies to the project, I stick to it. If it could use an update or a refresh, I think it's important not to keep it in the box that time has created for it. 

Grey is described as "cool, neutral, and balanced color," which feels like a match for your way of styling. Does it help that the New Balance 997 "Grey Pack" is rather subtle, or does it create challenges to elevate the product?

I think the bonus of working with such tried and true silhouettes is that there is a longevity to the designs that may or may not have been considered when the shoes were originally created. I don't think it's necessary to elevate such a classic shoe, only complement it with equally classic looks. 

Your styling has an Americana feel, an attribute New Balance breathes. Based in Boston, plus their sneakers are often made in the US, like the Grey Pack. Has this developed over time, or have you always felt at home styling like you do now?

The first person I put clothes on for any sort of commercial reasons was myself. On a regular basis I dress quite uniformly, but when I was required to sell looks, or a particular aesthetic, it was pretty easy to turn on another part of my brain and dress how I might if I had all the clothing in the world. It was like a language I always spoke, and although I have gotten a bit more fluent, I think to an extent I've always known this styling language.

What's the most fun part of your job?

I enjoy the final process of making selects the most. I always insist on being a part of it because I often find photographers so engrossed in things like light and composition that they can miss some of my (small) mishaps. Especially working with film, it's not always easy to catch something that I consider off. After that, I enjoy assessing the final product and understanding what I'd do differently for the next shoot. I'm rarely satisfied and am generally pretty hard on myself.  

Are there any products that you especially like to style?

When SNS first opened in New York I was actually very excited to shoot sneakers - It wasn't something I'd ever done before and I would say before I really became involved in clothing I was really into sneakers. There are so many narratives surrounding sneakers, depending on the model and your location, that any work I do around them could serve as a period piece or help redefine that shoe's associations for the future.