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New Balance has a way of building shoes that feel like they’ve always existed, even when they’re brand new. The 983 is the latest proof. It’s not a retro rerun and it’s not chasing any one archive model, it’s New Balance pulling pieces from its own DNA and stitching them into something that reads current.
Right away, the pods give it away as a New Balance. Those elliptical ABZORB units sit stacked through the midsole and outsole, rippling out in a wave pattern that gives the whole base a sculpted, almost armored look. There’s real intention in how the layers move from heel to toe.
Up top, mesh panels handle the breathability, with rounded synthetic overlays layered on for shape and structure. The ‘N’ has a tonal finish, so it reads more like part of the shoe’s architecture than a slapped-on logo. Reflective hits along the upper mean this thing catches light the way a good running shoe should, even if most of its mileage is going to be on sidewalks. As for the color, a “Shadow Blue” upper fades into a deeper slate through the midsole, with pops of purple peeking out of the ABZORB pods.
New Balance tapped Coco Gauff and Aminé to front the launch, two names with genuinely different style lanes, which is the point. Gauff leans sporty-meets-polished, Aminé works in looser, more eclectic silhouettes. Together they make the case that the 983 isn’t built around one look, it’s built to work with multiple.
“The idea for the campaign actually came from a vision meeting I had with the New Balance team. I
thought it would be cool to showcase the different sides of my personality through style,” says Gauff. “It
was fun bringing the vision to life with Aminé and getting creative with styling the shoe in different
ways. I love pieces that are fashion-forward but still easy to wear, and the 983 goes with any outfit.”
The New Balance 983 releases globally on October 1st via NewBalance.com and select retailers. Check out the official images and Coco Gauff campaign shots below. Stay tuned to Modern Notoriety for more.
New Balance 983 “Shadow Blue”
Colorway: Shadow Blue/Zinc Blue
Style Code: U9835DU
Release Date: October 1, 2026
Price: $160 USD
