We’ve come to expect chunky dad shoes and technical mesh runners to come from New Balance, but the latest lifestyle model to come out of Boston slims things down significantly. The 204L, a fusion of ‘70s and early 2000s running models, is expanding its roster of colorways with a Pearl Grey Matter makeover.
Part of a pastel-shaded pack with the Pink pair of 204Ls, the Pearl colorway covers the entire shoe in a shade of violet so pale that it blends in well with the grey leather accents throughout the upper. The slim running shoe gets a clean white midsole and grey sole to round out the colorway.
New Balance has spent the past few years successfully riding the high of their vintage lifestyle models, both with retros and updates, but the 204L is a new silhouette for 2025 and it’s already making waves. Launching with three high-profile collabs, including a bright Kith pack, the inline 204L releases have relied on mellow tones of grey and brown. Still, the latest images of the Pink and Pearl pairs hint at a future full of bold color blocking down the road.
The New Balance 204L Pearl will release Fall/Winter 2025 through New Balance and select retailers online and in-store. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at $110. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. zach.h@soleretriever.com
