Bella Druckman: Replacing My New Balance 530s

We’ve reached unprecedented levels of polka-dot frenzy this summer: Innumerable sororities have chosen the theme “[Insert sorority] is the spot to be,” every buzzy brand (Parke, SET Active, Aritzia — you name it) has cashed in on the craze, and when I commute home on nights when Harry Styles is playing MSG, I almost always find myself in an actual sea of dot-clad young women on the subway platform. The current polka-dot moment feels akin to the butter-yellow mania we experienced over the past couple of years, and while I couldn’t get behind that fad (pastels wash me out), I was excited to expand my polka-dot collection with the ever-growing selection of spotted pieces. Over the last year and a half, I’ve added several polka-dot dresses to my closet, found some extra-affordable speckled tops on Depop, and treated myself to the (now viral) polka-dot New Balance 530 sneakers. I’ve worn the latter to the ground, and while they’re now back in stock, every girl has a polka-dot limit — and I’ve reached mine. I’m not sure if I’m ready to abandon the 530s altogether — they’re the most comfortable sneakers I’ve ever owned — but I want to replace them with a subtler and equally comfortable pair. I might just buy them in a different color, but I’m tempted to branch out to a different dad-esque sneaker. I’ve narrowed my search down to the following and will report back on a winner.