Even if you’re not planning to conquer Heartbreak Hill on Monday, the Boston Marathon will be everywhere. Whether you’re cheering on the race route, watching at home, or kicking back at a party, it’s key to dress the part.
And here just happens to be a slew of colorful, fun, and terrifically designed kicks out there right now.
First, I turn your attention to a pair of U574v1 ($89.99 on zappos.com) by New Balance. They come in all kinds of fantastic shades, from lime green and tangerine to pale pink to two dueling shades of sky blue. They’re built for reliability and are crafted from suede and have a mesh upper for breathability. They also sport midsole cushioning that combines soft foam and a polyurethane rim for long-lasting support.
One of my favorite brands in Cariama. It’s become wildly popular among celebs for its sustainability (for every pair you buy, they plant two trees). The Oca Low ($85 on cariuma.com) is vegan and handcrafted in a tough canvas (and organic ammonia oil and cork) and come in so, so many incredible hues — from bright bubble gum pink and zebra stripe to leafy green and lemon yellow — and are fully stitched with a lightweight outsole for durability.
When it comes to real hard-core running, Nike knows a thing or two. So lace up a pair of the Nike Cortez Vintage Suede ($100 on nike.com) and you’ll be styling among some of the fastest runners around. I love this refreshed design — it’s got a slightly wider toe area and firmer side panels so you can wear them very comfortably even when you’re not running, and they have a textured suede that has a heritage-y feel.
If you’re in the market for elevated but sporty, go in for the Notice Sneakers ($139 dolcevita.com). They come complete with a cool texture and a throwback gum sole, and a notice-me leather upper and rubber outsole. There’s also a great recycled textile lining, to boot. The color combos are pretty fab, too — there’s the green suede in two tones with light pink; light blush with cream; and a super fun orange multi suede with plum, among lots of others.
One of Adidas’s most iconic designs, the Gazelle Bold Shoe ($120 on adidas.com) was first worn on indoor courts in the ‘70s. The suede version is still gaining new fans to this day. This very cool iteration is stacked with three layers and has buttery-soft suede and comes with a metallic-gold “Gazelle” stamp. As for the colors, it comes in an absolutely gorgeous array of electric tones that’ll may just have people stopping you on the street with compliments.
![Nike Cortez Vintage Suede sneakers. (Photo nike.com)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BHR-L-GRETTA_635337.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
![The Gazelle Bold Shoe from Adidas (Photo adidas.com)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BHR-L-GRETTA_da14ab.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
![The U574v1 sneakers by New Balance. (Photo zappos.com)](https://i0.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BHR-L-GRETTA_64dc81.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
![Notice Sneakers from Dolce Vita (Photo dolcevita.com).](https://i0.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BHR-L-GRETTA_926489.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)