Scoring the Rainbow: Where to Snag Your Salehe Bembury x New Balance 991v2 “Colors Be The Palette”

You know that feeling when you spot a perfect pair of kicks from across the store and time just… stops? That happened to me last week when I first laid eyes on the Salehe Bembury x New Balance 991v2 “Colors Be The Palette.” I was actually shopping for groceries (random, I know) when some guy walked past wearing what looked like purple furry monsters on his feet. I nearly dropped my basket of apples trying to get a better look.

Listen, I’m not usually the type to chase down strangers for their shoe info, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And boy, am I glad I abandoned my dignity (and my apples) for these beauties.

The Sneaker That’s Breaking the Internet

If you haven’t seen these yet, picture this: a shaggy purple suede upper that looks like the lovechild of Cookie Monster and Barney, splashed with electric blue, lime green, and sunshine yellow accents. They’re loud. They’re unapologetic. They’re exactly what my boring sneaker rotation needed.

Salehe Bembury has done it again, folks. After working his magic with brands like Yeezy and creating those weird-but-somehow-cool Crocs (you know the ones with the fingerprint pattern that I swore I’d never buy but ended up getting in three colors), he’s now blessed New Balance’s Made in UK 991v2 with his unique vision.

The Hunt Begins: Where to Buy Them

So you want a pair too? I don’t blame you. Here’s the deal – they initially dropped on Bembury’s website, and as usual, they sold faster than free pizza at a college dorm. I know because I tried. My laptop crashed, my phone froze, and by the time everything was working again, all I got was that soul-crushing “Sold Out” message.

But don’t worry! The sneaker gods have blessed us with a wider release. Here’s where you might still score a pair:

• New Balance’s official website – Set those alarms, people. They tend to drop at weird hours.
• Select New Balance retailers – Call ahead and beg if necessary. I may or may not have promised my firstborn to a store manager.
• Specialty sneaker boutiques – Those tiny shops with the snooty staff sometimes get limited stock.
• Resale platforms – If you’re desperate and don’t mind paying extra. I’m talking StockX, GOAT, etc. Just be prepared for the markup – my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me for my last resale purchase.

Fair warning: these babies are priced at $250 retail. Not cheap, but can you really put a price on being the coolest person in any room you walk into? That’s what I tell myself anyway.

My Failed Attempt (And What I Learned)

Last Tuesday, I thought I’d outsmarted everyone. I found a small boutique that was doing a local release. I showed up an hour early, coffee in hand, confidence high. There were only three people ahead of me in line. Victory was certain.

Then the store employee came out and announced they only received TWO pairs. TWO! The betrayal! The heartbreak! The dramatic exit I made while muttering about “the death of customer service” was probably a bit much, but we all cope differently.

What I learned: call ahead and ask exactly how many pairs they’re getting. And maybe bring cookies for the staff. Bribery? Creative customer relations, I prefer to call it.

Why These Sneakers Matter

Beyond the hype, these 991v2s represent something cool about sneaker culture right now. Bembury isn’t afraid to play with colors and textures that most designers would consider too risky. The man put shaggy purple suede on a dad shoe and somehow made it work!

Plus, there’s something special about the New Balance 991 silhouette. It’s chunky without being overwhelming, comfortable without looking orthopedic (mostly), and somehow both trendy and timeless. Add Bembury’s “Colors Be The Palette” concept, and you’ve got yourself a conversation starter for every sneakerhead gathering for the next year.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a serious collector or just someone who appreciates a fun shoe, the Salehe Bembury x New Balance 991v2 is worth the hunt. Just be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that comes with trying to buy limited sneakers in 2023. The highs! The lows! The refreshing payment pages at 3 AM!

I’m still on the hunt myself, refreshing websites like it’s my full-time job. If you see a frazzled woman camping outside a New Balance store with a thermos of coffee and a determined gleam in her eye, that’s probably me. Come say hi – misery loves company, especially sneaker misery.

Let me know in the comments if you manage to score a pair! I promise I’ll only be a little jealous. Okay, a lot jealous. But I’ll still like your comment.