The thin midsole renaissance
First look at Rice Nine Ten SS25, rediscovering Adidas Craig Green, a bag from Kiko that won't leave my mind, and more!
Happy end of the week! Hopefully the Sunday Scaries are at an all-time low as we continue to enjoy the summer. In today’s newsletter, we’re going to be exploring the idea of the thin midsole renaissance, some other everyday shoes that I’m into right now, a first look at the upcoming Rice Nine Ten SS25 collection, bags that are worth your money, and admitting defeat on a pair of jerseys I wish I didn’t sleep on.
I have been looking at a lot of shoes recently and I’m starting to see thin midsoles slowly becoming the explore page fan favorite. It’s a natural progression though, the Samba took over as the go-to everyday sneaker for many, which as you already know comes in a low-profile midsole that keeps things light and easy to wear. But where do you stop when it comes to the profile of a midsole?
The New Balance + Miu Miu 530 SL is probably the first shoe that comes to mind. The ultra-thin midsole was a bold move that ended up paying off because it’s impossible to log into the internet without seeing them on your feed organically. I’m into it though, although this type of shoe is more for looks than practicality. I have a pair of the Adidas Y3 Japan and while they look great on foot, I find that after merely 5k steps my feet start to hurt — something that was expected though considering the midsole is so thin that you’re practically walking barefoot. Still, fashion is pain and sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
The other day I saw the Prada Monte Carlo, which I feel served as the inspiration behind the Miu Miu New Balances, I could be wrong though but what do you think? Considering the recent hype, I can definitely see these picking up some steam. I do have to say though, we need a more affordable option in this style because everything that’s offered as of right now is more in the high-luxury space — I guess in the way this keeps things a bit more gatekeepy, but still, I think a more affordable version could have a significant impact on the shoe market.
The CLOT + adidas gazelle is also an interesting version that has a slightly thicker midsole, but I think it’s still in the same vibe that we are heading towards in shoes in general. I actually think the shoe is underrated and comes with a bunch of fun details that separate these from what’s currently out there — there’s a good range of collaborators who have had the opportunity to push the needle for adidas and that’s exciting. They are also $160 which is a solid deal for a more elevated shoe that could be a solid everyday option.
The New Balance URC42LA is also a great choice that I found on sale for only $78… Crazy! They kind of have that indoor soccer shoe vibe that everyone is into right now, so it’s quite surprising that we haven’t seen more discussion around them. For the price and the current style trends, this should be on everyone’s radar in my opinion — also the little gum sole detailing is a cherry on top.
Thin midsoles aren’t for everyone, I get that. It’s fun to wear on occasion, but practically I need a bit more cushion to wear if I’m planning to walk a lot that day. I kind of forgot about the Craig Green Adidas series, but rediscovering the Squash Polta helped me remember how Craig Green has a bunch of bangers that we don’t talk about as much as we should.
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