With the New Balance 550’s popularity in recent times, it’s hard to imagine that this silhouette originated as a basketball court shoe in 1980s. The modern obsession with the NB550s has led it to be a canvas for a host of fresh inline colorways and highly anticipated collaborations (notably with Teddy Santis’ Aimé Leon Dore). Bearing this, we can expect these new JD Sports-exclusive colorways to become an instant hit — fly off the shelves, even.

The first of which is a New Balance 550 ‘White University Blue’ that will have pastel lovers in a chokehold. Retaining design features that popularised the 550s, the low profile design sees hits of baby blue on the lining, parts of the heel and on portions of the outsole. The N logo takes on a neutral light gray (though still piped with sky blue), as do the remaining parts of the outsole. But don’t let its cute looks mislead you: the silhouette keeps all of the necessary padded tongues and cuffs for durability and comfort.

Alongside this lighter color palette is a Black/White colorway that would satiate those that prefer a monochromatic look. Crafted with similar colorblocking fashion as the NB550 White University Blue, the blue portions now take on a moody jet black. Both pairs come with simple white laces to ensure the pairs’ versatility as a styling option.

The women’s New Balance 550 White University Blue will lead the charge of this JD Sports-exclusive release and will drop on 25 August. The Black/White iteration will follow closely in the next few weeks.

In other New Balance-related news, retailer size? also has an upcoming New Balance collaboration, albeit on the 1906R.