In partnership with New Balance
Summer is all about opening yourself up to possibilities. About being light-footed and versatile, ready to float wherever your nose takes you. For this, you need an equally flexible shoe to match. Enter the New Balance XC-72. Taking inspiration from the 70s, the label has married the decade's free-flowing optimism with its era-defining sneaker silhouette to conjure up an experimental style that feels at home in any warm-weather wardrobe.
Arriving in an earthy Nightwatch Green and a bright and buttery Honeycomb, the New Balance XC-72 is a gentle and guilt-free way (the shoe meets New Balance's Green Leaf Standard) to inject your wardrobe with that sunny spirit. To illustrate this point, we called upon models Ploy Rida and Luci Levant to interpret the style through their own eyes. This is what they said.
Left: Luci: MARINE SERRE top from Parlour X; EYTYS jeans from Chinatown Country Club; NEW BALANCE XC-72 shoes. Right: NEW BALANCE top.
Describe your style in three words
Luci: Effortless, monochromatic and grungy.
Ploy: Practical, comfortable and monochromatic.
What makes the New Balance XC-72 a good fit for summer?
Luci: They’re so versatile. In summer I’m always in denim and activewear and these go with absolutely everything in my wardrobe.
Ploy: The colourway reminds me of warm weather and NB are such a classic and a good fit for most things I wear.
Ploy: ECKHAUS LATTA skirt from Chinatown Country Club; Model’s own socks; NEW BALANCE XC-72 shoes.
Ploy: NEW BALANCE jumper and XC-72 shoes; EYTYS jeans from Chinatown Country Club.
When the sun is out, you’ll find me…
Luci: Sunbaking at the beach or in my backyard in a bikini with a big bowl of fruit.
Ploy: Road-tripping, at the beach, in the countryside… and most importantly at the golf course!
Where are you wearing your New Balance XC-72 this summer?
Luci: I’ll be wearing these all summer with some baggy jeans, a singlet and some cool sunnies, or going for walks and grabbing coffee. They’re so versatile and fresh.
Ploy: Anywhere along the coast, walking around the city and dining at my favourite restaurants.
When styling the shoes, were there any design cues from the New Balance XC-72 that you wanted to hero?
Luci: I love how chunky the sole is. It peeks through the bottoms of your pants and elevates any activewear paired with them.
Ploy: I love the Nightwatch Green as it appears to be more classic for me, especially during summer because I love wearing white. White polo tee, short white skirt and white socks that will compliment the green on the XC-72.
Left: Ploy: ECKHAUS LATTA top; NEW BALANCE shorts and XC-72 shoes; Model’s own socks. Luci: MARINE SERRE top from Parlour X; NEW BALANCE shorts and XC-72 shoes. Model’s own socks. Right: Luci: NEW BALANCE jacket and XC-72 shoes; KENZO skirt from Parlour X; Model’s own socks.
Who is on your warm weather playlist?
Luci: Summer calls for R&B! Jorja Smith, Frank Ocean, Drake, Montell Fish, Summer Walker and The Weeknd, of course.
Ploy: D-Block Europe, Future and Young Thug.
Shop the New Balance XC-72 for summer in a variety of colourways at newbalance.com.au.
PHOTOGRAPHY Mia Rankin
FASHION Charlotte Agnew
TALENT Ploy Maniyom @Precision MGMT and Luci Levant @Chic Management
HAIR Kyye Reed @AP–REPS
MAKEUP Nisha Van Berkel @AP–REPS
STYLIST'S ASSISTANT Chelsea Oh
VIDEOGRAPHER Chris Quyen
