New Balance's "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra is a big part of NB's sustained success in the dad-shoe sphere. Ok, so that might not be an official mantra, but when you see a shoe like the Made in U.K. 991v2, it's clear that New Balance abides by this to some capacity.

In the spirit of keeping things the same, the 991v2 is, at its core, a gray New Balance dad shoe. You can never have too many of those, right?

Now, this 991v2 sneaker is much darker than the classic gray colorway that is almost synonymous with the NB brand. But the same general style principles still apply. 

Dark gray suede paneling layers atop lighter gray mesh, giving the sneaker a monochromatic disposition that only heightens the dad shoe's stylish essence.

But the Made in U.K. 991v2 sneaker, available on the New Balance website for $270, wasn't always the fly guy we see today.

The 991v2 sneaker is an evolved version of the OG NB 991 sneaker that was released in 2001. At that time, the sneaker wasn't quite the style icon it is today, at least not in the same way. It was still, by and large, a dad shoe in the most traditional sense. Loved by fathers, loathed by kids. You know the vibes.

But now these sneakers exist, almost exclusively, as the epitome of elevated elderly steez, the best trait a stylish sneaker can hope to have these days.

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