I always hear that New Balance’s are a Baltimore thing. But then I hear people from D.C. boast about them being their thing. I’m guessing over time, the 990 series made their way into Baltimore. When I was coming through the end of my high school years and early college everyone wore the 990 series and that was a staple sneaker to have in Baltimore. I guess it started taking the place of the Air Force 1.
I paid for a mens pair as a gift in 2007 and they were the HOT sneaker to buy. I remember my first pair of grey 992’s. I got them as a gift from someone I was dating in 2008. Then I got a Navy pair for Christmas in 2008. Im pretty sure I grabbed another grey pair for myself because I feel like they got dirty quickly. It was like such a Baltimore sneaker to me that I know I grabbed a dark green and purple pair to wear to my first Black Bike Week in 2010 to match my first motorcycle.
I even had a leather dark grey and navy pair. I had plenty of colors. At some point I didn’t purchase anymore for myself until a trip to Florida in 2014 because I knew they would be comfortable! I got rid of all of them once I had my daughter because I could no longer fit them.
I havent gotten myself a pair since but I did grab her three pair. She had a 3.5 or 4.5 992 because they had a hard bottom but fit her feet well as she was starting to walk and had small feet for her age. I was also able to grab them in a hlf sixe which can be hard to find in infants and toddler shoes. I have gone in the stores looking for half sizes for her and found none. I ended up finding her a 7.5 990 from Zappos last year before we went on a cruise for her to walk and run in. In April of this year I was able to get her a grey/rainbow pair of 888v2 in a half size for her to play in. I am at the point where I want to add these back to my closet as a great everyday sneaker.
