The last capsule is an ode to surf culture and the pieces that bring it to life.
Words by Halie LeSavage
Staud
Staud's and New Balance's ongoing collaboration has sampled nearly every corner of the fashion-meets-sport world, from aprés ski to tenniscore. For their last act, the two are taking a colorful dive into surf culture.
The fifth, final, and beachy chapter of the Staud x New Balance collaboration arrives online today at both brands' online stores. Blue Crush vibes abound in saturated matching sets, tiny nylon shorts, and a zip-up dress that borrows inspiration from a wetsuit. This being a New Balance production, there are two fresh sneaker updates in the mix. It's a little Malibu Barbie, a little Los Angeles Olympics.
Staud
"Although this is the fifth chapter, this is one of the most personal and creative collaborations," designer Sarah Staudinger tells BAZAAR.com about the collection. "I love when something has a beginning, middle, and an end like every good story does."
The collection shares previous drops' re-interpretations of Staud signatures, like two-tone color-blocking and geometric accents. The sport that inspired it was brand-new to Staudinger: She took a post-quarantine trip to Costa Rica in 2020, where she says she fell in love with surfing. "That excitement of a new hobby, that feeling of trial and error (and success) and connecting with nature in a new way really inspired me," she explains. "That exhilaration mixed with SoCal nostalgia resulted in this collection."
Staud
Staud
Staud's forays into sportswear won't end with retro leggings and crop tops. The designer says her label's five collections with New Balance were "just the beginning" of her sportswear experiments. She hasn't ruled out reviving the multi-part collaboration down the line, either. "You never know—this may not be the end."
The Staud x New Balance surf collection is available at staud.clothing and newbalance.com.
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This story originally appeared in harpersbazaar.com
