Puma Suede Bloc 'White Dark Slate'
Colorway: White/Dark Slate · Style code: 380705-04 · Release date: February 6, 2022 · Price: $85 · Availability: Available now
More colorways: Puma Suede Bloc 'White Yellow Pear' (380705-01) · Puma Suede Bloc 'White Amazon Green' (380705-02) · Puma Suede Bloc 'Black Ivory Glow' (380705-03) · Puma Suede Bloc 'Black Ice Flow' (380705-05) · Puma Suede Bloc 'White Silver Blue' (380705-06)
Grey is the quiet choice in a series built around contrast. Dark Slate sits against white on this pair, and because slate is closer to a neutral than to a colour, the blocking reads as panelling rather than as a statement. Puma dated the whole set February 6, 2022, and this is the one you would put on without first thinking about what else you are wearing.
There is a decent argument for owning the least interesting colourway in any series. It gets worn, where the bright pairs sit in a cupboard waiting for the right outfit, and it ages without ever looking out of step. Slate also solves a problem that white-based sneakers usually have, since a mid-to-dark grey panel absorbs the marks that would otherwise land on pale leather. What is left on show is the shape itself, the raised sole and the blocked panels, which is what a construction-led model should be displaying anyway. Against black, indigo, olive or charcoal it vanishes into the outfit, which here counts as the point rather than a criticism.