# Dessert-Inspired Dad Sneakers New Balance's 990v4 Comes in Monarch Burgundy By Ellen Smith | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-09-25 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monarch-burgundy-v References: [highsnobiety](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/new-balance-990-v4-monarch-burgundy-sneaker)  New Balance gives its [Made in USA 990v4](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-in-usa-2) a pastry-leaning twist with the Monarch Burgundy colorway, turning the familiar dad sneaker into something that reads almost edible. The upper mixes deep red suede with burgundy mesh, so the classic silhouette keeps its sporty structure while taking on a richer, more refined mood. A brown N logo adds a chocolate-note contrast instead of pushing the palette into louder territory. [ABZORB cushioning](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/abzorb-2010) in the heel and forefoot keeps the shoe wearable for daily use, which is what lets the dessert reference land as styling rather than costume. For shoppers, this means a [heritage runner](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/newbalance1906r) that brings more personality to an everyday rotation without giving up the familiar comfort expected from a dad shoe. It also nudges the category toward color and texture stories that refresh established models instead of remaking them. Image Credit: Highsnobiety ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 97% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Dessert-toned Footwear:** Rich pastry and confectionery palettes create space for familiar sneakers to feel novel without relying on dramatic silhouette changes. - **Refined Dad Sneakers:** Elevated materials and deeper color stories are repositioning comfort-first heritage runners as style-conscious everyday staples. - **Subtle Food-inspired Design:** Edible references expressed through restrained textures and tones offer brands a way to build playful storytelling into premium products. ### Who This Affects Most - **Footwear:** Heritage sneaker labels can extend product lifecycles by refreshing proven models with sensory color and material narratives. - **Fashion Retail:** Retail assortments benefit from recognizable comfort products that carry stronger aesthetic hooks for shoppers seeking low-risk novelty. - **Lifestyle Branding:** Crossovers between culinary cues and apparel design provide distinctive visual identities that support limited releases and collectible appeal. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Lifestyle Running Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-balance-990v4-pumpernickelpink-chalk.md) - [Court Lifestyle Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-balance-950.md) - [Rose-Hued Dad Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-balance-1906r-rose-sugar.md) - [Next-Generation Dad Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heydude-x-steven-smith.md) - [Vibrant Running Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/990v4-4.md) - [Premium Running Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2040v5.md) - [Rich Burgundy-Toned Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burgundytoned-footwear.md) - [Seasonal Walking Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allerdale.md) - [Retro Blue Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/204l-heron-blue.md)