Don’t forget the accessories!

They may be the last thing you think of when you’re putting together a running outfit, but without them, you just couldn’t get the job done. Accessories…the often overlooked, but much needed, advantage every athlete needs.

Think about it. How many runners do you know that would give up their favorite socks? (Unless the shoe called for it, like the NB Miminus, of course!) Many would be lost without their sports monitors. Not to mention the unmentionables – the active underwear that supports you along the way.

Because accessories do play such an important role in athletes’ success, New Balance has infused theirs with a lot of the technology and thoughtful attention to detail that you’d find in any of their running shoes or apparel.

New Balance started as an insole company, so they know a lot about helping athletes succeed, from the ground up. It all starts with getting the right fit. Whether you need extra cushioning or additional arch support to combat Plantar Fasciitis, Morton’s Neuroma, Metatarsalgia or other foot conditions, New Balance offers an insole that may provide relief.

The sock line is just as comprehensive with moisture-wick technology, compression fit and diabetic options to choose from.

Lacing can also make a difference in your run. Bubble laces feature a wave-like pattern that help them stay tied on a long run. Or if you prefer no ties at all, New Balance offers Yankz laces as an alternative. A modern approach to keeping shoes in place, this fun stretch cord system offers a worry-free, secure fit.

Protection for your eyes is just as important and New Balance has a great assortment of sunglasses to keep yours covered, from polarized options to reduce glare to interchangeable lenses that let you choose your level of protection.

And, if you’re a runner who likes to be inspired by music while you run, New Balance headphones will keep you company. Choose from over-the-ear styles, ear bugs and more.

So when building your next workout outfit, you may want to seriously consider the accessories that complement it.  From insoles to active underwear, they could just offer you the advantage you need to beat your personal best!

-- Shoe Girl

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Make easy work of choosing workout apparel. Shop by Outfit.

When you’re shopping for running and fitness apparel in a store, it’s easy to put together an entire outfit. You can just look at the mannequin and purchase what it’s wearing. New Balance has made shopping for outfits online just as simple with its Shop by Outfit tool.

Available for men and women, Shop by Outfit allows you to view an entire outfit on a model, by sport. Choose from running, fitness, yoga—and even lifestyle—outfits. Whatever your fitness goals, you’ll find apparel and accessories to inspire you.

How the tool works: Simply scroll through the options using the arrows on the right and left of the tool. Then, when you see something you like, click on it. A new view will show you all of the items featured in the photo, one by one. Select the items you like and add them to your cart. It’s that easy! All the hard work of matching colors, styles and accessories has been done for you.

Another advantage of the Shop by Outfit tool is that it allows you to see the apparel on a model, giving you a better idea of how each piece will fit.

With so many choices in fitness apparel today, finding what you need can be overwhelming. Take the New Balance Shop by Outfit tool for a spin and see for yourself how it can save you time and hassles.

-- Shoe Girl

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To achieve inner peace, start on the outside.

There is no doubt that the strength and power required for any yoga practice must come from within. But that doesn’t mean feeling good on the outside can’t help you deepen your inner focus. The Anue yoga line from New Balance was designed to do just that. This premium collection of yoga tops, bottoms and jackets uses organic cotton jersey, rich fleeced French terry and flexible Lycra® fabrics that offer supreme comfort and flexibility during everything from sun salutations to inverted poses.

The focus of the Anue line this season is super-soft fabrics, soothing colors and flowing graphics that mimic nature. Each piece is designed with a woman’s form in mind and can go from workout to play with ease. Wear them during your practice and after. There’s no need to change clothes. From form-fitting camis to warm hoodies and jackets, there is something for every mood or type of weather.

The detail work found in this line is just as varied. Many of the patterns were created with hand techniques that make each piece a wearable work of art. No two are exactly alike.

Performance apparel isn’t just limited to running or fitness class. The same principles can be enjoyed in your yoga practice. So slip into the Anue yoga line from New Balance today and ascend to a whole new level of peace and comfort.

-- Shoe Girl

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Pint-Size Performers hit the Schoolyard

New Balance Kids 688

The need for performance shoes isn’t limited to adults. Kids can also benefit from the technology, support and durability provided by superior running shoes.

New Balance has applied this philosophy to its line of back-to-school shoes, in particular, the Kids 688 and Kids 790. These pint-size performers offer the same great styles and color choices as their parents’ shoes.

The 790 borrows style features from the upper of the popular adult New Balance 890. The modern look serves an important function, too, providing a soft, yet supportive, fit. Inside, the 790 features New Balance’s proprietary ABZORB® technology in the heel and a C-Cap midsole to reduce the impact of heel strike.

 The 688 also features ABZORB® cushioning in the heel and even more great colors that will stand out in the schoolyard. All white and all black options are also available to meet the requirements of some school dress codes. The choice of closures is just as vast. The 688 is offered with laces, a hook and loop closure and a stretch lace/strap closure.

Both the 688 and the 790 are available in wide widths as well to accommodate growing feet and offer leather/mesh uppers for durability as well as non-marking rubber outsoles.

So, while your kids may still be years away from running their first marathons, they still need shoes that will stand up to their rough and rugged play. The 688 and 790 are two styles that are ready for the challenge. View all the great color combinations available now at shopnewbalance.com.

-- Shoe Girl

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For better results, just look in the mirror.

You see them every day. The guys at the gym who make you cringe because, by the way they sling around their weights, you just know they’re going home with an injury.

You, on the other hand, are careful. Checking yourself in the mirror. Making sure you don’t overextend your movements. That’s because you know that to get the most out of your workout, you have to maintain proper form. Well now you have another tool to help you do it—the Align collection from New Balance.

Designed just for men, Align features strategically placed graphic bands on the sleeves, chest, abdomen and back so you can easily check yourself in the mirror. You’ll see where you need to be to maximize the movement of upright rows, military presses, bicep curls and more.

The lines are visual cues that ensure you maintain proper form, focus your attention and push your workout further. It’s a difference you’ll see not only in the mirror during your workout, but in your body long after.

Will the Align collection help you lift more or lift longer? No. But by helping you make the most of every move, it allows you to work out smarter. Plus it has the moisture-wicking and cooling technologies found in all New Balance men's performance apparel, so you can feel great while you’re focusing on your routine.

Using mirrors to check for proper form may not be anything new, but New Balance has taken that practice a step further with the introduction of the new Align Collection for men. Check out the entire line here. And keep practicing good form.

-- Shoe Girl

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