Nike Air Monarch 4 SE

The Dad Shoe Gets Dressed for Fall

Nike's Air Monarch 4 SE trades the familiar everyday trainer finish for suede in two understated seasonal colorways. One pair arrives in rich Cacao Wow brown, while the other uses black suede; both sit on gum-rubber outsoles, a detail that has appeared only a handful of times on the Monarch 4.

From Practical Trainer to Cult Favorite

The Air Monarch 4 began in 2009 as an all-day training shoe, built to cover the unglamorous jobs a dependable sneaker handles. Its bulky shape later became part of the dad-shoe wave, helped by social-media fans and fashion collaborations such as Martine Rose. These $105 editions keep that sturdy silhouette intact while using texture and tonal color to make it easier to wear as a deliberate fall style choice.

Two Suede Routes Through the Same Classic

The Cacao Wow/Gum Medium Brown version carries style code IB2281-200, while the Black/Gum Medium Brown/Black pair is IB2281-001. Neither needs loud color blocking to change the model's character; suede softens the usual gym-shoe look, and the gum sole gives both pairs a warmer finish. It is still the practical Monarch people recognize, only now it looks just as comfortable beside autumn layers as it does during an ordinary day on your feet.