NB has been on the rise for a few years now actually. You've probably saw quite a few outfits that have included a pair. Although I'm not the biggest fan I do agree they do look nice and it feels like they would be a more clean shoe to wear with more casual wear.
Disappointingly the NB brand mostly has some of the more unappealing shoes such as; their running, cushioning/stability, and motion control categories. I feel as if they tried to dip into the more casual fashion area they would attract more reputation as a good shoe brand in the teen and early adult age group. I do understand they get a lot of revenue from the ones they sell now but they should try to modernize a little bit.