men british style retro stiching soft sole lace up flat cap-toe shoes

Whether you want to avoid a red card for donning bluchers with black tie, or are in the market for amassing a comprehensive shoe collection, consult our shoe encyclopaedia, below.įormal lace-up shoes can be split into two sorts: Derby shoes and Oxfords.

Although contemporary trends have relaxed the traditions somewhat, there are key footwear facts and tips that any well-shod man should know. Based on the theory that an educated consumer is the best customer, we’ve created this shoe-pedia so that you can shop our Edward Green, George Cleverley, John Lobb, Cheaney, Berluti and other shoes knowing the rules, history and definitions that have existed since the factories of Northampton, England first kicked into action hundreds of years ago. Staring at the array of bench-made shoes as a well-meaning salesman prattled on was as disconcerting as that Scandinavian misadventure when we thought we ordered a steak and received cold mackerel. The experience was not that different to being hungry and in need of a stiff drink in a foreign land. We also remember the intoxicating confusion of entering a proper bootmakers for the first time.

These are some of the shoddy truisms our grandfathers taught us as callow lads.

Men british style retro stiching soft sole lace up flat cap-toe shoes