The weather is bonkers right now. Freezing cold to sunny says in an instant with full-on rain interwoven in between. If you are getting out and about in this weather, you will need to choose your footwear carefully, but that does not mean you have to live your life in wellies.
Leather boots can bear the burden of inclement weather, but you need to give them some help so they are ready to go for your next outing (intrepid adventure) and still look smart enough to be considered acceptable for office attire or going out. Here is how you look after your leather boots…whatever the weather.
First tip: Don’t wear them every day. If budget allows, rotate your boots. They need ample time to dry, or they won’t maintain their shape. They need to be aired or to be blunt, they need time for the sweat to move on. Your boots will smell much nicer too if you give them some breathing space. Switch to other shoes when you get home.
You need to allow them dry if they have got wet from rain, snow, frost, puddles, etc. Please do not put them on the radiator or in the dryer or in an industrial bowl full of rice! Remove any excess debris or moisture, and laces if they have them. You may need to stuff newspaper in them if they are wet inside but remember to keep removing the newspaper as soon as it is saturated. Allow them to dry naturally, on a rack, if possible, without the assistance of heat or sunlight. You cannot rush the drying process!
When your boots are dry, don’t let them get too dry! Cream and wax them appropriately every six weeks or so. Remember to wax the welt area too for extra protection from water. This will help add a bit of extra water resistance.
Lastly, use cedar shoe trees between wear. These will help draw out the aforementioned sweat and make your boots smell good! They will also reshape the shoe and minimise creasing.
Follow these simple steps and your leather boots should repay you with many years of wear…especially if you keep them off the radiator!
We are proud to introduce our very first Look Who’s Wearing woman! It has taken us a while but with a number of women’s shoes and boots in our range, it’s time to start shouting about them with Rebecca’s help.
If you have read LWW before, you will know that not all our ambassadors are super famous. Rebecca could have had the chance to be just that, but she stuck to her guns and stayed loyal to what she believed in to find other ways of using her performing talents and squaring up to a few demons along the way.
Born on the Wirral but bred in Devon, she attended a small primary school before heading to high school where life was not so blissful.
“I had been sheltered at a small primary school where I could truly be myself. I loved singing and dancing and felt comfortable in my own skin. At high school, I looked for every opportunity to be involved in music, dance and sport, but that was when I became a target to be picked on. I was bullied for supposedly having a large ego, but also being picked on for being tall and lanky. I did not give up on performing though.”
Rebecca followed her dream of performing on the West End by studying dance and music in Liverpool. She also became a member of a girl band, but as soon as she began to be told what to wear, how to sing and even what lyrics to use, she realised she was not prepared to stick around in such a cut-throat industry. It was a turning point for Rebecca.
“The industry is so competitive, and it felt hard to keep my integrity and remain true to myself.”
She came home to Devon and positive feedback from a single dance session at a gymnastics club led her to opening her own dance school.
Committed Dance Company was set up 14 years ago and now runs four street dance classes a week with her childhood best friend Lauren, who shares her passion for dance. In the beginning, she was gigging in bands too while juggling a desk job to pay the bills.
“I knew I never wanted to give up dance and music, but this way it was all on my terms.”
The terms are pretty crucial too. Rebecca’s experience at school never left her. She was determined to do something positive to drive out bullying where she could, with Lauren’s help.
“We make it very clear that we will not tolerate unkindness and bullying. We teach our students to spread kindness and embrace their individuality. We noticed that some of our children were really struggling, and dance was their space for one hour to two a week where they could be themselves. With street dance, there is no right or wrong. All children have their own flair. They can do stuff their own way.”
Rebecca’s stance against bullying stepped up a gear when she had her first child, Roary, now aged seven. To raise awareness outside of the dance school, she used her obvious love of fashion (see our photos for evidence) to set up Committed Clothing Company in 2018.
“The clothing range is a statement for what you stand for and being a community of people with those real ideals of being kind. The dance students wear it as their uniform. Their friends see it and comment on it, and the word has just spread.”
Committed Clothing Company’s leisure wear is not just for children. There are men’s, women’s and unisex ranges. The important thing is that when you purchase an item online, you also sign up to a pledge, known as The #Commitment, to encourage people to be kind to others and themselves. Read it…it’s simple but inspiring.
“People are also buying something that means something. I did not want to just sell loads of clothes to people who did not believe what it was about.”
Now a mum of two (her daughter Ren is five years old), who she home-schooled through lockdown as her businesses ground to a halt, her fully subscribed dance classes have resumed as usual, there are new lines due to be added to her the Committed range, and she is energised to keep spreading the anti-bullying message.
“I just want people to be the best versions of themselves.”
Parties are back on the agenda. In the summer, we celebrated the return of weddings. In the winter, we can look forward to Christmas office dos, family gatherings, New Year’s Eve, drinks after work, dinner parties, clubbing, long Sunday lunches…the whole works! It has been a while and we are ready!
While us girls will slip into some high-heeled twinkly numbers, what will the boys be wearing for the party season? Sure, you could just wear your work shoes, but does that set you up for a fun night out? We have already discussed that your Oxfords will serve you well from the office to the wedding breakfast, but are they party prepped? I say no!
Tuck away those brogues and heavy-duty boots too. No-one wants you to step on their toes in those chunky bad boys. Think more Sashay Steve than Steady Eddie. And do not think no-one will notice what you are wearing on your feet. As discussed in my The Psychology of Shoes blog…they will notice and so will you. You want to strut into a party with confidence not tip toe in with blister or a sense of awkwardness that come when you realise your shoes are just not hitting the spot for the occasion.
Never fear, we have suggestions for you starting with the men’s shiny equivalent to the women’s sparkly court shoes. Admittedly, they are Oxfords, but they are black patent. Be still my beating heart! These are crooner shoes; shoes that demand dancing; shoes for being well and truly out-out! Team the AstonOxfords with black tie and you are good to go. These are classics and are a great investment for every occasion where a tuxedo is deemed de rigueur.
Want a little bit more personality and a nod to a classic James Bond era? I mean, why wouldn’t you? Have a look at our Levante two-tone loafers. I think I am in love these shoes. Again, they shout dancing and schmoozing. No need for black tie for these either but they are definitely shoes ‘for best’. We have them in black with a burgundy strap or in navy. The latter would totally rock with a navy suit and crisp white shirt.
And just when you thought you could not get any more decadent…what about our velvet slippers? A good friend wore slippers for his wedding and looked awesome. Unsurprisingly, these are very comfortable, thanks to their luxurious quilted lining, so will stand you in good stead for being on your feet all night. Slippers are again often worn with black tie, although our models on the Herring Monarch slipper listing have styled them jeans and chinos, and look great! They come in black, navy and purple velvet and feature the Herring crest. Alternatively, we have skull, stag and cutlass designs too, plus an unadorned version with the Marquisslipper.
Lastly, for a little more understated pizazz, I offer you the Farnborough two-tone shoes. These are spectator style but with an upgrade. They are not your run-of-the-mill spectator style. The navy suede and leather finish with no broguing in sight make them a very smart shoe that you could wear with a suit, trousers or jeans depending on the occasion.
Of course, there are plenty of other styles available on our website. If funds allow, I do not think it is unreasonable to treat yourself to some party shoes after the past 20 months. This is not the time for just making do with your work shoes. It’s time to enjoy seeing friends and family during your leisure time, particularly this Christmas.
We get excited when we choose and buy our shoes. We are even more gleeful when they arrive, and we get to wear them. But we get sad when they end up looking scuffed and past their best. This does not have to be how the story goes. All you need is a little shoe care.
Shoe care seems to be a lost art. My grandmother used to regale me with stories of her family leaving all their shoes by the back door every Sunday, ready for my grandfather to clean and polish them. As the breadwinner, it was his one domestic chore of the week, but it was written in stone!
How many of us clean and polish our shoes every week? My hand is so far from being up, it is under the table right now! But it is important, especially during the winter months when wet weather creates mud underfoot, and puddles and rain do their worst along with salt used on the roads in icy or snowy weather.
What does shoe care entail? We have split this helpful advice into ‘Leather care’ and ‘Suede care’.
Before you start, ensure you have inserted shoe trees and removed the laces – you don’t want them in the way and getting covered in cream. The trees will help push out the creases and make it easier for you to get to the leather and produce a solid surface for you to brush and polish. Then you need to remove the dirt as it will not come off on its own. Remove it with a brush making sure you get into the folds and welted areas of the shoe or boot.
Renovate
We advise our customers to use renovator cream, such as the one made by Saphir. This is designed to clean, hydrate and nourish leather before applying the polish or cream. Gently massage the cream into the leather with a soft cotton cloth using small circular movements, then leave it to soak in. After 5 minutes give the shoes a good brush to even out any excess and leave a cleaned surface.
Cream
This step is not mandatory, unless you are skipping the previous renovate step in which case you will need to use a cream. Shoe cream (more specifically, Saphir 1925) has higher pigments of dye so not only will it aide in nourishment it will also help to cover up any scuffs. Apply with a cloth in circular motions, rub in and leave for 5 minutes, then buff off with a brush. You are now ready for the next step.
Polish
The finishing touch to add that layer of protection and give a lovely sheen. Apply Saphir Pate De Luxe using small circular movements with a soft cotton cloth. You do not need too much. A little goes a long way. Once dry use a brush to buff them up to a lovely polish. Brushing is designed to heat up the wax in the cream so it melts using the friction of the bristles to leave a smooth and shiny surface – top science fact for you there! The more friction you create the shinier they will come up so give yourself a mini-workout for the best results. If you wish to go further and create a ‘bull shine’ follow this link to our Youtube channel.
Suede care
As above, ensure you have inserted your shoe trees and removed the laces. Suede care is naturally different to leather, where polish is not going to work. There is a whole host of advice in our blog Brush up on your suede knowledge, but we have collated the care information below for your convenience.
Remove dirt
Brush off any loose dirt. We recommend a crepe or brass suede brush to brush out any dirt or marks. Simply brush against the pile lightly and work your way around the suede to focus on any dirty areas.
Deep clean
Give your suede a deep clean with Saphir Suede Cleaner Omni Nettoyant – mix 50/50 with warm water- to not only cleanse but to bring life back to the suede and to protect it from staining. Use the brush provided and apply it against the pile. Once your suede has darkened, due to being wet, you have put enough on.
Rinse
Rinse the cleaner off 5-10 minutes later with clean warm water. Just dip the brush into the clean water and brush the suede. Try and brush from lots of different angles to get the suede cleaner off.
Dry
Leave your shoes or boots to dry. This takes around 20-30 minutes. Do not rub the suede with a cloth as any loose bits will come off and go onto the suede.
Clearly, you need some tools and products to help achieve what should be a routine job. We have valet boxes to give you a one-stop-shop for all your shoe care needs.
In addition, we can also offer you our shoe careservice to help weatherproof your footwear. We use a finely controlled spray-booth to coat the uppers of your shoes in a fine, quick drying mist that uses nano-technology to make them incredibly water-repellent. We can treat your shoes as we pack them during despatch as an extra service.
Almost all our shoes are suitable for the treatment and the results are like magic (just look at the video we made after weatherproofing a pair of Herring Purcell). The coating is rated to last three months so just one treatment could see you over the worst of the winter and could save you a ruined pair of shoes. This protection is not a guarantee against your shoes getting ruined by water, but it is a very effective way of minimising water damage.
But don’t think it gets you out of your shoe care routine! You can still maintain your shoes in the same way with polishes etc.
I hope this has given you (and me) a timely reminder to look after your footwear. If you are prepared to spend your money on quality shoes and boots, it is worth investing some time into them too to ensure they last and look great for many years to come.
I must caveat this blog with the statement that I am not a trained psychologist in any way. However, while I am a tongue-in-cheek footwear blogger, experience tells me that what I have written here rings true.
My psychology of shoes experience began with a pair of very expensive black, patent high heels. When I tried them on in the shop and walked around on their super soft carpet, I thought they were gorgeous. They are gorgeous but real life does not happen on soft carpets and you generally wear shoes for longer than a few minutes. I also thought they would be comfortable because of the price tag.
I wanted these shoes to mark a new era of high heel wearing. I wanted them to make me feel more confident in social and corporate situations. They sure looked good and made me four inches taller, but the reality was that they slipped off my heels, squashed my toes and I could barely walk in them… especially on slippery tiled floors. I was gutted. My should-be go-to mood-boosting shoes were not the dream footwear I thought I had invested in.
To me, the key to the psychology of shoes is how you move in them. I like a quick, long, a little bit jaunty, stride. I could not walk that way in my new shoes. It’s not a heel thing; I’m all good in my other heels. Tottering is just not my style! In contrast, a former client of mine used to wear leather-soled Oxfords that would clip smartly along the corridors as he walked. You could hear him coming; it was like an audio introduction before he entered the room! It was his style and he oozed corporate confidence.
Second is comfort. Pinched toes and rubbing heels will overtake any confidence you may have felt due to the look of a shoe. Blisters can be small, but they hurt like hell and can be a real distraction. To that end, I feel super comfortable and therefore confident in my trainers and my chunky boots.
The psychology of shoes is not just about how the wearer feels but also how people perceive you. Researchers at the University of Kansas found that character assessments based on shoes were surprisingly accurate. Students looked at images of 200 peoples’ shoes and guessed psychological profiles. A more relaxed and laid-back person had worn-in shoes and pristine shoes indicated someone more likely concerned with appearance and, interestingly, prone to attachment anxiety or a fear of abandonment.
Another study found that women in high heels were judged as more attractive than those in flats… and there’s me loving my trainers!
However, if you feel more confident in your footwear, I believe more people will see you as confident and, potentially, more attractive. I also believe that well-polished, smart shoes say a lot in the office and the boardroom. I recently took a few colleagues to task about their footwear. As salesmen, they needed to look the part and care for their selected shoes or boots to set them apart from their competitors.
But it’s not all about being the most confident guy or gal in the room. Sometimes you want to be seen as a relaxed, off-duty human being. Footwear can signpost this very clearly. A deck shoe, moccasin or trainer should signify downtime while a jewelled court shoe or black patent Oxford shouts party time!
As I said, I am not an expert, but it does get you thinking about how you feel in shoes and how you want others to perceive you. Just because they are at ground level, does not mean they cannot be seen.
A decent pair of well-fitting shoes should make you feel taller even if they do not have any heels. The photos with this blog depict people I know. Admittedly, they are all very tall, but they also come with poise and presence that I feel has been enhanced by their choice of footwear.
Take it from someone who has learned the hard way, the wrong shoe will have the reverse psychological affect. Sure, go for style but make sure you can walk the way you want to and to do not suffer any pain along the away. Then throw your shoulders back and stride (in my case) out into the unknown!
What’s your go-to confidence boosting shoe? Let me know in the comments section below.
Herring has long associated itself with British craftsmanship by working with the best shoe factories in Northamptonshire to bring our customers quality footwear. The same can be said of many of our other products too. Look no further than Tanner Bates, based in Dartington, Devon.
Tanner Bates founder John Hagger was already entrenched in the leather industry – his father was a leather guilder who followed in the footsteps of a family of glovers – before he trained as a saddlery and bridle-maker in Walsall. John brought his love of leather and traditional expertise to make a range of products, including belts for Herring.
Tanner Bates use oak-bark leather made from Devon cow hide. Oak-bark leather is made by placing the leather into large pits with water and seasoned oak-bark chippings from Lake District coppices.
This part of the process is carried out by J & FJ Baker & Co in Colyton, East Devon, which is believed to be the UK’s only remaining traditional oak bark tannery still in production. No chemicals are used, and the entire tanning process can take up to 18 months.
John said: “I am fascinated at the way we can make leather just from animal skin and tree barks. The transformation is alchemy.”
This makes the leather very hard wearing and flexible. The perfect belt material in fact. This material is then cut, trimmed, stitched, riveted, punched and polished by hand to create a quality product, such as the oak bark belt sold by Herring.
What drives John is provenance and his enthusiasm for it is infectious. He relishes in the expertise and familiarity with those he works with. He says he knows the names of everyone involved in making the raw materials for his belts and other leather goods, from the people who make the sand-cast brass buckles in Walsall to the man whose oak trees are used at Baker’s tannery.
Such traditional values do not mean John’s designs are old-fashioned though. A glance through the range available from the Tanner Bates web shop reveals a modern edge has been applied to classic items.
In his own words, he says: “In making my products, this combination of rich, rustic leather, my own traditional making technique and the product’s contemporary purpose is what fuels my creativity. There’s an ironic juxtaposition of tradition and technology.”
And, so concludes our peek behind the name behind one of our products. We are sure you will agree, Tanner Bates are very much aligned to our Herring way of thinking.
Following a fantastic win on American soil for the European women in the Solheim Cup, we can now also get excited about the delayed Ryder Cup starting today. Meanwhile, amateur golfers were quick to get back to their favourite courses as soon, as social distancing restrictions, were lifted to enjoy some fresh air and a sense of normality.
It made us think about what people wear on the golf course and in the clubhouse. Plus-fours (knickerbockers) and tweed jackets were all the rage back in the 18th century, although golf fans will remember that the late Payne Stewart had a penchant for plus-fours in the 1990s. Slacks took over in the 1930s as more casual attire became more acceptable. Tailored shorts are now common in the summer months and are usually worn with a collared shirt.
Simply put, there are glorious, traditional standards to uphold. While they are not written into the Royal & Ancient handbook, there are dress code rules that are recognised by most clubs. No shirts untucked, no short shorts, no ankle socks and no denim are common no-nos.
As golf attire usually transfers straight from the 18th green to the clubhouse, it got us thinking about what you wear on your feet once you have removed your golf shoes. I think the same sense of decorum needs to be applied. My father was a fan of a post-round loafer…after all, the quicker he got his shoes on, the quicker he could order a rewarding pint of bitter!
There is sense in his thinking and loafers or moccasins are perfect for slipping on after four hours out on the course. They are smart and work well with long shorts or chinos. You can whip your socks (short or long) off too to allow your feet to breathe a little. Regular readers of our blog will know we have plenty of loafers to choose from, but for this purpose, I am suggesting the clean and lightweight Enzo or the Maranello moccasins.
Now into September, we must admit that autumn is around the corner and loafers may not be the ideal choice as the weather gets colder. The brogue though fits the bill perfectly. They ooze country style and a robustness that was needed back in Scotland where the game was invented in the 15th century. To give a nod to the tweed, you could go for our Exmoor style or go for a classic, more elegant Munster.
Somehow though, I cannot see the likes of Rory McIlory, Tommy Fleetwood or Ricky Fowler rocking up in brogues, but then who is going to turn them away from the bar for not sporting the right footwear? Even the top players will need formal ‘street’ shoes. The slightly cringey opening ceremony of the Ryder Cup usually sees the players in suits or jackets and slacks, so check out what they are wearing on their feet. A monk shoe, like the Monkwell or Jacob, would look super smart while Golding derby would also look the part.
Not all clubs are so strict though and some accept a more casual dress code. Not sure they are ready for high-top sneakers just yet – my dad would never approve – but along with aforementioned loafers, you may get away with brown/dark green leather trainers, like the Ensign or the Silverstone II which has brogue detailing. But please do check!
In summary, it seems churlish to make the effort on the course and not continue the sense of formality into the clubhouse. These shoes will be more than adequate for eating out and many work situations. With these transferable attributes, you can be both the king of the clubhouse and boardroom.
The few glimpses of sunshine we have had in the UK recently means that it must still be summer…although there is some doubt. While we cheerfully moan about the weather, our friends in the South Hemisphere are currently in their winter with half an eye on spring.
We felt it was only fair to revisit winter boots for the many loyal customers we have overseas below the equator. A big ‘hello’ to you down there. You’ll be glad to know Herring have got some winter corkers up their sleeves (or should that be trouser leg?) for men, and yes, women too!
Ladies first, and I have to say I am excited about these to the point I am almost looking forward to winter. The Stephy brogueboots are my kind of thing. Chunky and super traditional, they are retro country-set with a twist that comes in the form of a beefy heel. These beauties are the result of an exclusive collaboration with Trickers using their super-soft, deeply grained muflone leather that has been dried in drums for softness and texture. Blended with a welted rubber sole, they look awesome! They are repairable too so pleasingly tick the sustainability box and should last you for years, with some care and attention. I suspect they will look better with age too.
If you cannot be bothered with laces, then I am also giddy about the Paula rubber-soled Chelsea boots. Potentially written off as a bit horsey, these Chelsea boots have some biker attitude, again care of their generous rubber sole. As well as looking just that little bit edgy, the rubber sole will be perfect for puddle survival in the winter months. I love these in black.
Both of the above are exclusive to Herring, so it is unlikely you will see them on anyone else’s feet.
Ok chaps, it’s your turn. What can we offer you this winter Down Under? Here are some of the new boots on the block. A bit like the Stephy, the Corsham is a brogue boot with a chunky Goodyear-welted rubber sole. Colour-wise, you can choose between cedar and cherry.
Next up is the Cromer. This one is a little bit special as it is made from cordovan crup, which is tanned carefully over a long period of time and hand-infused with natural oils to give the lustrous almost translucent look that is so prized, along with a long-life resilience that other leathers cannot match. This leather really is remarkable…it has its own built-in anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle solution! The Cromer has a country-style shape with a toe cap in burgundy or tan. In short, they are really handsome boots.
The Melksham is more weathered looking, due to their suede upper, and has a thin rubber sole to help our Southern Hemisphere friends skip into spring. Quite utilitarian looking, these appeal to me in an understated way. I like the eyelets and hook combination, which creates extra ankle height.
Lastly, check out the Mullion II Norwegiantwo-tone boots. This is a good-looking boot. Rubber heel, high ankle, eyelets and hooks, chunky stitching…rather debonair, if you will. They are country and city combined, so the Mullion II is versatile for winter.
I will come back with some shoe options too, but meanwhile, enjoy this bevvy of boots and remember that spring is just around the corner.
It’s a good opportunity to wear easy, breezy clothes that you feel comfortable in but still ooze style…your own style. There isn’t much scope for obvious personality with the uniform of a traditional morning suit; it’s all a bit black, grey and a white shirt. A casual wedding though gives you more opportunity to vary colours and styles. You can go to town on your footwear too.
Before I roll out the obvious choice, I am going to offer you a few alternatives.
The Collins Oxfords have a summer feel to them with their interweave style in tan super-soft suede. They look like a wholecut, as there are no separate panels, so they very smart while offering a cooler – and I mean temperature here – upper, thanks to the weave.
The Marlborough rubber-soled Derby style gives you an opportunity to shake up the colour. The taupe style would look good with a pair of cream chinos while offering the comfort of a lightweight rubber sole.
For swanky style, have a look at the chestnut Salobrena monk shoes. They are sleek, they are shiny, and they are made from croc-effect leather to give them uber continental flair! I can envisage their wearers on a sunny terrace drinking a few pre-wedding breakfast cocktails or bubbles.
Ok, I have put it off long enough…a casual wedding is a perfect excuse for a new pair of loafers. I am going to suggest soft suede for a summer do. The Consort blends the weave of the Collins Oxford with a loafer in a tan and walnut suede. The Barcelona II tasselled loafer is smart too while the Cannes offers a navy upper, which is in pleasant contrast to the crepe sole, as does the Ingleby.
To really kick back though, you could opt for the Murlo II and really ramp up the colour with the turquoise option or slip into our biscuit Sanremo suede espadrilles.
You can ditch the socks with all the above suggestions to really embrace the casual nature of the occasion. With any of these choices though, you do not have to ditch the style!
We have waited a long time for weddings to be back on the agenda, so why not treat yourself to some new shoes that will see you through the big day but will also be a welcome addition for a variety of other uses and occasions this summer.
In the first part of our wedding shoe guide, we covered the formal black shoes and boots you would wear with morning suits and more formal attire. Today, we are going to consider shoes that would be suitable to wear with lounge suits for a formal, yet a little more dressed down, occasion.
Most weddings would fit this bill, where the groom, the ushers and the rest of the male wedding party wear matching or complementary lounge suits. Most will buy something new for the occasion and we would urge you to consider your footwear at the same time.
As we have often alluded to in our blogs about wedding shoes, they not only need to look the part but also need to support you through a tiring day. Grooms, ushers, and guests alike will be on their feet for much of the day whether at the ceremony, posing for photos, drinking bubbles and eating canapes before the wedding breakfast, standing in the receiving line, making speeches or dancing… it’s not your average day at the office.
You need comfort which means getting a pair of shoes that fit you properly. This is where handmade shoes will serve you well. They will mould to the shape of your feet. No slipping at the heel and no pinching at the toe will prevent blisters. I mean, who wants a blister on their wedding day? If you are unsure of your sizing when it comes to choosing a pair of handmade shoes, then our guide here may help or just call our customer services; they are skilled in advising people on the size they need!
But what style and colour to choose? I am going to steer away from black as we have already discussed these in the formal wedding shoe blog. Here are a few ideas to choose from, but there are plenty of styles and brands on the Herring website to choose from, so please feel free to browse away.
Herring Carnaby
Oxford Due in this month, the Eden Oxford is a truly stunning formal shoe in a dark leaf colour. It has a contemporary shape with a brogue punch to the toe and swan neck broguing to the sides. Handmade by the craftsmen at Cheaney in Northamptonshire, this looks like a bespoke shoe and will make any groom or usher feel like they have paid attention to their footwear.
Brogue Brogues are popular choice for a wedding in the country, but they can suit a town affair too. Our Henry II brogues in chestnut calf ooze quality. Also made in Northamptonshire by Alfred Sargent, they have a beautiful, burnished finish. The Carnaby brogue is a great alternative brogue too.
Spectator These are still brogues essentially, but the two-tone element pops them into the spectator category. Again made by Cheaney, the Henley is a lightweight shoe with dark leaf calf bearing the broguing detail with the rest of the main body of the shoe made out of beige canvas. We have a Henley II as well, which has less broguing on the toe. Both of these shoes shout “summer wedding”!
Herring Henry II
For a navy suit alternative, the Farnham combines chestnut calf and navy suede. If you want to lose the brogue look, the Farnborough is a striking option with the navy suede across the vamp this time. Again, super-smart shoes that your mother and mother-in-law, oh, and your wife-to-be, will approve of!
Derby These differ from Oxfords because the closing panels that host the eyelets and laces are sewn on top of the vamp. This gives the wearer a little bit of extra room if they have larger feet or a higher instep. That does not mean they are any less elegant. Take the Golding, as an example, or the Epping. I like the Burlington too for a lighter shade of brown.
Monk Lastly, for shoes, I would suggest the single, double or, even triple, monks. The double buckle Shakespeare is uber classy and elegant, and come up a treat when you polish them. The Dahl has three buckles, which is very unusual so makes them extra special. For a single, try the Byron.
Herring Shakespeare
Boots My husband wore boots to our wedding, and I assume many other do too. Elegance is key for a wedding. I love the Thatcher brogue Chelsea boots in burgundy or the Laverton II two-tone boots. You could also try the Orwell, which is a monk boot, or the limited edition and rather exquisite, Jordan.
The above is a romp through the more refined styles of the Herring collection that I think would work well with a lounge suit for a wedding. If you spot a style that you think would work well too, why don’t you comment below or post a photo on our social media channels in all your finery? We would love to see you!
Next up, we will discuss shoe styles for a casual wedding.
