mensstyle – Herring Shoes Journal

What’s new at Herring shoes?

27 June 2022

To say it’s been an unpredictable few years is, well, a bit of an understatement. However, you’ll be pleased to know the purpose of this blog is to focus on the future and talk about some exciting developments and plans we have been working on.

IMAGERY

This ties in nicely with our website update (more on this later) as of course you need good photos to show off your products. The last few years we have been working with a very talented photographer, Dan Hall (view his website here), who has helped us find an identity and elevate our imagery. We will be showing this off more when our site has been refined but you will have noticed his images on most of our Facebook and Instagram posts, as well as our home page images.

We have now reached the stage where we want to start campaigns and create stories, this will reinforce our credibility and really show off our products in a way we haven’t done previously. I am excited to announce that we have already shot an autumn/winter campaign, which we cannot wait to reveal. We did have to think carefully about the mood, styling, models, and location, to make sure that the imagery would appeal to not only our current customer base but also to potential new customers, so we look forward to the feedback once the campaign is live.

A great example of Dan’s handy work (view the shoes here)

LOOK WHO’S WEARING

This is where we like to talk about influential people who wear our shoes, whether they are famous or simply inspirational (view here). We are looking to update this and we already have a few people lined up that we know you will love to read about and see wearing our shoes, but if you know someone who fits the bill then feel free to email me and discuss on chris@herringshoes.co.uk and I will be more than happy to consider them! We love a good story and having inspirational people wear our shoes really solidifies what we are all about: good shoes for good people.

WEBSITE

We think you will all agree that our website is easy to navigate, nicely laid out and contains all the information you could possibly need, all at your fingertips, and this is thanks to our in-house web developer Gareth (or Gaz as I like to call him). As our website is completely custom-made, we don’t have to rely on any outsourcing to make the changes we feel need to be done to enhance the customer experience.

However, as the years have gone by we are aware the site has started to feel slightly dated or even a little ‘busy’. We are always happy to admit where changes are needed and this has lead us to start thinking about new website designs. We don’t think it needs to be dramatic, but just a bit of tidying here and there which should not only make navigating easier but also aesthetically it will be more appealing. We hope to complete this in the next few months (sorry Gaz), so keep your eyes peeled!

PRODUCTS

As you may know, many British manufacturers are struggling to get materials (and in some cases they’re struggling for workers too) and so this is why you may be seeing a few of our own styles currently ‘due in’ stock. Of course, we are proud to also use some non UK factories make our shoes and we have carefully selected certain factories that specialise in the styles that we feel deserve to have the ‘Herring’ name on them.

This means we are able to offer excellent, welted products at a competitive price but it also means we can make sure we always have enough stock to meet our customers’ demands when stock may be shorter with our usual UK manufactures.

Naturally, it is still imperative that we offer a large selection of UK-made shoes, so we have decided to go through our entire catalogue of Herring branded shoes and condense the range down. This will mean that there will be fewer similar styles and so we can focus on making sure these ‘core’ styles are always in stock and on back order, as we will now also have the space in our warehouse due to us not carrying so many similar styles.

But there is no need to worry about not having much choice, there will still be options, but they will be more refined. This will also make shopping much easier for our customers, especially if you are new to quality footwear and find it a little confusing with so many options for a nice classic Oxford.

COLLABORATION

With the above in mind, we are always open to doing one-off collaborations and having some ‘limited edition’ styles that offer something different to our current designs. We have already got something in the pipeline after working closely with Jerry Tharapos, one of our longest serving customers who resides in Australia and of course, has quite impeccable taste (he has even written some blogs for us here). They are going to be spectacular, and I have a feeling they will appeal to the real boot aficionado. Hopefully we will have some exclusive photos within the next few days of them going through the Cheaney factory…. (that’s enough hints for now).

I hope the above has given some insight into what goes on here. We have a small team of 10 working here at Herring HQ in Kingsbridge and all of the above developments won’t stop us offering our usual service to all of our UK and non UK customers.

Herring Shoes

Men’s shoes for dating

23 November 2021

This blog isn’t just for those who are single and on the dating scene, hopefully it helps encourage those of us who already have partners, and perhaps don’t have enough date nights, to make a bit more effort.

A lovely shot of Hugo and Lily. Hugo is wearing the Herring Canterbury

Let’s face it, we are well and truly in the digital age of dating and whether you like it or not, it’s here to stay, but I think it should be embraced, especially after the last couple of years where going out and meeting someone in a bar has become virtually impossible. Dating sites and apps offer a safe place to get to know someone and help you make a decision on whether you want to take things to the next step; it can be a huge confidence booster too.

So, you’ve found your perfect match online and the time has come for that first ‘in-person’ date. There’s no doubt you need to look your best to impress and this starts with what you’re wearing. You don’t want to just throw on the first pair of shoes you come across in your porch or wear the same clothes you wear down the pub with your mates. It’s time to bring your A-game.

The most important rule: Dress for the occasion.

You don’t want to be in a tuxedo and black patent shoes if you’re just meeting up for a coffee! Most physical dates will involve meeting for either lunch or dinner. I would suggest if you are meeting for lunch or a coffee even, that you take the more ‘smart/casual’ approach. I would go with dark coloured jeans (preferably not baggy, but they don’t have to be budgie smugglers either) paired with a chequered or patterned shirt with the sleeves rolled up. This will give a fantastic first impression when paired with our Grays, Orkney, or Canterbury chukka boots. Chukkas aren’t over the top and just enough on the smart side to show you have put some thought into what you’re wearing. If you aren’t much of a shirt man then I would wear a plain tee and team this with a pair of smart trainers/sneakers, such as the Sebastian or Goodwood and if you can match the colour of your tee with them, even better! Also consider a pair of suede Chelseas, such as the Bronson. These are the epitome of ‘smart/casual’ and work with both of the above dress options.

Carl has matched his shoes and tee to get the smart/casual look. He is wearing the Herring Sebastian

Dinner date? Now we start to think more on the smarter side. You don’t have to go down the ‘black tie’ route unless you’re going to a ball or a themed evening (how cool would a murder mystery night be for a first date?), but I would certainly wear something along the lines of a textured blazer, your best quality dark coloured chinos and a linen shirt. The latter doesn’t have to be plain, but I would avoid too much of a pattern. Details, such as a nice belt, will make a difference too especially as you should be tucking your shirt in. The obvious choice of footwear is a pair of brogues, and this is where the Carnaby come into its own. They are a modern-day classic made on a sophisticated but not pointy last. The chestnut calf will go with anything. I defy you to make these shoes look bad! I would also consider the Munster, which are a bit more understated, but extremely refined. The Byron are a solid option too for those of you like a monk style and love to mix it up a little.

It’s good to be creative and maybe you have planned a country walk for your date, ending up in a nice cosy pub with a roaring fire and hot chocolate. For this I would go country chic, such as a big woolly jumper and waxed jacket would set the tone nicely and we’ve got you covered. Check out our offerings for country clothing here from Peregrine. Footwear wise, you need something with good grip and you can afford to go a bit more chunky with your shoe choice. My first option would be the Leconfield long wing brogue in burgundy or tan: they’re timeless country styled brogues. Or go for the Hardwick, which would be ideal for those who like the chunky look but don’t want the weight. For the real shoe aficionado, the Kirkoswold ticks a lot of boxes, especially in the waxy finish. If your walk is a bit more hardcore and there’s some climbing involved, then the Trekker is the one you need. OK, it may not be the most stylish pair, but they suit the occasion down to a tee.

I could go on all day, but I think we have covered enough bases and I hope it has helped to give you some ideas.

Don’t forget, the above is not set in stone, first and foremost you have to make sure you are comfortable, confident and happy in whatever you’re wearing (as covered by Caz here). The better you feel, the happier you will be, and the date is more likely to be a success. You’ll be planning your second date before you know it 😉

Herring Shoes

A detailed shoe care guide by Jared Acquaro

12 May 2020

In this edition, we focus on caring for your quality leather shoes. Yes, there are many articles related to this subject (as detailed by Herring already in previous posts) but this will be a more detailed version on how to do this for longevity, from a beginners point-of-view. I will show you a few tricks I have learnt from experts and trial and error, plus what to look out for in products that could harm your footwear, instead of protecting them.

What you will need:

A quality rejuvenation cream; natural ingredients are best for leather. Look for ingredients like; beeswax, mink oil, and lanolin. With all products, the smell shouldn’t be one similar to harsh petroleum or stripping products, unless that is your outcome. The beeswax in the cream will give you a light shine finish and a mild waterproofing.
A brush to remove excess product and another to shine; this can be any soft natural haired and firm bristle brushes. Key is to remove the product that doesn’t soak into the leather, a harsh bristle brush will seal the wax and start creating a sealed shine. This is better on the finishing steps.
For those with experience, a coloured or neutral wax polish. I say experience because applying this product takes finesse and time. It is easy to over-apply, thus making a cloudy and in the future cracked finish. (For now, best leave this out until you have practised). Again, the ingredients should be natural, avoid petroleum-based turpentine. Brands like Saphir use natural pine turpentine instead.
Old t-shirt or similar rag. This is to protect yourself and/or surface, but also to apply layers of product. I personally use my fingers when applying neutral products, in-time you can feel the build-up of the product in the leather better.
Shoe trees or newspaper, to hold the shape of the shoes.
This product is something I was taught and not something you would regularly see in videos etc, and that is a 40 denier pair of tights/pantie hose/stockings. You might think “what the hell is he talking about?” But trust me on this, it is ingenious!

Method:

To start with, remove the shoelaces (if they have them, undo buckles etc) and insert shoe trees or newspaper. Take your soft bristle brush and brush away any visible dirt (especially in the welt or randing). Next, spray or dampen a rag with water (not soak), then wipe over the entire shoe, do the soles if you like but it’s not necessary. Let dry for 10mins.
Now you are ready to apply your rejuvenation cream. Use a dry part of the rag or fingers and apply about a finger size amount in a circular motion. This will ensure an even product application, you can’t overdo or use too much but if you do it will become costly. Once both shoes have an even amount on them, let them sit for at least 30mins. You will notice that there are always “waiting periods” in between the stages, this is key to getting the right end result. After the 30 minutes use your soft bristle brush to remove the excess cream. You can stop right here and your shoes will be ready to go.
If your shoes have lost colour, this stage is where you can apply a coloured cream wax, just follow the same step above. *Please note, if you can’t get the exact colour/shade and don’t want to make this darker, use a shade lighter than the original. If you don’t mind them darkening then you can use a shade darker. (maybe experiment with using a different colour all together if you’re adventurous).
This step is not for the beginners but the more experienced. The two key elements to applying the top wax coat is a) less is more and b) patience. If you just want to waterproof, then 2-3 coats are all you will need. Apply a tiny (2mm) amount to a rag or finger and rub in a circular motion. You will see the product coating the shoe, once the wax starts to cloud, apply more to another area and so on until the shoe is covered, where you want the waterproofing. Let it sit for 30mins, brush off and apply another coat, let sit for 30mins. At this stage add a drop of water to the shoe, this will help even out the coating to avoid cracking. Once this is done, let it dry (20-30mins) and you can buff with a hard bristle brush, if you want a higher shine use a pair of the stockings by pulling them tight between both hands and with the shoes held either between your legs or an assistant buff away! Mirror shines or “bulling” takes practise and fine layers to fill the leather pores, creating an even flat surface, this is how you get the glassey mirror finish.

Following these steps are key to keeping your shoes at their best for many years to come. I have seen beautiful shoes destroyed in less than 12 months, by wearing them every day, not allowing the leather to rest and wick away the moisture with shoe trees and never applying a rejuvenation cream thus drying out the leather (remember the leather is skin and just like our skin without fat/oil is dried out).

Best way to keep on top of this is to take note of how “tired” your shoes look. Is the leather bright or dull? Has it lost its colour? Does the leather feel hard instead of soft/supple?

This concludes the first section of caring for your quality shoes. The next article we will dive into sole protection and how shoe trees actually work. Some might ask about Suede and Nubuck care, don’t worry it won’t be forgotten!

If you are after a quick bull-shine and time is of the essence, Herring do have a fantastic video on their Youtube channel here.

Until then, buy smart, buy well.

Regards,

Jared Acquaro

Browsing Tag: mensstyle

What’s new at Herring shoes?

Men’s shoes for dating

A detailed shoe care guide by Jared Acquaro