The Padstow deck shoes Who knew? Well, British Vogue did so that is a good start. Known as deck shoes where we are headquartered in Devon, they are exactly the same as boat shoes, as they are more commonly known in the US. For the boating set, they are a practical choice as deck shoes are easy to slip on and slip off, but do not slip when on deck due to the sole originally designed by Paul A Sperry in 1935. They go well with chinos, jeans and shorts and do not need a pair of socks, so they are great for spring and summer. But British Vogue is all about serious fashion not the comfort of the ya ..read more

To work out if you would benefit from Derby footwear or not, we need to remind you of what they are. Shoe manufacturers and retailers often compare them to Oxfords to distinguish the difference. While not considered as elegant as its Oxford counterpart, the Derby, also known as a Gibson or Blucher, is still steeped in history, favoured by the Earl of Derby back in the day and as a popular hunting and sporting shoe in the mid-19th century. But why? It’s all about the quarters and the vamp. The quarters are sewn on top of the vamp with the eyelets then sewn on top of the quarters to achieve the ..read more

Black polished Newcastle Oxfords We are not under any illusion that we are a fashion house that sets the trends for the season, but we do react to customer demand. The over-riding trend we noticed at the end of last year and the start of this, is a demand for more polished leather shoes. Team this with the penchant for tailored items and the return of the suit, and that’s a pretty smart look. But what is polished leather? Allow me to explain. Polished leathers are treated to give them a high shine appearance and are often known as corrected leathers. The treatment they are given to make them s ..read more

We have given the deck shoe a splash of colour for spring/summer 2024 to treat our female customers to a thoroughly joyful addition to our women’s footwear collection. Commonly seen in brown or navy calf for the sailor-inspired men’s versions, we have gone to town with multiple colourways and a choice of textures for the Cordelia. We’re sure Paul Sperry would have approved! The deck shoe was invented by American Sperry in 1935 when he cut thin slits into the rubber soles of his shoes after noticing his dog’s ability to run easily over ice without slipping. Known as boat shoes in the US, the d ..read more

The Dillon is one of our best-selling loafers. A perennial favourite, these shoes ooze class whether you team them with a dinner jacket, wear them for work, or step out with a bit of style at the weekend. This super-chic shoe has featured in many of our Journal articles, so we felt it was time it got its own opportunity to shine in our In The Spotlight series. The Dillon is a classic among the classics! Made from beautiful black calf leather with a Blake-stitched leather sole, it is the silver-coloured snaffle-trim that elevates its status from the basic loafer. If you like the horsebit loafe ..read more

We have shone the spotlight on rugged workingman’s boots recently in response to the enduring enthusiasm for the Peaky Blinder style. We have also started inching towards suede as we embrace spring. But how about blending the two? The Torre does exactly that. With a cleated, chunky rubber role, you know you are getting a rugged little number. Complemented by a suede upper, yellow and brown round laces through seven pairs of eyelets, and a leather collar, then you have the look of the definitive tough guy boot. We have added small design details to elevate this style even further though. The l ..read more

With spring in the air, we wanted to give you the lowdown on one of our most enduring styles that has recently had a revamp. The Barcelona is one of our best-selling loafers. Here’s a little reminder of why they are so beloved. There is no doubt about it, the Barcelona is a classic loafer. It’s a slip-on shoe with a low-slung profile (to expose the ankle), a stitched apron, and a slight heel. However, this is not your run-of-the-mill penny loafer! This features 360˚ lacing, as a nod to the traditional deck or boat shoe, adorned with a stylish tassel. But when did the tassel first feature? The ..read more

The BBC Peaky Blinders series spawned a fashion phenomenon that does not look like moving on too soon. Whether due to Cillian Murphy’s continued high profile around this weekend’s Oscars or the promise of an imminent film to bring the Birmingham gangland story to a close, the suited and booted look, complemented by a short back and sides with a floppy fringe beneath a flat cap, has endured. In tandem with the Peaky style, designers have returned to the suit, smart tailoring and formal shoes for the autumn/winter 2024/25 season. See our journal article: The suit is back…so are formal shoes for ..read more

After years of slouchy clothes and trainers, the suit is back…and so are formal shoes. Whether a reaction to the now more distant memories of living and working through Covid or just a sartorial choice, tailors and traditional shoemakers are delighted to see the return of the suit, overcoats and formal shoes to the catwalks. What happens on the catwalks, generally filters down to the high street. That’s the whole point of these shows. The top designers inspire a whole season of clothing and footwear. So, get ready for more formal garb for the autumn/winter 2024/25 season. While there will und ..read more

It turns out you don’t need a time machine to take a peek into life a few centuries back. A visit to this incredible Devon tannery, which has been on the same site since the Roman times, and in the hands of the same family since 1862, will give you a pretty good idea of what working tannery life was like. As you enter each building (I lost count how many there were, but there are several), you are going back to a different time in history as you watch each process being carried out, which in the most part, hasn’t changed for centuries. The smells range from a rather pungent, acrid stench ..read more