The Perfect Shoe For Spring 2012

I have always had a hard time balancing smart and casual. I either tend to want to wear a suit with dress shoes, or jeans with trainers...only being forced to do the whole in-between as I have to for work. Part of this problem is finding the right shoe to tie together the smart-casual look. That, I think, has been my biggest problem. Suede is usually a good balance as it can be smart, but also casual at the same time. Same thing with the loafer style. It's clean looking, simple and can look great with some smart jeans or nice, dress-casual trousers. But the icing on the cake, for me, in regards to this shoe presented, would have to be the crepe sole. It's texture, color and comfort give it that one-up when it comes to being 'dress casual.' A leather sole on it would make it too dressy looking, a dark rubber sole would be too boring, but the contrasted crepe gives it everything it needs in order to be fun, yet still maintain it's sharp look.

Funny enough, this model is a collaboration between Japanese clothing brand Deluxe, and English shoemakers Loake, a brand that I must say that I have not been too particularly fond of in the past. But these here give me a new respect for Loake and make me want to go search for them, and then buy them, as I believe that would get a lot of use out of me! But I have a feeling that they will be a hard find, which is probably for the best anyway, as I need to save up!

Pictures Courtesy Of: The Shoe Buff

Shoes Of The Week - Edward Green

Fancy a bit of indigo suede for our lovely Spring season? Well, now you can get some, in the wonderful Malvern model by Edward Green. There really is nothing like a little bit of bluey-purple, purpley-blue suede on a pair of dress shoes. It just really makes them pop, in quite a nice way too. It's bright without being ostentatious, it's tasteful without being overbearing, and it's just plain good because it's Edward Green. A shoe like this is truly amazing for the Spring/Summer seasons and it can really get you through a lot of situations, not only in a casual way, but also in a formal way. Now, when I say formal, I am obviously not referring to black tie, but the sort of formal that happens in the Spring, sort of a casual formal. I feel like formal events in Spring/Summer are usually a bit more on the relaxed side as opposed to a formal gathering in the Fall/Winter. I don't know why...maybe a dark sky needs dark colors and a light sky needs lighter colors....? Nevertheless, for me, a brogue in suede is as formal as one needs to be when the sun is blazing, and this pair here is will certainly set you apart from all those wearing snuff suede....

I hope that everyone who celebrates Easter has a lovely weekend, and those that don't I hope that you have a lovely weekend nonetheless. That being though, I will be in Wales, far away from an internet connection and will therefore be out of commission until Tuesday.

All the best,

-Justin, "The Shoe Snob"

What I Am Wearing

The Astaire by Gaziano & Girling is hands-down my all-time favorite spectator (co-respondent). Every different part of it was designed perfectly, particularly the facing, with all of it's beautiful curves. When I decided that I was going to get it, I was almost a bit nervous in deciding what colorway that I wanted it in. Not that it was frightening or anything, but as I love the shoe so much, I wanted to enhance it as best as I could with my color options. At first I thought a bit crazily, and wanted to do some strong contrasting, but in the end, I decided that having the two different leathers was all the contrast I needed. Therefore, why not pick my favorite color in two different shades? And I am sure glad that I did, because the end result has turned out to be better than I would have imagined and has created a shoe that I absolutely love! And if you are like me, as in you love a beautiful spectator, but have never found one that really did it for you, then look no further than the Astaire. After all, it is named after my all-time favorite style icon, Mr. Fred!

Shoes: Gaziano & Girling
Zip Sweater: Intimissimi
Trousers: H&M
Undershirt: Primark
Tie: Drakes

Today's Favorites - Alden Blue Suede Tassel Loafers

Sometimes I almost wish that I did not have a favorite color, because that way I would be a little less aggressive in gravitating towards the same things, and therefore have a wardrobe that is a little bit more varied. But I do have a favorite color and as you can probably gather from the statement prior and the picture above, it is blue. And because I love blue so much and wished that it was used on the feet of more men on the planet, you can understand why I am always talking about blue shoes and putting them on the blog, such as these lovely beauties by Alden. And while I love a blue calf leather, I think that I almost prefer shoes in a blue suede. Something about the suede just seems to give the color a bit more depth, a bit more of a rich feel to it, which is why I feel that the blue goes better with jeans and blue calf leather doesn't.... Whatever the case, the fact remains, I love blue and blue shoes and for all of you that share the same sentiment....be ready for a few new executions in the idea of blue shoes....

Picture Courtesy Of: Tassels

What I Am Wearing

I don't get to wear suits as much as I would like to, but when I do, I try and make sure that I stand out. Not in an egotistical or 'look at me' way, but in the sense that I throw in some color so I don't feel like I belong in the sea of dark suits/white shirts/dark ties. Not that I don't think that this standard look has it's time and place, and can look magnificent, but as I am a guy who appreciates a bit of color, I love to experiment with my combinations. Some of them come out great, some of them come out a big dodgy, but nevertheless, I always try and have some fun with it. I have really been loving teal these days so was anxious to pair it with a bit of navy, as I think that they compliment each other quite well, hence my socks/shoes and shirt/tie combos.

Enjoy the rest of this bleak Tuesday, and stay tuned for tomorrow!

Shoes: Gaziano & Girling "Astaire" MTO (Midnight blue calf/navy suede)
Suit: Gieves & Hawkes
Shirt: Primark
Tie: Hardy Amies
Socks: Septieme Largeur

My New Gaziano & Girling 'Astaires'

A befitting name for my preferred Gaziano & Girling shoe, the Astaire. Surely named after my favorite style icon Fred Astaire, this shoe not only represents him, his style and his personality to a "T," but also represents what I feel that is truly lacking from shoe society and what I would like to see more of. Why is it that a navy shoe is not more popular? I look at this and I see something that could surely be introduced into society, seeing business men wearing this as a professional shoe. Navy (or blue), in my opinion, is just as versatile as  brown, is not ostentatious in any way and would look good with almost all of the colors of the suit spectrum, with the exception of black. Yet as I always say, why don't we see blue shoes more often? Whatever the case, I definitely plan to try and break this mold with the inclusion of the color blue into many of my shoe styles for my upcoming collections. Obviously, I cannot make a blue shoe for every model I make, but I can say that there will be at least one blue (or navy) option for each season that I produce shoes. For my first collection, there are already two and I am quite excited about them and think that many of you will be too (at least let's hope so...).

Well, I just received these today and cannot wait to wear them. Be on the look out for some outfit pictures that I will take in order to show just how practical and easy a blue shoe can be in the average wardrobe. Enjoy the weekend!

 

Today's Favorites - Crockett & Jones

When I first saw all of these pictures, I could not believe my eyes! Not because Crockett & Jones does not make nice shoes, but they are usually on the relatively conservative side. If you walk by their shop in the Burlington Arcade in London, you will see a bombardment of black, brown and tan, with a small hint of burgundy somewhere in the trenches, but NEVER have I seen green chelsea boots and blue saddle shoes. It makes me wonder if these, like some of G&G's factory shoes, are for another market, such as Japan and the Far East?  Nevertheless, I was very impressed when I saw them, and I think that I gave C&J a couple of extra points in my book of cool shoe brands. The shame is that I will probably never see these in the flesh, as I truly believe that they will not hit the UK (nor US for that matter) market. And because of that, I still think that when I go to Japan for the first time, it's going to be like a kid going to Disneyland, with shoes everywhere in blue's, green's, red's etc.

Today's Favorites - Saion

When it comes to stealing my heart (and design ideas in my head), Saion does a great job at it!! The shoes in the second and third pictures from the top, are precisely the type of shoes that I would think to create. They define my motto of 'classic with a modern twist' and completely exemplify what is lacking on the shelves of shoe stores across the western world. Obviously, they are not lacking in Japan, because it seems as if they are the few who actually appreciate this type of stylization. That being said, I absolute dread the day that I go to Tokyo, for fear of wanting to buy every single thing that I see and not being able to afford most of it!

Another detail to point out is the amazing toe medallion on the red pair of shoes. It is quite large in comparison to many, but provides a nice, bold detail that helps to separate that semi-brogue from any other. Also added was a set of complimentary and subtle laces that provide a touch of something different in respect to your average black or brown laces. The little things, for me, just set these type of shoe companies so far above the rest, it is not even funny. If only more makers took the time to provide these little things......

Today's Favorites - Scarpe Di Bianco Loafers

While I own a bunch of loafers already, I recently am quite obsessed with the idea of more traditional looking loafers, and owning them. Not that these models are necessarily traditional, but they offer that 'classic with a modern look' feel, as well as offering nice shapes, colors and designs. Having never seen Scarpe Di Bianco in person, due to their newness in the industry, I am quite curious of them. From looking at them, they seem to be your run-of-the-mill high-end Italian makers, offering a black-stitched or goodyear welted sole, with some good quality upper leather. This makes me quite curious of the price though, which I assume will probably be in the $600-$800's. Don't quote me on that, but hearing that they are ex-Sutor Mantellassi gents who started it, I would imagine that they came into the industry at a lower price (to maybe low-ball Sutor which will set you back $900+). Regardless, their look is very Italian, which on some shoes is great, but others is not. For these loafers, I quite like the 'Italianess' of them though, as I believe that Italian gentleman have mastered the art of the loafer.

Shoes Of The Week - World Premiere

 

Brought to you first by The Shoe Snob are these incredible new bespoke offerings in a collaboration between Carreducker and Gieves & Hawkes. As part of the Carreducker's move into the G&H shop on Savile Row, was a five shoe collaboration agreement between the two companies as a way to offer something that fit the feel of G&H but gave the bespoke uniqueness and creativity that the Carreducker duo display so often in the styles that they create. This is one of those 5 and so far, my favorite!

What I love about these boots (obviously besides the color) is the fact that such a simple idea, the middle seam, created something refreshingly different. Even though I love a nice, plain chelsea boot, they are hard to make different from each other. That being, a simple middle seam separates these boots from many of the others that you will find elsewhere. What else is great is the color swatch that they have available for their clients to choose from. Not only do they have a suede swatch with about 20 different colors but there is also a nubuck swatch, as well, that has another 20 different shades. So the options are endless....

P.S. While the boots look purple in some pictures, they are definitely not. They are some shade of blue that is quite unique but has purple tones to it. The second to last picture, below, gives the best example of the true color.