Autumn – Herring Shoes Journal

The Corsham

16 September 2023

With autumn on its way, we thought it was about time we took a look at one of our most beautiful boots, the Corsham.

This is a perfect country gent’s boot with a strong, but light-weight cleated sole, with a wonderful cedar grain calf upper with brogue detailing.

Due to feature in our Autumn Weekend edit, we think the Corsham is the perfect laced boot that is equally comfortable on a crunchy leafy walk through the woods as well as it is lounging by a log fire in a country pub or hotel.

The Corsham is a homage to the great British manufacturing heritage of the Northamptonshire area of England. This brogue boot epitomises the great handiwork of Goodyear-welting factories that goes back over two hundred years.

This version has been made by the experts at Barker. They do not make this style for anyone else, just Herring.

Barker England was founded in 1880 by Arthur Barker, who had the vision to create some of the finest shoes in the British footwear heartland of Northamptonshire. Every pair of shoes or boots Barker makes goes through 165 production stages and takes six to eight weeks to make.

In short, Barker-manufactured shoes are made by the finest craftsmen. Barker’s shoe skills have been developed for more than 140 years to provide exceptional quality, fit and comfort.

And, as these oh-so fine boots are Goodyear-welted, so you can wear them in so the upper feels like your favourite slippers and you can get them re-soled when you need to. With the Corsham, you get great comfort, durability and style in a timeless boot.

Herring Shoes

New autumn styling for 2023

14 September 2023

Corsham boots, Wallace jacket and cashmere scarf

It’s time to admit that summer is over in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn is well and truly here. Despite soaring temperatures at the start of the month, there is definitely a nip in the air in the mornings and evenings, and the days are getting shorter. Fear not though, autumn is a great time to switch up your style without having to wrap up too much against the cold. We have put together our first autumn/winter edit to give you a little guidance.

Picture the scene…. The weekends are still sunny, but the air is crisp and cold. The leaves are crunchy underfoot and are begging to be scuffed and kicked. You have decided to grab a quick break away to log cabin, B&B or small hotel in the countryside…or have just sneaked out for a quick walk and a pint or roast dinner at your local pub.

We have teamed sturdy but stylish boots with comfy knits and jeans to embrace the new season. For boots, we have chosen our classic Corsham in all its brogue glory and the Cambridge for its rugged yet refined classic qualities. We have also thrown in the Castlewood. This is a bold Chelsea boot style that uses a sturdy Commando sole. It’s a bit biker but without the buckles. We have it in brown calf too. All three can switch from countryside trail to a log fire in the pub in a flash!

We have chosen our lovely Harry ribbed sweater in olive. Made from premium Elton vale cotton, this will give you some extra warmth without cocooning you too much!

If a jumper is too much just yet how about complementing your favourite tee or shirt with our stylish all-rounder, the Wallace waxed jacket from Peregrine? This isn’t your classic Young Farmers’ jacket; this is much more contemporary. You could throw this on for rural rambles but also chuck it over a suit in the city. This is a smart investment.

Cambridge boots, Harry knit and Bovey holdall

Equally, a scarf can also add a little warmth where a jumper would be too much. If you have never had a cashmere scarf, can I recommend one? Just a little bit of luxury around your neck is a touch of class and comfort. We used our black plain cashmere scarf for this shoot but I am partial to a classic camel.

For luggage, we have suggested the Bovey holdall for a weekend away or the Grantley backpack for those who can pack a little lighter or are looking for a bag for work.

Equally useful for office life and weekends, is a decent umbrella. Our Thirlemere umbrella was designed in Italy using the finest Malacca wood handles and a sturdy frame. There is nothing quite like the feel of a solid wood handle and it marks this out as a quality item. We have intentionally left the canopy free of branding for the classic look.

So that’s the chaps sorted but what about the women? Our latest edit features the edgy but elegant Garda. This has a bold cleated rubber sole, and its patent leather upper lends this style to a city location as well as country getaway.

While the Paula is a Chelsea boot made exclusively for us in the Tricker’s factory using super-soft Muflone leather. It feels so supple it could be used for gloves, but in this boot it gives amazing softness but the appearance of a strong and durable boot. The lightweight rubber sole gives you height as well as weatherproofing and grip so you can wear them whatever the weather. The best part? No-one else will be wearing them as they are exclusive to us!

And here ends our first autumn/winter edit. We hope you enjoyed it and have been inspired for the new season. Do not lament the end of summer, embrace the new season with style!

Shoe style guide

Six autumnal styles for the change in season

26 September 2022

We hung onto summer for a long time this year, but leaves are falling and grey clouds are forming, with September 23 being the official start of autumn. For people who do not like the sun, autumn is very welcome. For people who love summer, it’s not so bad…especially on bright, cold days.

To mark the change in season, we are celebrating with a quick scuff through the leaves wearing footwear that leans towards the warm hues of autumn. It’s time for those brown and purple shades that remind us of fallen leaves, pumpkins, roaring fires and maybe a glass of red with a Sunday roast.

Ladies first…and let’s start with a boot or two. The Tamara Chelsea boot comes in a lovely shade of plum to remind us of the trees and bushes that are laden with fruit at this time of year. Do not be put off by the suede upper. As long as you take care of it, suede is more resilient than you think. The rubber soles make it a perfect boot for a wet day and the heel gives you a little more height. These boots are also welted so you can repair them too.

A bit more outdoorsy is the Jodie jodhpur style Chelsea boot in cedar calf. Again, a repairable boot, these should last you for years if you take care of them properly. Team them with jeans ready for a walk in the woods or a stroll to the pub.

Autumn is also a time for retreating indoors and escaping the inclement weather. A suede loafer can be worn with almost anything! Our aubergine Charlie loafer features a comfortable cushioned Solovair sole, tassel and fringe. It is chunky but delicate at the same time and is a gorgeous colour.

For the chaps, we had to pick boots in a conker colour! The Petworth is a French-toe style derby boot with a Danite rubber sole for dry and comfortable feet. It has a nice modern, pointed toe too and could be worn with a suit or jeans. Super versatile; very autumnal.

We have a suede option for the men too! The tobacco Purcell II Chelsea boot is also sleek and great weekend footwear. With a leather sole, this is a good looking boot that is the perfect accompaniment with jeans and a relaxed shirt or a chunky jumper.

Lastly, let’s try a bit of tweed. Our Exmoor rubber-soled brogue boot is very popular with our staff at Herring as manly, rebellious footwear that more than nods at tradition. Sure, you could team them with a wax jacket to capture the country-set vibe, but skinny jeans will give your look a bit of an edge. Don’t hide these boots under your trouser legs; leave them scrunched up at the top of the boot so everyone can appreciate this great example of British craftsmanship.

We hope these ideas have whetted your appetite for autumn style and given you reasons to be cheerful if you are missing the sun.

Already bought these shoes or boots? Share your style on our social media channels. The more scuffed leaves the better!

Herring Shoes

Brogued boots by Jared Acquaro

2 June 2020

Now that we have gone over the construction and care basics. we can move onto the footwear.

Currently, in Melbourne, Australia, it is autumn/fall, so we are getting into “boot” weather. Boots have a few more details than shoe styles, so I thought I’d go over the Herring offering, showcasing the features and benefits. Thus, helping you buy better. In saying this, I will note not all the styles I own may be available to purchase, but below I will offer alternatives.

The first boot that I bought from Herring was the Burgh (sadly now out of stock). This is a very classic British style brogue boot, some may say this is an essential item for the colder months. The brogue boot can be traced back to Ireland and Scotland in the early 19th century. Unlike the modern-day brogue, instead of perforated holes and decorative patterns, the story was told that farmers drilled holes into their boots and shoes to drain water out during the wet season. The word “brogue” is Scottish for a tool that bores holes. This country-style boot became a staple across the British and European countryside, being made to handle the harshest cold and wet conditions.

Like most country-style boots, these run a little bigger than a shoe. This is to leave room for thicker socks, as a posse to thin dress style socks. Size-wise, I went for more fitted and dropped half a size from my regular, something I would advise for most boot styles if you wish to wear them more fitted.

I love wearing these boots in a more utilitarian style: jeans, fatigue pants, moleskin or a heavy cotton chino. The storm welting gives width to the boots, so sticking to a slightly tapered or regular/straight cut pant/trousers works best visually. If you go too skinny, then your foot proportion will be exaggerated. In other words, you’ll have “clown” shoes.

These are definitely capable of being matched in a suit, due to the soft chisel style toe, they are more elegant than bulky. I would suggest wearing brogue boots with winter fabrics such as flannel, tweed and corduroy. Blues, greys and earthy tones will give you the most versatility, as brown is a warm colour.

Boots are like a fine wine and only get better with age. They will soften and gain lots of character, so don’t be too precious with them. Quality boots will last and take a beating.

My top replacement for the Burgh would be the Langdale II and here is a list of other offerings from Herring that will also fit the bill perfectly well.

The Herring Langdale II are the perfect alternative to the Herring Burgh, which is currently out of stock.

Until then, buy smart, buy well.

Regards, Jared Acquaro

Herring Shoes, Publicity

Herring Shoes on MSN him

17 September 2011

Simon Brooke (an award-winning journalist who writes about men’s fashion and style as well as travel, food, business and the luxury sector) has just written his ultimate guide to mens fresh autumn style on the MSN him website.Â Unsurprisingly Herring Shoes featured with ourÂ Buckingham brogue taking center stage.

Simon wrote ‘This Buckingham brogue is a sophisticated full brogue shoe subtly combining chestnut calf and grain leathers to create an elegant and individual shoe’.

You can read the full article here.

Browsing Tag: Autumn

The Corsham

New autumn styling for 2023

Six autumnal styles for the change in season

Brogued boots by Jared Acquaro

Herring Shoes on MSN him