loafers for men – Herring Shoes Journal

The Ibiza

25 June 2024

How do you upgrade a loafer? I mean, they are pretty darn cool just as they are. They bridge all seasons care of socks or sans socks, can be dressed up or down, are easy to slip on and go, and come in plenty of stylish variants to give the wearer real choice. They can be seen on the feet of the great and good, from the teenage schoolboy and girl to the more mature, shoe-loving gent and lady about town. We love the loafer.

While we fully wallow in the joy of traditional shoes at Herring, such as the penny or horsebit loafer, not to mention the tasselled versions, we are always looking for ways to switch up old-school styles to bring them a modern twist.

Let me introduce our latest In the Spotlight turn, the Ibiza. On top, this shoe has all the makings and markings of a rather fine penny loafer sporting the traditional saddle across the vamp and the cut-out where their wearer could tuck in a coin in case they needed to make an emergency phone call.

The leather used to make this loafer upper feels so comfortable to wear and will mould to your feet the more you step out in them. Made by one of the best shoe factories in Portugal, the Ibiza has been expertly crafted and includes fine detailing to give it it’s oh-so fine finish.

Here’s the twist. Rather than the expected leather or dark rubber sole, we have gone for a sneaker white trim! This elevates the Ibiza in more ways than one. You get the benefit of the extra bounce provided by the rubber while enjoying the visual impact of that contrast between the beautiful cognac calf and the light-coloured sole.

For me, this gives them a little bit of jazz flair or even a touch of American swing, so rather than making a dress shoe look more casual, I think it gives them a bit of extra skip. They are smart enough for a garden party, casual wedding or to complement more dressed-down work attire, while they will also look epic at a sports event. And, if you happen to get invited on boat, it’s owner will thank you for having light-coloured, soft soles that will not mark the white hull and deck.

The newest addition to our Executive range, the Ibiza is a great shoe for the summer season that will take you through to autumn and beyond too.

In the spotlight

The Barcelona

7 March 2024

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 tasselled loafer was a popular choice among the preppy crowd of US Ivy League students in the post-Second World War era, with stars of the silver screen, such as Dean Martin and Fred Astaire also becoming fans.

The tassel saw a resurgence in the 1980s when, let’s face it, every trend was jumped on in glorious fashion. Businessmen started wearing them to the office while teenage girls wore them to school. Any style was fair game in the 80s!

It’s an enduring look though with the tasselled loafer never far from the catwalk, the boardroom or as a casual accompaniment to shorts, chinos or jeans for men, and the same plus skirts and dresses for women.

So, we know the Barcelona style is still very much in vogue but how has our 2024 version changed from previous iterations?

We have tweaked the last to be slightly less elongated and with more toe spring – the fit is the same though
We have added more leather options, including a polished style, which is very popular right now
The tongue has a lower profile
It’s slightly lighter overall in terms of weight

More importantly, does it match up to its iconic roots? We think so! Whether you choose the polished black or burgundy, brown calf, or brown suede style, this is a handsome shoe that you will never regret investing in.

Herring Shoes

The suit is back…so are formal shoes!

1 March 2024

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 undoubtedly be some fashionable style upgrades and adjustments, the classic look of the suit remains a tailored two or three-piece teamed with gorgeous formal shoes or boots.

While this is an ideal look for the office or an occasion, the catwalk chatter seems to suggest that elegant suits, coats and footwear will be welcomed in a more casual environment too.

Dolce & Gabanna, for instance, have designed tailored clothing for customers who have grown accustomed to wearing sportswear. The whole aim is to make the wearer feel ‘sleek’ and to embrace the romance of the suit.

While we love the clothes, Herring is all about the shoes! An article in The Times reported Jim Moore, the creative director at large for American GQ and a consultant for international fashion brands, saying: “I was doing a casting and all the young guys, the models, were wearing proper tailored overcoats and hard-soled shoes. They weren’t wearing trainers anymore. They looked smart.”

Let’s take a look at some hard-soled shoes that will complement this casual formal comeback. I noticed that Dolce & Gabanna’s collection was largely black or hues of grey. They used a lot of patent and polished black formal footwear. With black Oxfords and loafers leading the way, alongside knee-high black boots.

No need to fear, we have got all the black Oxfords you need with the leather sole that provides the satisfying clip-clop of a hard-soled shoe.

The Churchill II is a classic Northampton made toe-cap Oxford made on the beautiful 205 last shape. For an unadorned style, the Shrewsbury is a wholecut Oxford made from a flawless piece of leather. Again, if you are looking for standout style, a wholecut will set you apart from the rest.

For a bit of shine, the Newcastle is a classic Goodyear-welted Oxford toe-cap that has a black polished version while the Aston (above left) is a full-on patent shoe.

We’ve got you covered for loafers too. These have long been the go-to when trying to dress down a suit a little. Again, if you want shiny, then the Barcelona comes in a black polished style with classic tassel detail but also in brown and burgundy calf, plus brown suede. The Dillon (above right) has a snaffle trim for a Gucci feel, while the Pisa is more relaxed but no less Italian in their style.

I also feel the monk shoe will be in step with this more formal vibe. We have some beauties in this style. For example, the Salobrena has a sleek shape and is made from a stunning croc-style leather while the Dahl has three buckles and has been beautifully hand-finished.

Herring Shoes

The history of the horsebit loafer

3 August 2023

Think horsebit loafer and, if you are a shoe fan, you will think Gucci. It is an iconic shoe worn by both men and women. It is an enduring look that originated in the 1950s after Aldo Gucci noticed American men wearing slip-on shoes during a trip to New York. Gucci was not content with just re-producing another slip-on shoe, he added a bit of flair with the horsebit.

It was Aldo’s father Guccio who first used the horsebit to set his leather goods apart from the competition. He had been inspired by the racing set he encountered during his time as a bellhop at The Savoy hotel in London. The horsebit is now as synonymous with the Gucci brand as their interlocked Gs and red and green ribbon detail.

By adding this distinctive metal trim across the saddle of the loafer in place of the usual diamond-shaped cut-out on the traditional penny loafer, Gucci achieved an immediate upgrade and an iconic shoe that is still being reimagined today. They also began making loafers out of black leather to elevate their status from a casual shoe to footwear that could be worn in the office.

Famous Gucci horsebit wearers have included President George HW Bush, Francis Ford Coppola, Wiz Khalifa, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Jane Birkin, Jodie Foster, Zoe Kravitz, Gigi Hadid and so many more. They have also featured on the silver screen on the feet of Michael Sheen in Frost/Nixon, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street, Dustin Hoffman in Kramer Vs Kramer, Brad Pitt in Fight Club, and Matt Damon in The Talented Mr Ripley.

The horsebit loafer’s popularity is enduring and we have not shied away from creating our own versions. If it’s good enough for Gucci, then we would be mad to miss out!

Our Harlington style is very much reminiscent of the Gucci style with a decadent gold-coloured snaffle. The Dillon has a more modern flair with a silver-coloured horsebit that bridges the vamp, therefore doing away with the traditional saddle. While the Istria is also minimalist but has an elasticated top for a little more comfort and ease when slipping them on and off.

For a bit of suede, our new Saimaa loafers have a brass trim while the Snaffle style is a low-profile, sleek affair made from deerskin, which has a lovely grain to it.

These are all beautifully crafted shoes that are meant to shout aspiration and style. They can be worn with almost anything. They smarten up shorts, look great with chinos and jeans, and don’t look out of place with a suit either. If you are searching for an iconic look, then the horsebit loafer is a great place to start.

Herring Shoes

Get the 007 look with chukkas and Derbys

3 February 2020

With the much-anticipated new James Bond film, No Time To Die, about to reach our silver screens, sales of shoes worn by the MI6 agent are likely to soar. James Bond is an interesting character to emulate, as one minute he will be base jumping to catch a villain before heading into the office in a sharp suit and then changing into black tie to schmooze with his latest love interest. This means there are plenty of shoe changes for the wardrobe department to manage. Let’s break it down.

Action scenes:

Daniel Craig’s version of the most famous 00 agent is a fan of the chukka boot. You can spot these in the No Time To Die trailer, as he hits the accelerator to spin his long-suffering Aston Martin to shoot at the pursuers circling him. The wardrobe department opted for a brown moccasin-toe version of the chukka for No Time To Die. You can get a slightly more contemporary look with a square, chiselled toe in our Heath style. For something a little more rough and ready, we can offer you the Canterbury in three colours if brown is not your thing. This style also has a rubber sole. James Bond loves a rubber sole. The man needs the grip!

At HQ and eveningwear:

Bond favours a super-sleek Derby when his feet are more firmly on the ground. Again, he prefers a rubber sole in case he is called into action. A Derby, also known as a Blucher or Gibson, is defined by the way the lacing and eyelets close the shoe. The closing panels are sewn on top of the vamp giving the shoe a more solid appearance and more room for the higher instep than a classic Oxford.

The Derby is often confused with the Oxford, as some versions can look similar atfirst glance. However, where the Oxford is considered formal, the Derby is a more versatile choice of footwear that can be dressed up and down. Perfect for the shaken-not-stirred lifestyle of our action hero.

Herring stocks some truly rugged Derby shoes but we feel James Bond would be happier in our Carroll style – but only when running and jumping is not required as these have leather soles. The Epping has a half-leather half-rubber sole while the Franco is all rubber. Naturally, they all come in black!

For the evening, Barker has polished or high-shine Derbys – see the Newbury and the Rutherford – while Loake offer Neo. In keeping with the essential Britishness of Bond, all three are made in the UK.

While I am excited for the new film, there was some decent footwear in the films and Bonds of yesteryear. The double monk boot, for instance, featured in Skyfall. Pierce Brosnan’s Bond was a fan of the brogue while Roger Moore wore penny loafers in his three 1980s films. Ian Fleming did specify what his leading man wore in his books. In Moonraker, he described Bond’s footwear as “well-polished black moccasin shoes” AKA the loafer. They were a key look for all the early Bonds be they tasselled, horse-bit or Venetian. Timothy Dalton even treated us to slip-on dress shoes in The Living Daylights.

The first Bond, and for many the main man, Sean Connery sported many different styles from espadrilles to a two-tone dress shoe that resembled a bowling shoe in You Only Live Twice. Frankly, he could have worn a feathered mule and pulled it off!

For more recent times though, Daniel Craig’s Bond is all about the chukka boot teamed with chinos and a short-sleeved linen or cotton shirt, and the Derby worn with a well-cut suit. Compare Connery to Craig and the clothes have not changed so much – both Bonds wore their clothes with ease – but the shoes have moved on.

Herring Shoes

Kick back for summer

16 July 2019

Summer is here and the holiday season is upon us. For us at Herring Shoes, that means the Devon town where we are based will swell with tourists while the population of nearby Salcombe multiplies 10-fold.

Herring Barcelona II loafer in Navy. Shot in Thurlestone, Devon.

Wherever you spend your holiday, it is an opportunity to stow away your work shoes for a week or so and relax into a more casual style.

For those of you that like a smarter shoe, we have a decent choice available for you.

We have worked with both British and Italian craftsmen to produce a full choice of loafers. These can be worn with chinos, jeans or shorts and are made from leather or suede in several colours.

Similarly, the deck shoe can be worn with all the above too. It has long shaken off the shackles of needing an accompanying boat or even a beachside or riverside location to be relevant. Although we expect to see a fair few on feet in Devon this summer!

Herring Fowey in Tan. Photo taken at Hope Cove, Devon.

And, if you struggle to let go of your boots in the warmer months, we reckon you can get away with a light-coloured desert boot at this time of year.

Herring has upped its game further still with a collection of casual footwear, epitomised by the Strike II sneaker. This is a new range that comes in both suede and leather with a red-heel detail, retro laces and red eyelets. We are fond of the stone colour, but they also come in navy, chocolate and Cognac.

Meanwhile, the Boxer II is a baseball style shoe. This high-top, in a mix of calf and suede with blue laces, is a cool shoe in whatever colour you go for: cognac, navy or both!

To really kick back though, how can you go wrong with an espadrille?

Herring Sanremo in biscuit suede. Photo taken off a running mooring, Kingsbridge.

Originally, peasant footwear from Spain or the Occitainia region of France, they usually have a cotton or canvas upper with a flexible sole made of esparto rope. They must be the ultimate holiday shoe.

In typical Herring style, we have applied our classic know-how to produce a suede design in biscuit or navy with a flexible rubber sole and heel. Our espadrilles are more hard-wearing and will last you longer than the traditionally made shoes.

As our MD Jason says: “If a gentleman is forced to abandon his welted footwear due to the heat, then this is the shoe to wear for a stroll along the promenade!”

So, with your footwear sorted, what else can Herring help you with? Our range of Naked Clothing includes beautiful polo shirts (currently in the sale) that exude quality. If you want to travel in style, we have some stunning luggage available too, such as the Heritage Racing range. Petrol-heads will love them! Or, you could go for our new Gulliver range, which includes a backpack and a wheeled case in conker-coloured calf leather.

Whatever you chose, whatever you wear…enjoy your summer!

Browsing Tag: loafers for men

The Ibiza

The Barcelona

The suit is back…so are formal shoes!

The history of the horsebit loafer

Get the 007 look with chukkas and Derbys

Kick back for summer