The start of a new year is a time to reflect on what happened the year before. For us, at Herring, that means looking back at what was popular with our customers. There are always perennial popular choices that tend to be classic styles, but let’s run our rule over the out top 10 of customer favourites to see where the trends lay last year as we step into 2025.
- The Newcastle
The black polished Oxford style was our most popular by far in 2024. A polished leather is easier to keep looking smart with enhanced water and stain resistance care of its protective coating. However, the black calf versions – both leather and rubber soles – were also best sellers. From our executive range, the Newcastle is a great office shoe staple that won’t break the bank. - The Aston
It’s great to see a classic party shoe near the top of this list. While many of you are styling it out at work in your Newcastles (or other styles below), you are also tripping the light fantastic in these oh-so classic black tie-ready Oxfords. The Aston is the perfect black patent dress shoe made on a lightweight leather sole. Elegance personified! - The Dillon
This snaffle trim loafer would be equally happy in the office as it would on the dancefloor. It’s sleek style in black calf elongates a dark trouser leg to give a neat nod to European flair. Also available in navy and burgundy, we love them, and our customers clearly do too. - The Rock
Happy to see our customers are taking their leisure time seriously with this rugged deck shoe. A traditional moccasin construction, with a padded collar and commando tread rubber sole, the Rock is a deck shoe that can see you from the summer months through to autumn and winter. A great choice to throw on with a pair of jeans or chinos. - The Chaucer
We feel a wholecut should be spoken about in hushed tones such is the craftsmanship that goes into making a shoe that is made from one flawless piece of leather. Having meticulously shaped the leather over the last, the upper needs to be stitched to the sole and then lovingly finished…without making single mistake. Great to see the Chaucer in the top five as an appreciation of the effort that goes into producing this repairable and rather wonderful wholecut. - The Knightsbridge
Never far away from our top 10 of bestsellers is this original, British-made black Oxford. The Knightsbridge is the classic of the classics! Incorporating the finest calf leathers for the upper, a full leather lining, leather insoles and a Goodyear-welted sole, it has everything you expect from a classic English shoe that’s a staple for businessmen and professionals. - The Shrewsbury
Another wholecut to prove the style’s popularity and fan the hype as the ‘ultimate shoe’ for reasons already discussed. Amazing value for money, the Shrewsbury has been Blake stitched for more lightweight flexibility in the sole. It’s still flawless and has been cared for by a superb hand-finisher to give it the colour and shine it deserves. - The Carlisle
Now it’s the turn of the monk shoe. In this example, the Carlisle is a double monk shoe. Formal-yet-fun, this shoe has a Goodyear-welted sole – as is the case with so many of our styles – to ensure you can take them to a cobbler to replace the sole when it wears out but retain the comfort from the contours of your upper that have moulded to your feet. This is a sustainable approach to buying footwear. - The Cardiff II
Our first suede shoe of the list! A single monk shoe this time, the Cardiff II (below) is great smart-casual shoe to team with jeans or chinos. Blue jeans and brown suede are a go-to wardrobe relationship! - The St David’s
Another brown suede shoe, but this time, a classic tasselled loafer. Great for nights out and spring-to-summer days, loafers are easy to slip on and off and can be worn with chinos or shorts. The tassel is affixed via the classic 360° lacing for a bit of continental flair. This is the second loafer in our top 10 but is very different from the more formal black calf Dillon.
I have no doubt that many of these styles will be in our top 10 next year. A classic shoe is a classic shoe, and therefore, never goes out of fashion. Black calf still leads the way as our customers look for footwear for work and formal occasions, but it’s good to see some more casual brown styles in there too for days when you have a little more downtime.
We will keep pushing the envelope to create styles that may pique your interest but never fear, we will remain loyal to our roots and will continue to provide a choice of classic styles too. Thank you for your custom in 2024. May we wish you a very happy New Year for 2025 too.