Back in the day, my father had a cracking pair of golf shoes that sported a fringe across the vamp. I have recently found out that this feature is known as a kiltie tongue. Imagine my joy when Herring brought a new style with its very own kiltie?
Despite being named after a historic French city, the Montpellier has more than a touch of Scottish heritage about it. The fringe of the kilt inspired the design of the kiltie tongue, which rather helpfully has a practical purpose by keeping the upper clear of dirt. They are a common addition on golf shoes for this reason to ensure mud and debris do not get caught in the laces and work their way inside the shoe.
The kiltie though has been elevated from such mundanity to become a decorative asset as seen on the Montpellier. Designers have played with the length of the fringe and its material; we have opted for a calf version to elevate this single buckle monk shoe style. We have tweaked this design several times over the years to keep it fresh.
Constructed on the 205 last, the Montpellier provides excellent comfort and has a contemporary look, care of the chiselled toe shape. The 2025 burgundy iteration sees the kiltie complement a grain upper decorated with brogue detail, while the brown version has been teamed with cream calf. My dad would have loved them!
This is a refined handmade shoe produced by the master craftspeople at Cheaney. The Montpellier really is testament to their skill and expertise. We have indulged almost every shoe-making technique to bring this elegant style to life and to celebrate British shoe heritage in the process. How you wear them is up to you. The dashing dandies among you will love them! They are super-smart shoes with the air of a sporting occasion about them. Pop your Montpellier-clad feet on a footstool and wait for people to start asking you about them…because they will.
