Caroline Moore

The classic Chelsea boot to ease us out of winter

March 17, 2021

What makes a Chelsea boot so appealing? Is it the history that makes it a classic or does it have so much history because it is so good? Warning: If you think about it too much, your head will start to spin! It’s hardly a chicken and egg scenario, but it makes you wonder if we wear classics because they are classics or just because they continue to be awesome!

The Chelsea boot is both a classic and a really fab boot. With a fine heritage that harks back to the Victorian era when the Queen herself wanted comfortable footwear that was easy to put on and pull off but would still retain a refined shape. Queen Victoria’s own bootmaker, Joseph Sparkes-Hall, is believed to have designed the first Chelsea boot with a close-fitting design, ankle height, elastic side panels, a loop or tab of fabric, plus the vulcanised rubber soles from Charles Goodyear. They were known as J. Sparkes Hall’s Patent Elastic Ankle Boots back then though. Catchy, I know.

A keen horsewoman, other equestrian fans followed in their Queen’s boot-steps with the Chelsea boot becoming a firm favourite in the paddock as she neared the end of her reign. Fast forward 50 years, and the Chelsea boot had galloped into cities, with London’s groovy King’s Road art set quick to adopt the style and give it its name. The Beatles led the charge (could a boot get a better endorsement?) and John, Paul, George and Ringo were quickly followed by the Mods. The Chelsea boot was no longer about comfort, they were about serious fashion.

Chelsea boots are still as relevant today as they have ever been, seen on catwalks and celebrities’ feet, therefore our own, year after year. They are extremely versatile and come in so many different heel heights, materials and colours, there really is a Chelsea boot or two for everyone.

They are also ideal footwear to transition from winter into spring. Not too chunky, they are still a substantial footwear that helps to keep any nips in the air at bay.

Top of our list for spring is the Purcell II. This has a sleek shape that the Beatles would have approved of and comes in black or brown calf or tobacco suede.

For me, suede equals spring…and I am ready for it! The Coburn-R shouts spring with its tan waxy colourway, pale contrast stitching and pale rubber sole ensure puddles do not pose an issue.

Back to leather, and the Coltham II is an evolution of the classic waxy leather boot that we have sold as a bestseller for several years. The waxy upper offers water resistance while the Goodyear-welted leather sole allows your foot to breathe when the weather is warm.

Lastly for men, what about the Comfort Craftsman from RM Williams? These are made from a single piece of leather on a non-slip rubber sole and has a comfort insole making it feel as good as it looks.

But what could we offer Queen Victoria? Well. Many of our men’s styles start at size 6, but we also have our own, new Tamara Chelsea boots which have a slight heel and come in plum and navy suede, plus walnut and black calf. Finally, we can offer Red Wing’s Chelsea in pecan and black.

What we are particularly proud of is that all these boots can be repaired, so should last you for years…which is not only sustainable but very handy as Chelsea boots do not seem to be going anywhere! (They are a classic after all…or are they just awesome?)

Herring Shoes

The art of a wholecut

February 26, 2021

In the footwear industry, the wholecut shoe is regarded as a work of art. They are made from a one piece of leather. Not just any piece of leather, a perfect piece of leather.

As the title suggests, these shoes are not constructed from multiple pieces cut out of a single piece of leather; rather, the whole, single piece is skilfully moulded onto a last to the create the shape. Think of icing on a cake and how flawless this needs be and you will understand why these are the apex of shoe making!

The beauty is in their simplicity. There are no decoration or perforations. The decoration is the shoe! This simple class makes them a super-smart dress shoe.

Herring’s latest iteration of the wholecut is the Christie II. It has evolved from our original wholecut, with a sleeker, more modern shape, but it has still maintained its namesake moniker.

The Christie II is named after the author Agatha Christie, whose former Greenway home is not too far away from our Devon headquarters. Her crime novels were full of characters who would have relished the thought of wearing a wholecut at a cocktail party or maybe a weekend away at the country seat!

Part of our Classic Elite collection, the Christie II also benefits from another highly skilled feature in its closed-channel sole stitch. This gives a more refined appearance to the leather sole and makes it almost indistinguishable from a far more expensive shoe.

The Christie II comes in three colours: black, dark brown and burgundy. It is an understated shoe yet, being a work of art, they are certainly eye-catching.

Herring Shoes

Finally…the ladies get a look in!

January 8, 2021

I have been working for Herring Shoes for two years now and I have written numerous blogs about shoes; let us be more specific…men’s shoes! I am happy that the chaps get the quality footwear they no doubt deserve, but hey, I feel my fellow sisterhood and I deserve a look in too.

Rant over and breathe! Well, I reckon they have been listening as Herring are now stocking their own line of women’s shoes and have also recently take on Red Wing too. From nothing to choice – what is going on?

So, I thought I would have a peek at some of the styles that are on offer.

I am going to start with my Herring faves: the Monica Derby shoes. The thick sole reminds me of the black Doc Marten’s shoes I wore in sixth form, but with sixth form a distant memory, I am finding I prefer the brown. I can see these working with some thick socks and a long skirt or chinos. They are proper preppy and are comfortable to boot. Winning!

Still a little bit sixth form but totally rocking are Red Wing’s classic moc rubber-soled boots to give me height, comfort and a little bit of edginess that I still crave. I would go black with skinny jeans to max out my punk potential while the tan oro colour is equally jean appropriate with a checked shirt methinks. I really like these!

I do appreciate that not everyone is hankering for their youth and is willing to accept their classy is sometime best. Herring has always had this nailed with super smart styles that are also good for your feet.

Having looked longing at the men’s Thatcher brogue Chelsea boots for the past two years, Herring has produced the Giovanna style. Made on an elegant last shape, it also has a sleek silhouette and a slight heel to give you a 20mm lift. The Giovanna comes in navy or burgundy leather or a black suede. I love navy and wish there were more navy boots and shoes around, so hurrah to Herring for this beauty.

The Miranda loafer offers a blue/black colour option. Like the Monica, it has a contemporary chunky rubber sole teamed with a debonair tassel and fringe. The round toe just adds to the comfort factor. Herring has also produced the Giulietta, which has a brogue detailing for a more country-set look and feel.

For a more classic look, try the Sophia loafers. Our model Lily has teamed them with leather trousers and a black polo-neck…and she looks gorgeous! What is almost as gorgeous is the leather these shoes are made from. It is so supple it feels more like glove leather. The sacchetto construction also allows the shoe to flex more than you would expect. This is a very complex process – it is like creating a bag inside the shoe – that only the best footwear makers can achieve. The sole is half-leather and half-rubber to give breathability and lightness, combined with the durability and water resistance of rubber and is blake-stitched to the upper. A true classic staple for any woman’s wardrobe.

Lastly, I am heading back to the Red Wing range for their no-nonsense Chelsea boot. Available in black and pecan leather, they both feature the tan welt layer where the stitching is displayed. In my mind, it’s a nice feature and being welted, these shoes can be repaired too to extend their lifetime.

This was a whistle-stop tour of our latest women’s style. No doubt there will be more to come, and I will be the first to tell you about them! 😊.

Herring Shoes

Fur-lined boots for non-frosty feet

January 7, 2021

Jack Frost has been out and about this week with some parts of the country also seeing snow of late. But does that mean you have to throw your sense of style to the icy wind and dig out your moon boots à la the 1980s?

As ever, we never disrespect anyone’s fashion choice, but as one outing a day for physical exercise has again become a reality in the UK, it would be cheering to be able to step out in style without the discomfort of cold or painful toes. I am talking about fur-lined boots. Yes, you heard me right and don’t disregard them until you have tried them! You know the satisfaction of putting your feet into a pair of slippers and just going: “Ahhhhhhh”? Well, you can get them same feels from a pair of stylish boots.

If I am honest, fur-lined boots have always conjured up images of pensioners going to the shops with tartan trollies. Old folk are no fools (as we all know). They have been gadding about in cosy fur while we have been suffering for the sake of fashion.

Until now.

Herring has blended superior senior citizen nous with style to create a range of fur-lined boots and slippers (of course).

The very latest model is the Peebles two-tone rubber soled boot. I mean, just look at these bad boys. They are lush with a capital L! As the product description states, they are utilitarian yet luxurious with a blend of suede and leather, eyelets and lace hooks, and a Goodyear welted Vibram sole to boot.

I’d love these myself but my diminutive size four feet would not. But if you are a woman who wears size 6 or above, smaller sizes are on their way. I admit to being a tad jealous, as the Peebles comes in three great colours: khaki, burgundy and fox. They carry a price-tag of £450 but these boots are also welted so they can be repaired again and again to protect your worthwhile investment.

For a smarter look and a hark back to the days of Peaky Blinders, try the Tregony with its sheepskin lining. This means they are basically slippers that you can wear outside! They have a lightweight Dainite sole and a capped toe to complete their winter attributes. Again, these start at size six and come in black calf and brown grain.

My last choice is Loake’s Wolf rubber soled brogue boots. This style comes in black and tan…they are classic yet edgy. They ooze Britishness, are robust enough for a crisp morning walk, smart enough to be worn as work footwear and cool enough for the Zoom quiz on Saturday night.

Don’t let your feet get cold this winter. Embrace the fur-lined boot to feel more than just a tad snug and smug. #winning

Herring Shoes

Meet the team: Chris Clark

November 24, 2020

In the first of our Meet the Team series, we will check in with our customer service and social media manager. As people who work with shoes and our products on a daily basis, they have excellent knowledge of the industry and the latest trends.

Name: Chris Clark

Job title: Customer service/social media leader

How long have you worked at Herring Shoes? 10 years

Favourite style of shoe and why? Brogue… ideally in boot form. They go with anything and are generally appreciated by everyone even if they have little shoe knowledge. Everyone knows what a brogue is and that it stands for quality and style.

What is your shoe philosophy? You can turn a simple outfit consisting of a pair of jeans and t-shirt into something that looks thoughtfully put together if you add a decent pair of shoes. It’s a good way to express yourself.

What has been the biggest change in the shoe industry that you have seen since you have worked for Herring Shoes? More experimental styles are being made and, more importantly, they are being brought by customers. I would also say the demand for higher quality is at its peak, customers are happy to pay a premium if the quality is there.

Who would you like to see wearing Herring Shoes and why? Prince Harry. Likeable guy and a bit edgy too. Who doesn’t like him?

Top shoe care tip: Don’t put your shoes away dirty, especially if you are not planning to wear them again for a while. It will be a nightmare trying to clean them if the dirt impregnates the leather. If they get wet, ensure shoe trees are inserted and they have at least one day’s rest.

If you had to choose one pair of Herring Shoes to wear for the rest of your life, what would they be? My Coniston boots. Thick leather, thick Dainite soles and they feel sturdy, not to mention they look great with anything. The dark burgundy is very versatile. If the zombie apocalypse broke out, they would be the boots to see me through it!

Herring Shoes

Autumn means accessories

October 12, 2020

I dread the end of summer, but the foreboding is tempered by my love of autumn. The smell of the air, the turning colours of the trees, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, the cold sunny mornings (when it’s not raining) and digging out beanies to keep my ears warm. It’s definitely the season for accessories to keep the chill and the wet weather out…and to lift your spirits if you shudder at the thought of the clocks being turned back.

As you would expect, Herring has some rather splendid accessories on offer. There is something in there for the ladies too. Consider these to help you face the colder weather with a smile.

Malin Seaweed beanie and Herringbone graduation scarf

Beanies
My family has a whole host of these in our hat box! We switch and swap them depending on our outfit choice. They are critical for a blustery walk, watching a rugby training session, a bike ride…or just a bad hair day. The Herring Malin beanies are handmade from genuine Donegal yarn. They are super-warm and Herring has them in seven colours, but all have flecks of other colours in them too. Personally, I love the teal.

Caps
As you would expect, Herring only do these in tweed! We have both baseball cap style and English flat caps. You can turn these around if you want to and wear them backwards if think you are hip enough…or just use them to keep the sun out of your eyes and to keep your head warm! Crazy notion, I know!

Scarves
Scarves are unisex, so you really can buy a scarf for your other half here as proven by lovely Angel in the photo below. She looks gorgeous in our dark camel cashmere scarf. This style comes in red and black as well and is as soft and lightweight as you would expect from cashmere.

Angel sporting the stunning Cashmere scarf

In addition, we have a whole host of wool scarves with our best-selling Rupert scarves leading the way. These are double-sided with tweed on one side and lambswool on the other in complementary colours. The charcoal grey and navy version gets my vote.

Tartan and check scarves can satisfyingly lift an outfit. I love the pink and purple detail in the Prince of Wales check scarf. Again, it is lovely, soft touch fabric that is lightweight and warm. Meanwhile, the herringbone graduation scarf is also double-sided and has a debonair feel to it – college-y (made up word) yet edgy.

Umbrellas
Darn it, but it does rain in autumn turning all that lovely autumn crunchiness into slimy slop! Herring has two classic black brollies to offer you to get you singing in the rain. The Seathwaite has a leather handle and closes down to just 35cm to fit into a bag or briefcase. The Thirlmere has a solid wood handle to mark it out as a quality item. Both canopies are purposely unbranded with just the Herring moniker on the retaining tie.

You see, with all these accessories, autumn does not feel so bad after all. Embrace the season with the practicalities of a warm and dry head and neck all sorted while displaying a serious sense of style.

Herring Shoes

Weighing up comfort

September 30, 2020

We like to keep our staff busy and in recent weeks our warehouse legends have been weighing every size 8 shoe we sell.

We’ve not lost the plot…there is a reason behind our madness! Many people prefer a lighter shoe. For them, lighter equates to extra comfort, so we have been adding the weight of our shoes to our product descriptions. For your information, our lightest shoe is our Grecia slipper at 223g.

But is a lighter shoe more comfortable? In our opinion, it is a personal choice and depends on what occasion the shoe is required for.

Manufacturers of lighter shoes claim the lack of weight on your feet will be soothing to the sole and less arduous when walking or standing. Orthopaedic shoes are often billed as lightweight. Running shoes are also sold on their lightweight make-up with the aim of making their wearer more fleet of foot. Many of these shoes though will be made from breathable fabrics with synthetic soles.

Lighter footwear is also available in leather but what kind of weights are we looking at? Let’s start with the heavyweights.

A combat boot with a Commando sole, for instance, such as the Churchstow, weighs 1.24kg for the pair. That is roughly 2lbs 8ozs in old money. This may seem weighty, but I would suggest people who choose combat boots are looking for some old-school durability, bulk and grunt.

The amount of leather that goes into an upper will make a difference too. Sleek, more minimalist styles will weigh less than a brogue boot where there are several layers of leather and/or fabric. See the Coniston two-tone rubber-soled brogue boots. These are 1.46kg, but again, these are designed to be rugged! Our Burntwood monk boots have a tough biker feel to them and weigh 1.56kg.

One way to reduce the feel of weight in a boot is to opt for a slimmer Dainite rubber sole. However, these soles don’t actually weigh less but they do feel springier…and bring in less mud! Our Langdale II rubber-soled boots look less cumbersome, but they are actually heavier – at 1.44kg – than the Churchstow while our Kirkdale Chelsea boots weigh in at 1.37kg.

Leather soled boots will be lighter but only by a fraction in most cases. We have five Chelsea boot styles within a range of 1kg and 1.10kg, including two leather soled styles and three rubber. Our Ipswich style drops down to 821g.

Unsurprisingly, shoes weigh less than boots and the same factors apply. Bigger soles equal more weight. Brogues and no-nonsense Derbys and Gibsons often look like they should tip the scales due to the extra layers of leather they can incorporate, but again, the difference in weight is usually minimal and sleeker varieties of these styles do exist!

For instance, if we take two of our leather-soled bestsellers: the Mayfair Oxfords and the Carnaby brogues. The Mayfairs weigh 997g and the Carnabys are 1.04kg– just seven grammes in it – 3.5g per foot! Their rubber-soled alternatives are both 1.09kg. However, if it is dancing shoes you are after, our Aston patent Oxfords are our lightest dress shoes at 770g.

It seems the weight difference in shoes is often very minimal, but you may want heavier shoes for more rugged terrain at the weekend and lighter ones for the office. Horses for courses or soles for the soul if you prefer. How a shoe feels also may not correspond with its weight. As mentioned before, the rubber Dainite soles may weigh more than leather soles, but their springiness and flexibility will still give you a feeling of lightness.

In any case, we hope you find the new weight details on our product descriptions helpful but if you want guidance from our footwear experts as to how the different soles feel, then do not hesitate to contact them.

Herring Shoes

Why the brogue deserves attention

September 10, 2020

The handmade brogue deserves attention. In the BBC’s recent adaption of Vikram Seth’s ‘A Suitable Boy’ (catch it on BBC iPlayer if you have not already), there are scenes that get the shoe nerd all excited. Yes, really!

Starting with the fact that Seth’s father was an executive at Bata Shoes and was known as Mr Shoe in Delhi, it is a handmade brogue that really does it for me. It is not the main thrust of the plot, but this shoe is key in determining the future of one of the lead characters.

Here is a brief synopsis that does not spoil the ending. In 1951, a young Hindu woman called Lata chooses between three men to be her husband.

One of these is Haresh Khanna, a spectator-wearing manager of a shoe factory. When he leaves his position on a matter of principle, Haresh approaches a European shoe factory and the owners set him a manual task after initially dismissing him for having soft thumbs. He is asked to “make a first-class pair of shoes” from the design pattern to the finished product. The shoes they choose are Blake-stitched brogues. The factory owners chose the most difficult design in their production line expecting Haresh to fail. He uses his so-called soft thumbs to produce a stunning pair of shoes that convinces the owners to take him on as foreman, while winning the respect of the shoemakers on the factory floor.

I appreciate you may not be as excited as me by these snippets from this six-part programme, but it does give a brief insight into the care and attention that is put into handmade shoes and why they are worth their higher price tag.

This highly-skilled process involves following a pattern to cut out the leather required, punching the brogue design, assembling and sewing the pieces together on the last, making leather stiffeners, heel building, and finishing, including waxing and polishing, before using the Blake stitching method to sew the sole onto the upper.

Invented in 1856 by Lyman Reed Blake, the Blake method now uses sewing machines to sew together all the layers. You would need tough thumbs indeed to achieve this by hand as seen in Herring’s range of Blake-stitched shoes and boots, including the Ilfracombe brogues, the Coleford rubber-soled boots and Barker’s Rugby two-tone rubber-soled Oxfords.

Haresh, though, went on to find success for his new employers by pushing a Goodyear welted line. Invented by Charles Goodyear Jr, a welted shoe sees a narrow strip of leather – the welt – sewn separately to the upper and the sole. This means that by simply slicing through the welt with a sharp knife, the sole can be cleanly detached from the upper, making repairs much easier.

Our Goodyear-welted brogues include the Henry II, the Burford rubber-soled style, the Chamberlain semi-brogues, the Thatcher brogue boots and the Henley two-tone, which Haresh would have been proud to be seen in!

A welt makes shoes infinitely more repairable, as worn soles can be removed and new ones sewn back onto the welt. You can repair a Blake shoe but not as often, as the upper is more likely to be damaged when the sole is removed.

Unsurprisingly, the repairability of these shoes is reflected in the price difference. A cemented shoe, where the sole is glued on, is cheaper than a Blake-stitched shoe and a Goodyear-welted shoe is more expensive again. The price of a shoe is determined by the material used, the craftmanship involved and the durability. Repairs were key in the post-war era as most people were still feeling the pinch of rationing and austerity.

At the end of the 20th century and the start of this one, consumers began to lean towards buying cheap for short-term gain. We are seeing that trend reverse now, as people have begun to recognise the negative effect it’s having on the environment with landfill sites overflowing with clothing and footwear that have only been worn a handful of times.

Classic Goodyear welted brogue, the Herring Canning II

For shoe nerds like me, this BBC series very briefly shone the spotlight on the precious skill and workmanship that goes into handmade shoes, especially a brogue, and the different construction methods that are used…and why they are still relevant to the quality of shoes today.

Herring Shoes

Classic shoes at a more attainable price

August 26, 2020

In the last few months, we have been introducing our newsletter subscribers to our new Classic Elite range. (If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up at the bottom of our home page.)

This range is a new sub-section of our Classic range. They feature Goodyear-welted soles and fine European leathers, but they offer something new.

By working our magic in design and specification, we have created shoes that have many of the features of our highest quality Premier shoes but at the more attainable pricing of our Classic shoes.

We have managed this by talking direct to the factories and choosing the best lasts, leather and combination of features to create something wonderful. The Haig double monk, for instance, features Goodyear-welted soles that are closed-channel stitched and hand-painted. We have also used a bespoke looking last that is slightly more generous than you usually find on a high-end shoe, so that it is comfortable from the first wear. We have a single monk version too in the Holmes.

Meanwhile, the Christie is a wholecut Oxford which means that the entire upper has to be made faultlessly from one piece of leather. Think of icing a cake perfectly with an expensive icing sheet and you will understand why these are the apex of shoe making! This model benefits from another highly skilled feature…the closed-channel sole stitch. This gives a more refined appearance to the sole and makes it almost indistinguishable from a far more expensive shoe.

The Montgomery is an austerity brogue style. The name is thought to originate in the 1940s when leather supply was restricted so the wingtip patterns were simplified to allow less leather to be used by omitting the brogue detail altogether.

Boots have not been left out of our Classic Elite collection. The Purcell Chelsea boot comes in both leather and suede, and is made on a classic last shape that will never be out of fashion.

Meanwhile, for more relaxed days, we have the Alanbrooke and Allenby loafers, with the latter featuring delicate stitching on the vamp.

Aside from the attention to detail and style, all these shoes share another important element in common…they can be repaired. In line with our commitment to supporting slow fashion, these shoes are all Goodyear welted, so they can be repaired over and over again.

So, while you a benefiting from more classic shoes with attainable prices, you are also investing in footwear that will last.

View the entire Herring Classic Elite range here.

Herring Shoes

Step out to eat out to help out!

July 23, 2020

Gosh there are a lot of ‘outs’ in this blog title but let me explain! With the Government offering 50% discounts on meals out on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August, a few of us may be heading to our local restaurants with more frequency or even for the first time since lockdown began.

Couple this with PM Boris Johnson leaving it to employers’ discretion as to whether staff should return to the office and it feels like the brakes are coming off ever so slightly if we are sensible.

This is not a COVID-19 advisory blog, however. We are still all about the shoes and wonder whether dining out and possible office days is a good excuse to dust off the formal shoes?

You may be finding shoes an alien concept right now! There will plenty of us who have donned office attire for our video meetings with bare feet enjoying the fresh air under our home desks. Or we may have worn more relaxed footwear that suits dress-down work wear.

Now though, there is a chance to dress up again…and I think that will feel good. It will feel like a little bit of normal. If you are usually a relaxed-dress diner, now is your chance to push the boat out and really, and literally, go to town.

Some of my fellow Herring’s bloggers crave sartorial elegance and they do look good for it. Style really does start from the bottom up and as we embrace our brave new world, why not throw your shoulders back and slide in with some super smart shoes on your feet?

If I had to choose a top five for these socially distanced times, I would choose some real eye-catchers for fellow diners or colleagues to admire from afar – two metres where possible.

Holmes monk shoe – I have chosen this as it is brown and can be worn with chinos or a navy suit. This is a new shoe for Herring and is part of our Elite range of classic shoes where we have used our knowledge of European factories to find a way to include very high-end features into a shoe at a decent price. The Holmes has a highly bespoke look with its hand-painted sole and we have used a sleek looking last that is slightly more generous than you usually find on a high-end shoe so that it is comfortable from the first wear. To be fair, any monk shoe will serve you well as an eye-catcher.
Henley two-tone brogues – This is our newest version of this classic two-tone spectator shoe with long swooping areas of canvas that makes it very flexible and breathable although it is still leather lined throughout. The 205 last shape is very popular, giving excellent fitting qualities and comfort with a slightly contemporary look care of the squarer, chiselled toe.
Golding derby shoes – The colour of this shoe is simply gorgeous and although they are Derby shoes, they are not chunky and rugged. This Goodyear welted leather sole (1/4 rubber heel) is hand-finished to give a lustrous deep colour.
Laverton II two-tone boots – I love these boots and think there are light enough to be worn in the summer, especially if you choose the tan calf and ginger suede option. The Laverton II simply oozes sophistication and stands out from the crowd with hand-patinated colouring complementing the super-soft suedes.
Montgomery brogues – Another new one and I have chosen this shoe for its colour. While this shoes also comes in tan, I am giving burgundy an outing for this top five. The simplicity of the design, without the usual brogue detail, makes this a very elegant shoe.

If you are being asked to return to the office, we have plenty of formal shoes in our sale right now so have a look. A new pair of Oxfords may just give you the spring in the step you need!