Of course not! There are very few occasions where you would wear navy shoes instead of black shoes. Where navy often comes into its own is when you may have reached for your tan pair or brown old faithfuls.

Navy as a shoe colour is seemingly gathering popularity because they are the perfect accompaniment to a range of trouser or suit colours. Let’s walk you through them.

Blue
No surprise there! But make sure there is a distinct difference between the blue of your trousers and the navy of your shoes. We are looking for a complementary colour here not a matching one. This means jeans can also work well with navy. For a casual look, we recommend our Boxer II baseball boots, Strike II sneakers or the Targa trainers.

White
We are heading out of summer up here in the northern hemisphere but for our southern hemisphere customers, you are just getting warmed up. Give yourself a Continental style with white chinos or jeans teamed with some loafers to achieve an instant Riveria or Amalfi coast vibe. Our Prost and Leece loafers come with mandatory tassels too! For a more casual outing, we have navy suede espadrilles too.

Grey
Navy shoes with charcoal grey give you a decent alternative to black. You may need a few touches of blue elsewhere in your outfit to bring it all together. The Herring crew is fond of the Lewis, which is a contemporary interpretation of the brogue. Its square toed and sharp lines give it a very distinctive shape while the blue laces and blue midsole add drama to any grey day.

Brown, tan and beige
Navy and any shade of brown are a perfect combination. They are both neutral, so they can be worn in easy harmony. Just as brown shoes work with a navy suit or a pair of trousers, it works just as well the other way around.  Herring has combined blue and brown in several of our smarter shoes and boots. May I draw your attention to the two-tone Faversham double monks, Farnham brogues, Farnborough shoes and the Farringdon boots.

Olive
Olive can be a little drab, so give it a makeover with a splash of navy. Team chinos with some chukka boots for a casual look.

Red
Embrace the new England style and wear red and navy side by side!

Still not sold on navy? It’s not for everyone, so I have an alternative for you…burgundy. It works in much the same way but is a lot closer to the safety of brown. Many of the shoes mentioned above come in burgundy too and what they do look good with…is navy! Burgundy shoes paired with a navy suit, trousers or darker jeans are a decent nod to the autumn/winter season.  

If you want to compare the two, simply apply the ‘Blue’ and ‘Burgundy’ colour filters in the left-hand colour of our website and browse both colours at your leisure.

You have made the decision to buy a pair of Herring Shoes. Now you need to care for them. 

An investment in a pair of quality shoes is not just financial, you need to invest your time too. I am talking about caring for your shoes.

I have already given you advice on shoe trees in my recent blog Wooden shoe tress are essential, so this blog will focus purely on polishing and brushing, We will split shoe care into two categories: leather and suede, but there are some elements that apply to both materials.

Step 1: Remove the laces so you do not get any polish on them and you can polish around the eyelet area. 

Step 2: Insert your shoe trees as they will push any creasing out while you are polishing, so the polish does not build up and dry out in the creases.

Leather shoe care
Prepare the leather by making sure there’s no loose dirt on the shoes. Brush the shoes back and forth. Try and work in the welt area too. You do not need to brush them very hard; just use a light to medium action until they are free from dirt.

If your shoes are looking a little battered, you may need to use a renovating cream. It will help nourish and clean the leather a little. 

Then select a polish that matches the colour of your shoes. We can advise you on this. Apply the polish with a cloth using a small circular motion starting from the toes, to the sides and around the shoe to the heel. 

Leave the polish for a minute and then buff all the polished areas using a large brush or cloth. Use long strokes and not too much force. It is key to keep your eye on the leather as you will see when you have buffed them enough. If using a cloth, simply wrap around your fingers and buff off the polish, again not using too much force; just rely on the friction to do the work. If you get any polish on the welt (side of the soles), it will rub off with a damp cloth.

You could stop there…or you could use a process called bulling to achieve a perfect job. It’s like applying the old ‘spit shine’ technique, but without the spit! Use warm or cold water and wrap a cloth around two fingers very tightly. Put a decent amount of polish on your cloth but before you use it, dip your fingers in the water, and apply a droplet on the toe area. Apply the polish in the way I described above doing one area at a time. Once the resistance builds up and the polish and water begin to dry, add another droplet of water and a little less polish. You do not need to push down too hard; in fact, using a light motion is better. 

Leave your shoes for 10 minutes to dry a little and to avoid over soaking the leather. Repeat this process and after three or four applications, you will notice the shine starting to build. On each application, change the ratio of polish to water and start using less polish but a tiny bit more water and on your last application simply use water and slowly work this in very lightly without any polish. This will add that final bit of shine.

Suede shoe care
Use a crepe or brass suede brush to remove any dirt or marks. Lightly brush against the pile until you are happy the suede is free from loose dirt.

Give the suede a deep clean using a suede cleaner to bring the suede back to life and protect it from staining. You will need to use half water and half suede cleaner. You don’t need too much! Apply it to the suede by brushing it against the pile. When the suede is dark, you know it is wet and you know you have put enough on.

Leave your shoes for five to 10 minutes, then use clean water and brush from lots of different angles to rinse the suede cleaner off. Do not worry if the suede looks darker, it will only be while they are wet. Leave your shoes to dry. This will take around 20 to 30 minutes. You can put a cloth across the front to help soak up the excess moisture but never rub the suede with a cloth as any loose bits will come off and go onto the suede. 

For both types of shoe…remove the shoe trees and re-thread the laces. Whether they are leather or suede, your shoes will be looking better than the day you bought them!

You can purchase a complete shoe valet kit – small or large – from our website or the various single items that make up a shoe care kit, plus replacement laces, in our shoe care section. We also stock Saphir shoe care products.

As an artisan, I am interested and inspired by the workmanship that goes into creating a quality product. I like to think of the design, the tools that are used, the sore fingers, the passion, etc., but quality products often come with a price tag. 

I admit, my Scottish descent meant I was always looking out for a bargain. I bought cheap stuff that lasted five minutes. I just did not understand the implications of my choices. 

I think we should pay twice as much for most things, including our shoes! If you paid £200 for a pair of shoes that would last you 10 years, then that equates to £20 a year. You would be hard pressed to find a pair of shoes for that amount these days…even cheap shoes.

When you the consider the cost to the environment of importing goods into this country and add in the social implications of the underpaid or slave labour used by cheap shoe manufacturers, then £20 a year looks like an even better deal. Sure, those 10 years will inevitably see you pay for new soles or repairs, but when you get them back, they will still fit you like a glove and will be very comfortable as the leather moulds to your individual foot shape.

Slow fashion must be the way forward. Rather than buying something cheap – that will most likely be uncomfortable or made from sweaty materials – we should invest in our craftsmen, our environment, our fellow human beings…and our feet!

Herring’s welted shoes come with a ‘Repair Service’ tag to identify which of their shoes can be sent back to the original manufacturer for repairs. If their owners look after them well, these shoes will last for years and years to come and will be a joy to wear.

Find out more about Max McMurdo in Look Who’s Wearing

Follow Max: @maxreestore

With August behind us, the start of September always has a new term feel about it…even if you are not at school anymore! Many of our European customers will have taken the whole of August off, so it really is a return to work after a long break for them. 

The holidays are an opportunity to think about our careers away from the workplace, to reflect on what has been achieved so far, to plan long and short-term goals, to evaluate how others perceive you, etc. You may even decide to smarten up your work attire or, indeed, relax it. You might just fancy a new pair of shoes.

We think September is a great time to consider your office apparel and, as usual, we have a little advice.

To refresh your smart shoes or to step it up a gear, you cannot go wrong with black Oxfords. This is the quintessential work shoe. This most elegant of men’s shoes with a closed lace system and no space between two quarters that host the eyelets, Oxfords are suitable for both the boardroom and formal occasions. In other words, they look great with a suit.

Our Churchill IIs are a best-seller. This is a quality handmade shoe that shouts British-ness! The Churchill II has a squarer toe while Charles II is a little more rounded. From our Classic range, the Lambeth semi Oxford style is less of an outlay, comes in two widths and can also come with a rubber sole for extra comfort. Other rubber soled options include the Fazeley while the Edgeware sole is half rubber and half leather.

We cannot forget our Knightsbridge either, which had an upgrade very recently and is our longest selling shoe to date.

Many of these shoes are welted and can be repaired, so the investment in one of these Oxford styles will pay you dividend in quality and comfort over a 10-year period.

Where workplaces embrace a more casual look, we have some options for you too. Exuding the same quality as Oxfords, but not as formal, is the brogue. Our Premier range includes the Balfour, a semi-brogue with an extremely elegant long-wing with a swan-neck stitch and Edward II in mahogany  for a change from black. The Reading II is a cost-conscious suede option while the Carnaby is brilliantly versatile for those after-office drinks.

For an even more relaxed style, a suede loafer like the Exeter is still super smart while we think the Goodwood leather trainer is the ultimate dress-down Friday footwear.

The styles we have suggested are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of choice. Whatever your preference or style, we can help you look sharp for the rest of 2019 and way beyond.  

As head of our customer services team, I know why shoes get returned and without a doubt this is because they are too large. It’s not that Herring make shoes that are too big, it’s because people are not used to wearing handmade shoes. Off-the-shelf shoes and many trainers are made to a fixed standard in terms of length, width and fit. In other words, they are a generic shape. More casual/ cheaper dress shoes are commonly manufactured from man-made materials rather than leather which is also something to bear in mind.

Often cheaper shoes do not fit properly around your heel and/or ankle, blisters can develop, or too small at the front, and they will pinch you. That is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of foot ailments that can be caused by poorly fitting shoes: callouses, bunions, corns, etc, can be very painful. And, if they are manmade materials, they may be rather sweaty too.

A hand-made shoe though will be comfortable straightaway. They will hug your heels and leave you some wriggle room for your toes. You may think they feel too tight at first, but the leather will relax and mould to your feet the more you wear them, this also goes for the soles as beneath your insole there is a cork bed which will slowly take shape as you break them in, making them truly personal to you. When our customers order handmade shoes for the first time, I advise them to go for a size or half a size smaller to accommodate for the difference in fit and the way the shoe will alter over time, this is generally the difference we see between brands such as Nike, Converse, and Next. For example, you may well be a size 10 in your running trainers but you will most likely be a size 9 in most shoes we sell, if you were a size 10 in Next shoes then you will likely be a 9 or 9.5 in ours.

Don’t worry if you have a slightly wider foot, we have plenty of shoes in a wider fit (G fitting). While the original fit needs to be snug…it does not need to be too snug! Comfort is still key and we advise a 30-minute wear indoors with your new shoes is the right amount of time for the leather to warm up and for you to feel if they are the right size for you. If you get a shoe that fits right, then you will want to hang onto them. This is where handmade welted shoes come into their own. As discussed in an earlier blog, What is a welt?, handmade welted shoes are more expensive to manufacture than other production methods, but they are relatively simple to repair which greatly enhances their value. 

If you need advice on the right size to order, please do not hesitate to contact me and the rest of the customer services team on +44 (0) 1548 854886 or email us on info@herringshoes.co.uk

Shoe trees are not just an add-on sale, they are one of the most important purchases you can make to help prolong the life of your shoes and, more importantly, give your soles significantly more wear between re-soles.

As drastic as this sounds, when you think about why your shoes wear out and all the factors that contribute to the uppers creasing and the sole wearing out, then it makes sense – what we are talking about is sweat!

Whether you like it or not, your feet will sweat. Especially wearing quality leather shoes that should fit closely to your foot. Usually it’s minimal and you wouldn’t even notice, this is because your leather soles and leather uppers are soaking up the sweat. Over time the acidity of the sweat has an effect and dries the goodness out of the softer uppers. This creates more creasing and a poorer appearance. If your soles are wet or damp from rain the leather soles will wear down much quicker because leather degrades fast when wet and being abraded by walking. Similarly, the sweat soaked up from your feet will make the soles damp from the inside out and because they are thicker than the upper will hold more moisture. This means they stay damp for longer without you even noticing, but the extra wear will still be happening forcing you to re-sole earlier than you needed to. In extreme cases, a really damp shoe will create bad odours, moulds, and can even accelerate the rotting of the sole stitching. That is why rotating two pairs of shoes and putting shoe trees in them while they rest and dry, will make your shoes last more than two pairs of shoes worn consecutively would.

So how does a shoe tree help this process? In more than one way. Firstly, they help to reshape the shoe and that minimises the creasing. Secondly, a good quality cedar shoe tree will absorb moisture from the shoe as the wood is porous and loves to soak up sweat! Thirdly, the cedar wood smells fantastic so will help to deodorise the shoe. So whenever you buy a pair of shoes make sure you get a pair of trees at the same time – they really are worth the small extra outlay to make your shoes last longer.

When purchasing you will see different woods and solid or expanding trees so which should you go for? The most important feature is the wood. Cedar is best; birch is also very good but doesn’t smell as good. Unfortunately, although polished trees look amazing, they are not absorbent so we wouldn’t recommend them except for display. The other variation is solid vs expanding. There is no real different in their ability to look after the shoes, but expanding can be altered to fit different shapes and tend to be cheaper whereas solid trees are often lasted to an exact shape and these are the best possible tree is they are matching the last shape of your shoe. Any wooden tree is better than no tree so don’t worry too much, just make sure you buy them.

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. 

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!

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? 

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!

What goes around, comes around and the same can be said of sneakers.

We’re not talking about your typical sports shoe used to pound the pavements or to run around a squash court, but the relaxed alternative to a more traditional work shoe.

Herring have long stocked a rubber-soled brogue in the shape of the Silverstone II. We also carry the Thruxton II boot and the Goodwood trainer, but a sneaker is a casual step further.

Originating from the plimsoll style, still reluctantly pulled on by primary school children, sneakers evolved into canvas Keds and tennis shoes worn on deck by the British Navy. Then along came Converse with a shoe that was suitable for basketball.

Known as sneakers because their rubber soles mean they are so quiet, you could sneak up on someone, they subsequently evolved into shoes for other sports. With brands like Adidas, Puma and Nike weighing in, I think this is where we have seen the divide come between sports shoes or trainers and sneakers.

The science behind a modern-day sports shoe is big business, while a sneaker is not required to run fast, it does need to be comfortable whether they are high-top, low-top or slip-on. For Herring though, they need to have a certain sense of style that is synonymous with the brand.

It may not be science, but Herring invests the same craftmanship in their sneakers as we would our brogues. We treat them like a traditional welted shoe but apply a rubber sole. In fact as the name suggests, our suede Opito rubber-soled brogues, are exactly that – a brogue with a rubber sole. Genius!

Meanwhile, the Targa is more of a classic trainer style with some formal elements to make it something of a crossover between a formal and a casual shoe. With styles in all leather or a blend of fabric and leather, they all feature a flexible lightweight rubber sole making them perfect for casual workwear or weekend duties. 

The Boxer II is a nod to the baseball style of a shoe endorsed by Chuck Taylor almost a century ago. A high-top in a mix of calf and suede with blue laces, we think this is a cool shoe in whatever colour your go for: cognac, navy or both! While the more classic style is evident in the Strike II, but is still smart enough if your office has a more relaxed dress code policy.

As regular readers of our blog will know, Herring does specialise in more formal shoes like Oxfords, brogues, etc, so our sneakers are what we envisage our suit-wearing customers wearing at the weekend.

What are you waiting for? Embrace the weekend; embrace the sneaker!

There are few shoes in our range that are classier and more classic than a Knightsbridge.

However, even an old favourite needs an upgrade from time to time. A black Oxford, the Knightsbridge is our longest selling shoe to date. It is a classic toecap and is made using the finest calf leathers on the 026 last. This last is very much a classic English last shape, with a rounded toe of standard length. The sole is Goodyear welted leather and the heel is largely leather too with a rubber tip. In short, this is a quality British shoe that should last its wearer for years and years. Because it is welted, it can be sent back to the factory to be resoled, which means you do not have to wear in a new pair of shoes when the soles wear down. But it is time for refresh. Do not worry, the Knightsbridge will retain its classic style and will still be made by expert British craftsmen and women, but we have added some embellishments.

The full lining is going to change and there will be a cut-out window for the sizing information. The sole has the addition of gold-leaf branding. Small changes for small upgrade. Wearers will not notice this difference in style or fit. The other upside to an upgrade is that we are offering a 20% discount on our existing stock of Knightsbridge shoes. If you are looking for classic black Oxford that will stand the test of time, then this is a great opportunity.

With Royal Ascot galloping towards us on the social calendar, you will be all too aware that much of the media coverage focuses on the hats, especially on Ladies’ Day. It will come as no surprise that our preview will throw a spotlight on the shoes!

Royal Ascot is Britain’s most valuable race meeting, attracting many of the world’s finest racehorses to compete for millions of pounds in prize money. It is also an opportunity to socialise with family, friends, colleagues and clients adorned in all your finery as befits the occasion.

Described on the Royal Ascot website, as “synonymous with sartorial elegance”, there are levels of attire required to literally suit the enclosure you are heading to. While you are selecting your outfit, we would like to offer our advice on the shoes you may wish to consider for the occasion

The Royal Enclosure is where most of the paparazzi lenses will be pointing due to the royal family members and celebrities who frequent this area. There is a strict dress code. Gentleman must wear black or grey mourning dress, including a waistcoat and tie, a black or grey top hat, and black shoes worn with socks. 

The traditional shoe choice would be a black Oxford, but may we suggest a sartorial upgrade? Introducing the Herring Balfour. This is an extremely elegant, long-wing, semi-brogue with a swan-neck stitch. The crisp lines of the brogue pattern are deliberately not gimped to leave a sleek and clean appearance.  This shape is one of our most popular lasts giving a very elegant and bespoke appearance without compromising the fit. 

Handmade from start to finish in the home of shoemaking Northamptonshire, you could not get a more English shoe…perfect for a Royal Enclosure outing! 

Aside from the Royal Enclosure, the Queen Anne Enclosure requires a full-length suit with a collared shirt and tie. The jackets and trousers should be of matching colour and pattern, while socks must be worn and should cover the ankle. There is no guidance for shoes, aside from the outlawing of trainers, so patrons can be a little more expressive here.

In the Village Enclosure and Windsor Enclosure, the dress code is a little more relaxed again with jackets and long trousers, collared shirts and ties required or recommended.

So, that got us thinking about our top five footwear recommendations for Royal Ascot 2019. With the Balfour style already in mind for the Royal Enclosure, we have selected a sleek collection of shoes and boots that give a nod to the British brogue while tipping a hat to the fashion this prestigious event is famed for.

• Rothwell II: This is a beautiful monk shoe with punch work integral to the upper, as opposed to the more usual brogued leather overlay. The punch work is highlighted by hand to enhance the pattern and define this feature. The 205 last shape is very popular, giving excellent fitting qualities and comfort with a slightly contemporary look from the squarer, chiselled toe.

• Carnaby: This full wingtip brogue is made on the elegant 386 last and a great example of expert English shoemaking. These brogues are made from the finest calf leather with a Goodyear welted leather sole. The chestnut colour will add a summery note to a grey suit.

• Carroll II: A toe-punch detail emphasises the sleek last shape of this gorgeous, plain-fronted Derby or Gibson. It has been hand-patinated in the Carlos Santos factory to show off a very elegant shape with a chiselled toe box giving a bespoke appearance.

• Faringdon: We have added in a boot for people who simply prefer them. This gorgeous example is a two-tone brogue of navy soft suede and fine chestnut calf to create a unique design. 

• Lewis: A contemporary interpretation of the brogue, sitting on a square-toed last with sharp lines giving it a very distinctive shape. The red laces and red midsole add drama to the shoe and highlights the handmade craft that is used to create it. A brown lace can be included in the box if you request it. 

However, all that said, you are most welcome to choose a classic Oxford! Herring has a full range of Oxfords to choose from and our customer service department is happy to give advice when needed.

Royal Ascot begins on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.