We have already waxed lyrical on Peaky Blinder style boots and shoes, but this style is even more gritty. GQ magazine billed heavy-duty black boots as “the biggest news for AW19”. We may be coming to the tail-end of this season, but the warmer months are a little way off yet!

Seen on the catwalks for Brioni, Emporio Armani, Versace, Tiger of Sweden, Dior, Dunhill, Paul Smith and Hermès, the general theme was black and chunky. That does not mean you need a hefty outfit to complement them. In fact, the chunkier you go on your feet, the slimmer the rest of your apparel should be.

If you are a dedicated follower of fashion, then don your bovver boots with a slim black suit, an over-sized trench coat and a Harry Potter-esque scarf. For those of you who like to take a pinch of high fashion and blend it with your usual wardrobe, the thick black boot can easily nestle in there.

Aside from being fashionable, heavy-duty boots are fit for purpose. They are ready and rugged enough for anything.

The most rugged of them all is our Herring Churchstow. These are just like the tall boots that stomped down the catwalks. It has a lightweight commando pattern sole and contrast Norwegian stitching into the upper, along with a Goodyear stitch into the sole. This double stitching is rare in modern factories and is a testament to the handcraft used at the Carlos Santos factory where these are made exclusively for us.

For a chunky Chelsea with attitude, try the Sywell. Footwear from our collaboration with the Solovair company, this has an edgy pointed toe and a chunky sole. You can find our more on our Solovair range in our recent blog here. Meanwhile, the Tregony offers a lace-up option – again with a rugged rubber sole.

Lastly, we’re keen on the Stockholm. This boot has a bike-cum-builder vibe. It looks tough on the outside but hides a natural warm lining that will serve you well during the final winter months. Let your jeans or combats scrunch up on top of these (rather than over). These boots are too good to hide.

Other brands also have a chucky boot or two. See Barker’s Sully, Loake’s laced rubber-soled brogue boots and Tricker’s Henry rubber-soled brogue boots. If you want to get into a bit of bovver in 2020, Herring can help – just with the boots though!

With the clocks going back in the UK, the darker nights are with us, the temperature has dropped, the wind has picked up and the rain is falling. In short, winter has arrived in the northern hemisphere.

But it’s not all doom and gloom! While winter signals the end of wearing shorts, sockless espadrilles or deck shoes, and polo shirts, the advent of the colder months give you an excuse to roll out the accessories.

Let’s start at the top. Can I suggest a cap as your headwear seasonal starter? At Herring, we can offer you a couple of tweed numbers: the Brooklyn baseball cap (in green and blue) and the Herring Dale flat cap (in green and charcoal). The cap is adjustable to fit all head sizes while our flat cap, hand made for us by the traditional craftsmen at Olney headwear in Luton, comes in a range of sizes to accommodate a small, medium, large or extra-large head.

To the neck now. Scarves not only add colour (if you choose) to any outfit but are pretty decent at keeping their wearer a little warmer. Whether you are walking, watching a rugby game, getting to and from work, a scarf can be equally smart and casual. 

Our solid scarf does what it says on the tin: a lambswool scarf in a range of solid colours from the classic grey, black and rainforest to the more daring scarlet and cyan.

For a more 1960s or wild-on-the-moor or cold-night-in-the-desert look, we have our wool Ombre Glen Check Scarf. I like this. This scarf is slightly more edgy yet retaining a gentlemanly status. 

But we still have tweed for those who need it! In fact, our Herring Rupert is double-sided so you can worship the tweed on one side or go for the solid colour on the other. Choices, choices!

We cannot wax lyrical about scarves though without dipping into the cashmere. We stock them in red, dark camel and scarlet to suit your taste.

For a toasty body, we have been selling our Botticelli Jacket as a pre-winter smart-casual warmer. Created by Filippo Matera in his workshop, this jacket draws inspiration from the industrial past of Northern Italy. All the materials are sourced and processed locally enabling them to have a touch of softness that you cannot get from mass produced clothing. This jacket has 10% off now too, so you could get yourself a deal. 

Lastly, the feet. No, not shoes. We are talking socks. After months of bare feet in slip-on shoes, it’s time to give you feet a treat with either our thick cotton Cuthbert Sock or the Donegal Wool Sock. The latter is made for walking by a third-generation Irish family firm. Available in a range of colours (and in women’s sizes too), they have a wonderful warmth and softness of wool with a bit of polymer to help it grip your foot. They are chunky and comforting on your feet and are even endorsed by Everest mountaineer Mark Quinn, so they should be more than adequate for a winter walk to the pub!

You see winter isn’t so bad after all. In fact, I quite like the colder months for the scarves alone! If you see anything you like or need advice at all, please do not hesitate to contact our customer services team. 

This blog has been written by one of our longest standing customers, Jerry Tharapos. His insight is invaluable.

So, what is your favourite quote or anecdote about style?

Recently I came across a quote from the legendary and dapper, handsome Hollywood leading man Clark Gable, who said “a well tailored suit is to a woman what lingerie is to a man”. There is no doubt that he was correct, as he was never at a loose end when it came to having a beautiful woman by his side.

Is it really that simple? At a time when fast fashion and the sloppy hoody or sweat pant seems to be de rigueur, what drives us to counter the norm and wear a tailored suit, tie, hat or handmade shoes? We are all individuals and I am sure we all have many and different reasons. As for me, the French poet and playwright, Jean Cocteau said it best, “Style is a simple way of saying complicated things.”

A man’s style says a lot about him. Colour, layers and texture speaks to depth and complexity. A bespoke commission suggests the desire to differentiate yourself from the norm and to make a statement about your individuality. There is definitely an eccentricity associated with cultivating and evolving a style that defines who you are.

But what about your workplace? how do you dress when you are in your 9 to 5 persona? Do your work colleagues view your style or eccentricity with contempt or do they enjoy it. My experience is both, but typically I have found that most welcome the eccentricity. Especially if you are good at what you do and get the results. Nonetheless, you will get the few (and some may even be your boss) that view you as self indulgent and in some cases ridiculous. My counter argument and defence, in these cases, is to be bold and back myself and say, “you like the results that I bring and change that I make but, it is those that are different that make the difference.”

Clearly it is easier to be yourself when you are in a familiar environment or workplace. But, how should you dress for a job interview? Recently, I have had to think about this. A few years ago, this was never an issue for consideration in a professional environment. In order to make a good impression, a suit and tie and beautifully kept shoes was the norm for an interview. This in not the case today. Few to no-one wears a tie any more and suits are also somewhat a thing of the past. In fact, even going to an interview unshaven appears to be the norm these days. 

To my horror, I have found myself having to go from wearing a 3 piece tailored suit to chinos and an open necked shirt. Only then did I get some traction with interviews. But, I did make sure I wore a waistcoat, braces and my favourite tan Herring country brogues. I got the job.

There is a lot written about what to wear at an interview. Simple tips are, be cognizant of the culture of the organisation and don’t be too dramatic with what you wear. Comply somewhat but be true to who you are. Think about how to differentiate yourself along the lines of your cultivated style. For me, that was, the waistcoat and Herring brogues.

I start my new job in a few days and I need to start thinking about my wardrobe for day one.

If you are unfamiliar with the Solovair brand, you may be for forgiven for thinking their boots are another famous type of lace-up boot. You would be completely forgiven because Solovair’s manufacturer, NPS Shoes, used to make Dr. Martens boots.

Dr. Martens’ patent owner R. Griggs Group Ltd and NPS both had factories in the hub of shoemaking, Northamptonshire. They collaborated on the Dr. Martens boots until the mid-1990s when Solovair started up as a brand of its own.

Made using traditional Goodyear welt technology (find out more in What is a welt?), these were and still are hardwearing boots with a rebellious edge and beloved by students across the world. 

They use the same lasts, leather cutters and machines used to make the original Docs and have a full set of eyelets, thick suspension soles and grey stitching around the top of the sole. They come in a variety of colours, styles and number of eyelets.

Established in 1881, NPS has plenty of pedigree and we only deal with quality shoemakers.

We are now collaborating with the Solovair factory to make us shoes and boots complete with their legendary air cushioned sole to create our new urban-themed range of smart footwear.

Introducing the Wollaston (named after the location of NPS Shoes), this is an Oxford cap shoe on the light and flexible Solovair air-cushioned sole making these incredibly comfortable for all-day wear.

We can also offer a rugged brogue too in the Wellingborough (another nearby Northamptonshire town) and the super-smart Chelsea boot in the Sywell. 

Lastly, if your office is not quite ready for the Solovair eight eyelet boot, then we have a stylish solution. The Sharnbrook has six eyelets and is more suitable for the worker who likes rock climbing at the weekend rather than full-time punk rocker (well, you can do what you want at the weekend to be honest!)

Herring Shoes has a long history of working with the Northamptonshire shoe and boot making set. We are delighted to add the NPS traditional skills and the Solovair style to our portfolio. 

What are you waiting for? Regress into your student days and quietly rebel!

When you reach into the loft for your suitcase or holdall, do you give yourself a self-satisfied smile of pleasure as you are reunited with your luggage again? Or do you slightly cringe at its battered or outdated appearance?

It’s not until you see beautiful luggage that you may have second thoughts about your own. I am not just talking about the suitcase you may take on a two-week holiday. What about a weekend break or even what you use to carry your laptop to and from work or meetings in?

When you are attending a business meeting or taking a break at a rather lovely venue, it seems a little out of step to turn up with a polyester sports rucksack or holdall. We have some travel pieces that we love here at Herring, so I would like to share them with you:

For the weekend away
We have a choice of holdalls. The beauty of the Herring Bovey is that its tan or brandy calf exterior will weather nicely…however vigorous the bag handling process. There is a strap, as well as the two handles, to make it easy to carry and it comes with a luggage tag. Inside you will find two large pockets with Velcro fastening flaps and a large zip pocket. On the bottom, there are some brass studs to prevent the bottom from wearing excessively. 

The Clapham has a lightly oiled rough textured leather exterior for a more care-worn look while the Hainualt is simply stunning as it is made from a glove-like buttery leather. It oozes quality from the delicate stitching to the premium fixings. Again, it will age beautifully.

We have fabric holdalls too. We celebrate tweed with our handmade Gidleigh while our leather and canvas bag provides a rugged, stylish and military look that inspired us to name these bags after famous British general, Montgomery.

For larger holdall, I am quite partial to the Houndkirk. No shoulder strap with this one due to its size. It’s a real beauty!

For work
Man bags come in many different forms; the briefcase and the backpack lead the way. Our briefcases are not the handheld rigid models of the 1980s. We have drawn our influences from school day leather satchels with shoulder straps that can go across the body or on the shoulder. Most have two pockets on the front too with a handle on top. See the Aldgate, Russell and the Euston for a few examples. For a modern upgrade, you may prefer our Enfield messenger bag.

Again, the backpack does not need to be polyester! Our Balham complements the Clapham. (Of course it does!) while the Gulliver can be purchased separately or bought as part of set with its wheeled case counterpart for the perfect work-away-from-home combination.
Petrolheads will love our Heritage Racing Bag in black, red, blue or racing green leather.

This lovely lot will make you stand out for all the right reasons when you travel. A decent bag or case is a pleasure to own and to know you have stored in the loft or the cupboard for whenever you need it…like a faithful friend that never lets you down.     

Excuse the pun, but the BBC’s latest series of Peaky Blinders has caught our attention, not just for its gritty drama, but for its celebration of 1920s and 1930s rugged footwear.

We are talking boots…real boots…man boots. 

On screen, these boots are tough but teamed with suits and long overcoats to turn these men with working class roots into kings of the street. As despite being wealthy, they do not want to be confused with their English gentlemen counterparts. Although, there are glimpses of this footwear fashion among the cast of the film adaption of Downton Abbey too where the titled gentry and their servants seem a world away from the streets of Birmingham.

We are referring to solid, stylish, Oxford lace-ups in black or brown leather. And the good news is that the longer you wear them the more gangster they will look!

Herring’s Shelby – Tommy Shelby would be proud – is a good example of a 19^th century heritage design. It looks rugged but in fact has a leather upper and sole for a very comfortable fit.

Even more tough-looking is the Churchstow. This boot finishes higher up the ankle and has a lightweight commando pattern rubber sole. These boots could get you out of a bit of bother!

The Filton also fits the bill. A leather chukka-style boot, it looks the business and is comfortable underfoot.  

However, we do not expect you to don a flat cap and wear a cropped pair of trousers or three-piece tweed suit to get you ready for gangland life, as we believe these boots – and some shoes – have a respectable place in more genteel society too.

The Flynn is an up-to-date boot style with a more chiselled toe and is lighter on the feet. 

While the Leconfield is a tough-looking long winged Derby shoe to give the boots a run for their money. The Dickens provides a longed-toed, navy alternative.

Meanwhile, the Peaky-style has been embellished with an adoption of semi-brogue and tweed detail. See our Limerick or Matlock boots, or even our semi-brogue, suede Reading II shoes for more relaxed days. Even the Peaky Blinders take a rest sometimes, don’t they? 

As long-term lovers of boots, the Herring team is delighted to see these no-nonsense models forging ahead this season. Will they influence your style this autumn? Waistcoats and pocket watches are entirely optional, of course.

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 trees 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 (video below) – 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.