
Not in these shoes Darling…
So I imagine if you are a follower of FashionBeans, you might find your self in a situation when you think, “f*ck my shoes are going to get ruined in this weather”. If your not already thinking about this there are two reasons you should. Firstly people judge you by your shoes; girls, your boss, need I go on. Secondly the 21st century man needs to care about his shoes, his chosen brand of gin, the cut of his suit, the colour of his socks, the accessories in his toiletry bag and everything sartorial in his life. We need an everyday shoe; I have had a lot of people mailing me a related question. I think with style, success is standing out a little bit, not fitting in. It’s better to be a needle in a haystack than the haystack, so they need to be unique… the shoe you might even buy two pairs of if they are in a sale. We are looking for the perfect casual shoe.
We are often in certain situations when we need the casual shoe, following the Mrs around the lingerie department, or a picnic in the park for example. If a football gently rolls towards you, as a man you must kick it back, and not flip the Italian made loafers off to complete the task. So we need a shoe fit for the occasion. Stylish enough to perhaps even wear to work but also one to wear in the rain. So I have two ideas to destroy this question. You may all have different contributions, of which I advise you to comment on below.
My first casual shoe is the Paul Smith Musa. The ultimate trainer. So perfect in fact that I am on my 2nd pair. They are made of washed canvas with a suede toecap, which is versatile enough to transfer from casual situations to the business environment. If you are yet to discover a pair then I recommend you check them out. They also feature decorative insoles and a Paul Smith coat of arms, creating a very detailed shoe.
My second idea is an entire brand called Folk Shoes. They may look a little smarter than the average casual shoe, but the vibrant colours make them a contender. They are tidy shoes, with hard soles and soft interiors; comfort is always important when we discussing the casual. Beautiful shoes, made to last. Folk is a casual menswear brand started in 2001 in London. Shofolk, as the footwear collection is known for men and women, was established in 2004. The big guns say “Folk’s about making clean, honest understated garments with a meticulous eye for colour, fabric selection and design detail. They create simple everyday clothing with subtle, innovative and sometimes playful detailing”. They are Functional yet very stylish and you’re extremely unlikely to find another person with the same pair of shoes. The Shofolk are made in a small family owned factory in North Portugal with sixty years experience in hand, skilfully creating wonderfully coloured leathers.
So my advice is to ensure you find the perfect casual shoe for your general pursuits, if it be a high top or a folk lace up. Ensure you keep them looking fresh and clean, there is a fine line between casual and a messy trainer. Good Luck gentlemen in your crusade for the right sole.
The Shofolk Footwear New Collection
Oki-Ni
ASOS
Coggles
Christian Kimber
Personal Profile: Christian Kimber is the niche of the fashion industry currently working in buying in London. His life is based on the pursuit of style and with an entrepreneurial tendency we simply wait to see what he comes out with, I heard he is opening his own store in the near future, but that didn’t come from me. He is based in London and writes a lifestyle blog available at: www.kimberstyle.com
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These are very cool, I don’t suppose you know where I can get those brown ones in the very top photo? also interested to see which Paul Smith ones your talking about.:)
Very good article!
I’ll go a little off topic here by asking if you could make an article about stylish colors…Having nice clothes is great but matching them in clean colors like white-green looks pritty damn sweet. For the record I’ll be 17 years old and I’m already a huge fan of Fashionbeans. So I guess I’m thanking to all the FB staff for updating this wepsite.
Take care and continue making neat articles. ;)
OK seems those particular ones are called ‘Armstrong Truffle’ and are 2009 release, so I guess I wll have hard time finding a UK 8 in those. :(
This is a link to the Paul Smith Musa trainers I mentioned.
Ok George Ill write my next article on colors if that suits.
Best,
Christian
http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/shop/paul-smith-shoes-390/paul-smith-mens-shoes-musa-trainer-sbxg-a454-cvs-g2/product.html
link
http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/shop/paul-smith-shoes-390/paul-smith-mens-shoes-musa-trainer-sbxg-a454-cvs-g2/product.html
They are so cool, but far too expensive for me i’m afraid
Can’t wait until i’m a millionaire… :)
Thanks Christian, those look abit like Nanny State plimsolls but look better quality of course.:) I found a nice pair of Armstrong Bitter Chocolate on ShoFolk’s official website that I plan to buy after I grabbed a pair of Timberland boat shoes. thanks for tip on these!
@Katatonik Let me know when you have tried them on if they are very comfortable ! The look lush and i love the colours in chocalte brown with white laces and also bottom row in the red/brown look lovely.
Have you checked out the range of Pointer Footwear for boat shoes and similar chuka boots..i like the benson and cyril but the multi colours of the folk shoes are really nifty and i reckon you would struggle to find someone with the same shoes on…well done but the question is..where is the stockist of these apart from the internet ????
http://www.pointerfootwear.com/index.php/footwear/mens
@christian
how about these mate
http://www.endclothing.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/8322/s/shofolk-harry/category/4/
I really dig the harry version of the Sofolk shoes with the stitching more like a boater shoe, your putting me in two minds about returning the Pointer desert boots i bought last week and getting pair these…lol, cant afford both.
If anyone, wants to check out the full range of colours, this is the offical site here in the UK, got to try a pair these on and see how they fit.
http://www.folkclothing.com/men-shofolk.html
My personal favourtie from the whole range is the Harry – mid grey suede
Hey Jason, Yes I’ve seen ‘Pointer’ on my internet travels they stock them in ‘Schuh’ which is most cities. As for ShoFolk I did check out their store locater, not many store’s stock their shoes (mainly ‘Folk’ clothing) The ones that do seem to be in Manchester & London. ShoFolk’s official website offer free delivery, and ASOS offer free delivery + free returns! Annoying ASOS don’t have my size in the Bitter Choc Armstrongs, but that’s probably a good thing, I spent alot lately, I will wait a week or so. I found a dude on ebay selling the boat shoes I want they retail £85 he got them for £55 in all sizes brand new in box.;)
@ katatonik
The main shops are in London in Brick Lane and Holborn. If you click on the links and go to stockists. Question Air, Selfridges, etc. There are also a number of stockists in Sweden where i thought you was from. I plan to try them on first see how they fit cos i bought a pair tan/mahogany from asos last week in pointer cyrils.
I do love the bittersweet chocalte colour though in either the armstrong or harry versions. Im erring towards the harrys though in grey, bittersweet chocalte(if u can find them) cos i really like the stitching. They both fit exactly the same im told , so its just whether you want the clean cut or more boater ones. good luck..most of them are going for £135 though, lol
Jason, I’m not from Sweden, I think you assumed that because I gave you the Nudie Jeans website info which has flags at top to change the currency. I’m from Portsmouth about 1 hour drive South of London. I’m leaning towards Armstrong + Alaric due to the front design, they just look so tidy and unique. I will let you know when I grab them in the next week or so.
great tips.
@katatonik alright mate, up pompey ! Im sticking with my size Pointer Cyril desert tan/mahogany boots for now bought 10 days ago from Asos for £62, sold out now !
do let me know how they fit though, ill hold back for a few weeks, just getting one quality item per month at moment, but these look lush for summer, especially the suede ones.
Don’t mention Pompey lol, things aren’t looking good! Well 62 quid is cheap as chips, definitely keep those;) I haven’t made up my mind on these ShoFolk yet plus I had the dentist today he tells me I need a root canal+crown which isn’t cheap hehe and my whole head is numb from what he did today:( Anyways see how the bank balance is in the next few weeks then I will indulge.
@katatonik
Yeah i had that root canal about a year ago and took 3-4 sessions
continued….i ended up with a gold cap thing like Goldie in my back tooth which has lasted the distance.
Im sticking with my pointers for now though and waiting for some better weather but these Shofolk are definately onmy Radar. Im from Grimsby/cleethorpes originally near the seaside like you !
im trying to get one item per month also and spend £150 as a budget, so after my desert boots purchase for £62 in jan, i have some left over to max out ans get the All Saints leather coerce this month.
have a good weekend.
@Jason – Yeh man this root canal has been so sore today, paying for pain (seems kinky).
Definitely get that Coerce Leather Jacket, best purchase for 2010 for me! I often get nice comments on it, even from strangers.;)
@Katatonik
Will do, i tried the Coerce on in Chocalate brown but will be getting it in black definately. Can you still wear a long sleeve shirt or merino jumper/cardigan under it ? The last time i tried it was just with a very very thin graphic T shirt ??
Looks like both our home town clubs are going down this year…Portsmouth and Grimsby !
I notice a lot of the size 8 on ASOS in shofolk are still sold out along with the size 8 mahagony desert boot i bought
Well I bought a Large because I couldn’t even get my arms up the sleeves of the Medium with a shirt on, with a t-shirt i was able to get it on but couldn’t zip it up comfortably, So i went with the Large which is a fraction longer when not zipped up than I really wanted, but done up it fits like a glove.:)
Oh your a size 8 also lol. I’ve found a few places selling them but none have my size in the sales. I’m still undecided on the colour, I like the black Edwin Armstrong’s with the red laces, but I kinda want a brown pair since I just bought black military boots. choices choices;)
@kata Looks like ill be in the market for some of these or similar. I wore my new pointer desert boots down the local shops and it gave me a blister and ripped the skin on my left ankle where the shoe turns into a boot ! Ive got to return them for that reason cos it doesnt happen with any of my other shoes or hi tops.
I like the Top Left pair and the bottom left pair best along with the brown/black ones in the middle ‘Armstrong Bitter chocalate’ so ill see what happens when i get my money back, its a shame they were such a great colour in dark tan and went with all my jeans. Mostly i a size 8 as long as the shoe are wide fitting., sometimes 8.5 or 9 also.
Anyhows, ill be going for a medium in the leather i reckon, so ill wear a cotton shirt or my merino cardigan and try the coerce on with it, i have to go there cos my dickie bow £15 from there has snapped, the metal tie.
katatonik If your looking for a brown pair boots then check out the new pointer spring/summer range. They have a couple colours you may like and are a similar shape to the Shofolk but obviously a little cheaper, not much.
http://www.pointerfootwear.com/index.php/footwear/mens/Benson/Chocolate
@katatonik Well done on a good victory for pompey in the cup ! I purchased the All saints Coerce in Jet Black today in medium , after trying on about 8-9 others, fits perfectly with just a graphic T underneath or long sleeve shirt and i can get a cardy /polo T underneath also..great for a rock look with hi tops and smarter with shoes. It was a right do to get one that just finishes at the wrist length though cos some came up longer on one sleeve compared to the other but eventually i got theere, my first purchase of 2010!
Shofolk FOOTWEAR – Tried on the 8 in the Armstrong Boot in Brandy tan leather which fits me great. Its a nice colour which goes with all dark indigo denim perfectly. The Harry i tried in suede also. I do like the Antilope colour but they told me at the Shofolk store in London two important things if you want to get a pair..
1) There are some great new styles coming out in June in blues, nubuck, suede and different leather finishes if you want to wait til summer.
2) They have more stock coming in 6 weeks time cos they are hand made in Portugal of Armstrong and Harrys so i am waiting on til the delivery.
As it stands im stuck between armstrong/harry boot in Brandy or mid grey suede.
Finally, I tried on a pair of those Nudie Jeans you and others keep going on about. They were called Big Bent in a 32 waist 30 leg and fit absolutely great, im going back ito selfridges to get them on friday, is £125 normal for Nudie Big Bentt and i dont wash them for 6 months..right ???
I must be a bit chunkier than you, the medium in the coerce felt tight in the arms and didn’t zip up very comfortably. I see you’re a 32/30, I’m a 33/32 and 40 chest.
I’ve not tried the ShoFolk’s yet, since I don’t desperately need more shoes hehe, picked up a couple of graphic t-shirts and some more jeans. Spent enough lately!
As for those Nudie Jeans, you probably better buying online since that is expensive for Dry ones, if you can’t be arsed with the no wash for 6 months rule, maybe get some pre-washed ones. Dry generally cost around 90 quid give or take unless they some special Lab pair.
@katatonik Well the nudie slim jims and other styles dont fit me at all in 32/32, but the Big Bent or nudie come up a little longer than other styles i have. I got G star radar narrow rope 33/32 and G star arc tapered 2 pairs in 31/32 and 32/32 and they fit boss.
These are the Nudie i am coveting, in selfridges £125 but at coggles £105 and im definately going to wear them for 6 myabe 8 months before washing to get the maximum effect..
http://www.coggles.com/store/item/Nudie/93432
Im sticking to one quality item per month so leather, nudies and a pair of shofolk armstrongs/harrys are fine for me, you got to try a pair mate, they are as comfy as my nike jordan hi tops.
@Jason – funny enough I was in Allsaints yesterday, and I re-tried the coerce on in a Medium for peace of mind, it was so tight! I did buy a few bits also, Monteray L/S Shirt which looks superb with jeans and white plimsolls, and a couple of t-shirts, Span Crew / Tonic Scoop / Searchers Graphic Tee.
Regarding the Nudie dry denim, make sure they are tight around the waist because they do stretch a fair bit. I’m currently breaking in a pair of thin finn’s and slim jim’s and just ordered some blue stone thin finn’s.
Do you tuck your jeans into those Jordon’s? I like the colour of those, just not sure I could tuck jeans into them hehe.
@Katatonik Yeah i like the monterrey shirt and searchers t also. The thing about that black coerce is that it goes with all my tees and polo t shirts. Im getting the nudies next week delivered online for £105. They are snug around the waist and perfect length also, i always make sure the jeans fit a bit tighter now round the waist to give a little…most of my jeans are tapered or narrow at the botton so they sit over the hi tops, i got the black/grey suede retro jordans but they just got a nice green colour at size which im thinking of, so comfy..these are the nudies, tried them on the other week 32/30 in selfridges..
http://www.coggles.com/store/item/Nudie/93432
the thin fins 32/32 are so tight on my thighs mate, i need a bit more room for my footballer legs…
after the coerce and nudies im just buying one quality pair of shofolk and a barbour Tarras leather/wax bag so that will be my purchases for jan/feb/march/april…1 per month
have a good weekend
@Jason – Are you sure these are the correct Big Bengt’s? Pretty sure Dark Crinkle are pre-washed, maybe wrong link. Anyways yeh Thin Finn’s are a bit snug on my thighs hehe I used to play football also! Just like to have a good mix of jeans. I got 2 pairs of Finn’s 2 Slim Jim’s and 1 Average Joe which I would avoid since they are pretty standard straight leg, fit just like my G-star’s which are a bit loose in the leg. You got me thinking about Big Bengt’s now, I’ve never tried on before, and it is tricky to even find Nudies local to me. Hmm I could get my Average Joe’s tapered for £15 though, since I don’t wear them I was going to throw on Ebay, but you have inspired me now hehe.