Buying shoes is easy: you just buy online or nip into the department store and try on a few until you find some that look good and even may fit. That just about describes my shoe buying habits until I was recently invited to the Loake store in Princes Arcade off Piccadilly in London. Soon after meeting the manager, Tony Ryan, I realised that there is much more to buying a good pair of shoes.
The knowledge of the store staff of shoe construction is unequalled and this is an important factor in selecting the shoes you want, matching them to purpose and to your foot size and shape. The many models of Loake shoe are constructed around different lasts, each of which best fits certain customers. Tony and his staff will find out what you require from your shoes and measure and fit them with care. It's best to wear your new shoes at home on carpets for a while to ensure comfort. Loake will take back shoes that don't fit well, as long as they are in as new condition.
And the Loake service extends to more than simply selecting shoes on the basis of fit and comfort. I was impressed that Tony was prepared to discuss the colours and outfits you might want to wear them with. He will even direct customers wanting to buy a complete outfit to tailors and retailers whose products will fit with the type, colour and construction of the new shoes and will suggest suitable styling. This deep knowledge and understanding of menswear takes the service way beyond a mere shoe fitting.
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| The shoes I selected: Loake Perth from the 1880 range in burgundy |
With Tony's patient help, I selected a pair of made in England burgundy Loake Perth plain derbies in soft and comfortable leather with Goodyear welted double leather soles. Unsurprisingly, Tony and his staff see many loyal customers returning to their shop. To see a Google tour of the shop, click here. For more on Loake, their shoes and suppliers, see their website here.
This feature was written in partnership with Loake.
A smart looking pair of shoes! Enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich von B.
Sadly, there are zero useful shoe retailers in this city of 1M+ people (Brisbane, Australia), so Pediwear etc works for me. Loake are something of a favourite, though.
ReplyDeleteTony
i really enjoyed my time in the store too, i feel like I came out with the best possible outcome too.
ReplyDeleteBuckets & Spades
Grey Fox,
ReplyDeleteI do have some Loake shoes and continue to lust after their Royal Brogues, but in spite of requests each time I pass their shops they still are not doing them in an 'H' extra wide fit. To get shoes of this fitting seems to be very hard for most makers. It would be great if you could have a word with them!
Many thanks,
Snapper
Have lived in Doncaster for the past 16 years but will soon be moving and will miss my local shoe shop SHOE HEALER. Richard and his staff are all shoe enthusiasts and ensure that you leave with the shoes you want rather than what they want to sell you. They are purveyors of many famous British names such as Loakes, Church, Truckers, Alfred Sargent and Cheaney. Good to see thus shop and the Loakes shop prospering.
ReplyDeleteI've only recently returned to going to a good shoe shop and getting my shoes properly fitted. Years ago I bought a pair of Churches, and the assistant assisted. I was told that I was buying shoes in the wrong size and width,. I bought a second pair from the same last. Unfortunately these two pairs lasted so long that when I next needed some formal shoes I went to a high street shop where there was no help in assessing fit. I forgot about the balance between length and width, and bought too long In order to get the width I needed. I then found myself buying half soles and tongue pads to get a wearable fit.
ReplyDeleteLeeds is a desert for good shoe shops, but Pediwear and Shoe Healer aren't too far away.
I have learnt the hard way it is all down to the 'Last" as I have some Loafers by Church's and by Loake's, in the same size and design but the Church's are cramped in the toe area while the Loakes are just right.
ReplyDeleteMy best fitting shoes are Bodileys (That I am happy to say I learnt about from your Blog)
My biggest mistakes Jeffrey West and Grenson. One because I did not appreciate the "Clown Shoe" aspect of the JW design and Grenson vary half to one size different than standard.
I buy on line because I am an hours flight time away from quality shoes unless I want to wear Jm Williams boots all the time(which I do like and can recommend but I like shoes for work)
keep up the good work on the blog
I wanted to support the company by buying from the shop, but the member of staff I spoke to was certain Loake didn't make the shoe I'd chosen from their own website! (the style is still on there)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't going to argue, so Pediwear got my custom.