Some of the products I've acquired in four years of blogging have really stood out and I wanted to feature them in this new series, 'A Blogger's Favourites'. All have become firm favourites and have the following in common: quality, comfort and (in differing amounts) style. Inevitably, many are British made.
I start with these Loake Otterburn brogues. Made in Kettering in England, they have already been through a factory overhaul. Read about the Loake factory overhaul of these shoes here. Stylish and robust, they are among my favourites. The Otterburn isn't on the Loake website, but can be found elsewhere. The Loake Chester is a similar shoe. See Loake.
Do you have similar favourites? Please let me know, by e-mail, on social media or below in comments.
Grey Fox
ReplyDeleteHere is an odd coincidence.
My black K brogues are 30 years old and are reaching the end of their life. I emailed Richard at Shoehealer in Doncaster asking for a replacement that must have rubber soles.
He replied recommending the Loake Chester. I was rather concerned as Loake are the cheaper end of the market and, in the past, have bought the odd cheap pair from other British shoe makers who have tried and failed to complete on price. The shoes being ill-fitting, hard and uncomfortable.
However, your recommendation for the Loake Chester is am amazing coincidence. I should be ordering a pair from Shoehealer.
Shoehealer, by the way, are one of the best shoe shops anywhere with a wide range of English-made shoes and very helpful knowledgeable staff.
Loake's Chester in my favourite brogue, lovely colour.
ReplyDeleteGrey Fox,
ReplyDeleteI too am quite keen on Loake shoes, and have a pair of their snuff brown suede wingtip brogues. For some time now I have lusted after their Royal Brogues but inspite of repeated requests they don't do them in a wide fitting. I was chatting to the manager in the Princess Arcade branch and was told their prices are low because they are a family firm. He said a family member was visiting that day and would tell him there was great public demand for the Royals in a wide fitting!
Mentioning the Princess Arcade - I had some monkstraps made by The Left Shoe Company. There was an error in them and so they made me a second pair. As the first pair had my name embossed in them and could not be resold I was given them too. I had them remade by a cordwainer from one of London's most prestigeous makers.
Church's used to be my original quality shoes but now they have been taken over by Prada designs and colours seem more suitable for the circus.
As ever, best regards Snapper