It can be tough to choose shoes in summer. Bright sunshine can make standard go-to styles like Oxfords and Derbys in black or brown seem a little severe; walk any kind of distance in temperatures above 20-odd degrees and your feet will soon feel it, making it difficult to balance style with comfort.
We need room for our feet to breathe, but we still – unless lucky enough to blag the whole season away from life – need to adhere to a little professionalism in our dress.
Thankfully, solutions exist on our doorstep. Crockett & Jones, one of the oldest and most famous shoemakers in the cordwaining mecca of Northampton, has introduced some new shapes and materials that allow its summer collection to easily straddle classic looks and warm-weather wearability. Whether for the office or the airport, board meetings or boozy beach brunches, they have you covered.
The black penny loafer has been an office favourite for years: easy to wear, versatile for pairing with outfits, and comfortable for long days and commutes. But the usual firm black leather can be restrictive when temperatures soar, so adaptation is needed.
For this, Crockett turns to milled calf leather in a new version of the Harvard 2 to make the shoes lighter and more supple.
A new flexible rubber sole makes them even softer to walk in (and easier to pack) while softer welts and flexible shoulders allow them to adjust to the natural expansion of feet as they warm up through the day. Classic, elegant black and brown colourways make them perfectly suited to the office.
For those with a bit more licence to express themselves through their wardrobe, or more of a need for lightness and breathability in their footwear, the Richmond 2 model has been reimagined with a vamp in cream canvas to complement the brown milled calf of the main body.
This two-tone aesthetic can be a bit more challenging to style – go for lighter, natural colours in your suits, and consider linen or seersucker for a bit of texture and breathability – but can still be worn in the City and will be great on weekends. The reward – extra comfort thanks to even more heat being released from the feet as you walk around – is well worth the extra wardrobe consideration.
Summer isn’t about work, though; it’s about play. We may have to keep slogging away for part of it, but what we really want to envisage is the time we’ll get to spend strolling along beaches, sipping ice-cold drinks in cafés and hotel terraces, and generally enjoying the spoils of the work we’ve done all year.
For this we need a different kind of loafer altogether: even lighter, even brighter, and which feels like nothing but looks like everything. Crockett’s new Sorrento models are offered in pastel-toned suede, which will reflect the colours of whichever Riviera you find yourself on in the height of the season, look perfect with anything from shorts and open shirt to pleated trousers and bright linen blazer, and offer the same comfort on sand as they do on boardwalks.
Two crucial design features make these the ideal summer loafer. A shorter vamp leaves more of your foot open and free, allowing for maximum heat release without sacrificing elegance, while a flexible rubber sole moves and adapts to each step and won’t run the risk of harming the polished deck of any yachts you find yourself on. It’s always better to prepare for the best to happen.
For something a little more pared-back, the Salcombe 2 offers Crockett’s best-selling plain-front loafer in a lighter, leather-lined form. Made using the brand’s unstructured construction method, it keeps things pleasingly relaxed: a wholecut design, raised-seam apron and box-stitch detailing, all sitting on a gum-coloured rubber wedge sole. Last season’s Pistachio, Desert Suede and Snuff Suede are now joined by Dark Brown and Ocean Suede, broadening the Riviera-ready palette without making the whole thing feel too shouty.
Perhaps the most vital aspect of any summer shoe is versatility – no one wants their luggage space overwhelmed by shoe options. Any choice from this collection will go from al fresco breakfast through afternoon meetings or activities all the way to evening dinners and late-night revelry without needing a change, even if your outfit does.
On holiday we should be worrying about cocktail choices, not footwear ones; when forced to remain in the office we should be concentrating on getting out early, not how to relieve our overheating feet. Choose shoes sensibly once, then focus on what really matters – enjoying the summer we’ve waited so long for.
For more inspiration, see the full Summer Suede collection and Travel Loafer collection.
