Bradshaw and Lloyd Fine Shoe Blog

Men’s green suede boots are not easy to find on the high street. However the Loake and Sanders factories have come up with four delightful designs when you wish to cut a bit of a dash:

The Sanders Hitop boot:

Steve McQueen first made the HiTop boot famous in the 1960’s when he was rarely seen without sporting a pair. Daniel Craig has now picked up the baton and is often seen in a pair both on and off screen. Sanders continue to make the boot to the very same spec as it was in the 1960’s but now also in these stunning green suede boots.

Loake options:

Loake have three distinctive green suede boots to choose from in their Summmer collection: the Sandown, Pimlico and Bedale. These three styles are traditionally Goodyear welted so you can be sure will be not only very comfortable but will last. Either boot would surely add something rather special to the wardrobe.

Loake sale
We are offering a 10% discount on all Loake shoes during the COVID-19 pandemic. To take up this Loake sale offer please use offer code MCT274. On occasions certain sizes may be sourced from the factory. Should there be any delay in despatching your order we shall of course let you know.

Premium grade:

None of the shoes listed on our website are seconds.

T’s and Cs:

Our usual terms and conditions apply during the Loake sale. Should you wish to return an item we provide a free UK wide secure returns service. However shoes must be returned as new so do please try them on carefully on a carpeted surface.

Trickers Town styles

Bradshaw and Lloyd have been proud retailers of Trickers shoes since 1990. The Trickers Town collection represents the very finest traditional styles of men’s shoes emanating from the Northamptonshire shoe industry. Only the very best leathers are chosen for this collection.

Last shape:

The Trickers Town styles which we offer are all made on the unique 4537 last. In 30 years we‘ve not come across a last shape for a formal shoe which almost everyone seems to approve of. The toe shape has just enough chisel to make it elegant and fashionable whilst retaining a very classic look. And most importantly, in these days of online shopping, the fit is absolutely true to English sizing.

Styles:

All the classic core styles of shoe are available in the Trickers Town collection. These range from the toecap Oxford Regent to the Mayfair monk. Rather like Henry Ford and his Model T we only offer these shoes in the black calf leather option but if you are looking for a shoe for formal attire you cannot choose better.

Sizing English mens footwear:

In the same way that weights and measures have historically varied throughout the world so too has the sizing of footwear. Today mens UK shoe sizes, essentially from 5 to 16, are just one of six international measuring scales. There are others but these key ones are: Mondapoint, US/Canada, European, UK, Australia and Japan. This variation was not an issue when shoes were mainly purchased locally but now the market is truly international and the differences do cause issues when ordering shoes online:

Mondapoint:

The Mondapoint scale is useful in that it reflects the actual length of a person’s foot. So long as you know that you have a fairly regularly shaped foot, ie not excessively wide or narrow, then this is a very useful indication of your mens UK shoes sizes and so translating the size to the other scales.

Last shapes:

Now most shoe manufacturers use a number of different last shapes for different styles of footwear. Although they will of course be marketed in a particular size the fit can vary slightly from one last shape to the next. Fortunately in the UK the manufacturers do remain fairly consistent in the sizing of their last shapes as they relate to regular mens UK shoe sizes. You can therefore be fairly confident that a particular size and width fitting from one UK shoe maker will relate fairly consistently with one from another. However there will of course be exceptions. The only way to be absolutely sure when buying online and without the ability of trying the shoes on in store is to check that the last is the same as your previous purchases.

Demand:

It’s not easy finding a good shoe repairer at the best of times and COVID-19 certainly hasn’t helped. But whilst we may be using less shoe leather than in normal times your to do list may still have ‘Loake shoe repairs’ unaddressed. Ironically there couldn’t be a better time than now to go through the wardrobe and investigate just how many of your shoes could do with some tlc. That way they can be itching to get back into service just as soon as they are allowed out again.

Supply:

Fortunately we are here to help as the B&L shoe repair service is running as normal. We pride ourselves in offering an unparalleled shoe repair service in terms of craftsmanship, quality of materials and speed of turnaround. Where else will you find a re-sole and re-heel in oak bark leather for £58 including a free courier service throughout mainland UK.

Action:

Simply send an email to repairs@bradshawandlloyd.com stating your name, address and phone number and we shall forward you further details of our shoe repair service. You ought to receive your Loake shoe repairs back within 10 days of despatching them to us.

Repairing a pair of Goodyear welted Loakes shoes.

Sebago deck shoes

We are all stuck at home but the weather is improving, at least in the northern hemisphere.  We think that in present circumstances the classic Sebago deck shoe might just be the perfect choice of footwear for both men and women. It’s attractive, stylish, durable and above all extraordinarily comfortable. Known for generations as the Sebago Dockside this shoe may be worn either with or without socks and is available is a vast array of colour options.

Construction

Sebago deck shoes are true moccasins meaning that the upper leather is rather like a sock in that it wraps itself around the foot and the sole is then stitched directly to the upper. This makes for a gloriously comfortable fit which moulds nicely to the wearer’s foot. If there was one shoe to choose if you were ever stuck on a desert island it would have to be the Sebago Dockside.

Availability

All Sebago deck shoes offered on www.bradshawandlloyd.com are available for immediate despatch. And we provide a next day delivery service throughout the UK.

The De Winter Rockingham boot

Planning ahead for when we can all escape from the Coronavirus lockdown we would highly recommend the De Winter Rockingham toecap lace boot? We just adore this one. The boot is made, as you would expect, on our exclusive De Winter last, entirely in England. But what makes this boots stand out is the Kenia waxed suede upper leather. Since it’s a suede it requires very little upkeep and the wax content makes this fine suede almost look like leather. It will just improve in appearance as the boot weathers with wear.

Essential components:

The De Winter Rockingham is a traditionally goodyear welted boot with stud rubber soles for durability. Fully leather lined with thick leather insoles and exceptionally elegant lines and remarkably pleasurable to wear. The boot has a military appearance but the De Winter last gives a truly elegant shape and can be worn both semi-formally and casually. Could this be the perfect boot?

These are difficult times for everyone but whilst our high street store remains closed we are pleased to offer a 10% discount on all shoes listed on bradshawandlloyd.com. Please use offer code MCT274. The offer covers both sale and non-sale items. Fortunately our UK couriers are continuing to operate at full capacity so we are able to continue to offer our free UK-wide delivery service. Items continue to be despatched to overseas destinations however deliveries may be subject to delays.

Stock availability

Certain shoes may continue to be sourced from factory stocks. Fortunately although the factories in Northamptonshire have all temporarily ceased production their despatch departments are continuing to send out items on a daily basis. Should there be any delays on your receiving orders we shall of course let customer know immediately.

Office hours

Should you wish to confirm availability prior to submitting an order then do email sales@bradshawandlloyd.com. During the present social isolating restrictions the office is constantly manned Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Coronavirus update at Bradshaw & Lloyd

In line with all other shoe shops our Hurstpierpoint store is of course closed until further notice.  However we are so far managing to maintain the online side of the business at full capacity.  We are despatching shoes worldwide on a daily basis however there may be some delays on international deliveries due to reduced airline capacity.  Shoe stocks for the moment are healthy however in due course there may of course become supply issues.

Almost all the very best leathers used in the English shoemaking industry in Northamptonshire are imported from Europe. Some of the main leather suppliers are the countries most effected by the Coronavirus pandemic.  These include, Portugal, Italy, France, Spain and Germany.  Production will continue at the factories in England for as long as possible but it is foreseeable that at some stage there will become supply issues.

With everyone struggling at the moment we have decided to introduce a 10% discount on all brands of shoes listed on our website.  To obtain this please use coupon code MCT274. Please look after yourselves, loved ones and the community.  Together we shall get through this.

Coronavirus footwear

With so many of us working from home it has got us wondering at Bradshaw & Lloyd what might be the most suitable item of footwear to be worn when house-bound. We have narrowed the criteria to a shoe which ticks most boxes. It should above all be comfortable, easily pulled on and off and of course look stylish. With a plethora of styles to choose from it’s not easy but there is a style which does it for us: the Loake Nicholson.

The Nicholson can be worn both outside and in since it has a rubber forepart let into the leather moccasin stitched soles. The shoe rather nicely offers the comfort characteristics of a slipper with the designer looks of a sophisticated moccasin. Crucially it’s fully leather lined so your feet can breathe and feel good whether worn with or without socks.

We are offering the Loake Nicholson in the three latest suede options: polo, light brown and navy. If you’re quick you might even nab a pair from our sale in one of the outgoing suede options.