There is often some confusion over what exactly is meant by a shoe last. Put simply the last is the mould or pattern around which a shoe is made and it is what determines both the overall shape of the shoe and also its fit. Traditionally lasts were hand carved from beech wood by skilled craftsmen but there could be slight differences between each one. Fortunately today there are computer operated lathes which can carve identical lasts from solid plastic and therefore avoid any discrepancies. The Loake Capital last is one of Loake’s most popular lasts, there are over 37 in total, and is used in the majority of the Loake 1880 premium collection of shoes.
Loakes, Trickers and Sanders use a variety of shoe lasts.A last can be made in a number of width fittings but the English shoe makers of Northampton tend to use a single last in just the one width fitting, whether it be E (narrow, F (medium wide), G (wide) or H (extra wide). The Loake Capital last provides an F fitting which suits the vast majority of men’s feet in the UK.
The beauty of the Loake Capital last lies not just in its good regular fit but in the truly elegant shape which it provides. This is a slightly chiselled toe but crucially without being too long. There are far too many shoes offering an otherwise good looking toe shape but which have far too much empty space beyond the toes.
Ordering shoes on line is a necessity for most these days due to the lack of high quality men’s shoe shops in the high street. However if you are able to visit our Hurstpierpoint store you will be surprised by the vast array of Loake shoes which we stock, many of which are made on the Loake Capital last.
