Selecting a pair of men's handmade shoes that will suit you the best is a personal journey that sees you explore various mens oxford shoes, brogues, Derby shoes, loafers and more before making a decision. There are several Northampton shoemakers that have been making Goodyear-welted men's shoes for over a century including Barker, Churchs, Loake and Trickers to name a few.
When it comes to selecting a men's shoe or boot that will last its not just the style of shoe which must be taken into account but equally the shoe colour. Depending on whether the shoe is for dress, business formal or casual wear the choice of colour makes all the difference when pairing shoes with your wardrobe. Within the current Barker collection, there is an expensive choice of colours and styles to consider alongside the dress codes in which you will generally be wearing your shoes.
There are several colour combinations that have traditionally been set in stone when matching shoes and suits, the first being black shoes with are a men's shoe classic and the smartest colour, therefore, they are an absolute must in every man's wardrobe. A simple, clean black leather lace-up shoe will remain a timeless classic on your shoe rack for many years and recommended Barker Oxford shoe styles include the Arnold, Burford, Malvern and Winsford shoes. Classic black mens derby shoes are also worth considering as shoe option to wear with tailoring as they are tireless workhorses that can easily transition from the office to the bar. Recognised by the open lacing system, the Barker Darlington, Nairn, Skye and Wickham are popular Derby styles we’d recommended to wear with a suit apart from black tie and they remain the less dressy Oxford counterpart. The classic black shoe will also work well with grey or charcoal suiting but the black suit and shoe combination remains the iconic pairing.
After black the brown shoe offers the most forgiving shade of smart footwear as it can be worn with near enough all suiting options expect the black suit or tuxedo. Men's brown shoes add personality to tailoring especially when the type of materials are explored for example a chocolate suede. For the shade of brown will relate in how formal the shoe can be, the darker shades being more formal whereas when you reach the light browns and tans of the shoe world it makes for a more casual look. The style of the shoe comes into play also as a brown Oxford can be worn smarter than a brown brogue. The Professional Collection features several shades of brown in many shoe styles including the classic men's oxford shoe, mens tassel loafer and double monk strap.
The Creative collection is where you’ll find yourself experimenting with colour as the combinations are playful but remain acceptable to wear with tailoring. The hand-painted styles, in particular, are a great way to add a block or multi-colour to your wardrobe, in particular, the Valiant full brogue shoe for men.
With the office dress code seeing casual changes there is also the classic white trainer to consider, the Barker Axel is a great alternative option to the Barker range of handmade shoes.