Loafers are one type of men’s shoes that never really go out of fashion – they are stylish yet practical, and as comfortable to wear as they are easy to slip on and off.
They are available in a broad range of colours, materials and designs, making them a footwear choice in their own right – many men wear only loafers, once they’ve grown used to the extra level of comfort that they offer.
Loafers are also a lightweight alternative to ankle boots for men who prefer footwear that is free from visible laces and buckles.
For 2012, consider investing in two pairs of loafers – one for wet weather, and one for the drier, warmer months.
Our leather loafers, with leather linings and leather or rubber heels, offer good resistance against rain, with no need for the front opening common to lace-up shoes.
For spring and summer, meanwhile, suede or burnished calf is an excellent option, providing a soft and comfortable alternative to traditional leather men’s shoes, and allowing your feet to breathe as temperatures rise.
The number of people buying men’s shoes online – and the amount each of them spends – could be on the rise in the not-too-distant future.
A report from IBISWorld says things are “running smoothly” in the online shoe sales industry, with annual growth of 17.4% in the past five years.
Men’s shoes are just one of six categories listed by the analyst, alongside slippers, children’s shoes and – all for women – dress shoes, casual footwear, and boots and sandals.
While the three women’s shoe categories account for most online spending, children’s and men’s shoes, along with slippers, are all doing well as more people switch on to the idea of buying their footwear over the internet.
The convenience of online shopping makes the web the ideal way for busy people to buy men’s shoes – we can deliver your new footwear on a Saturday, or to a work address, as long as you will be able to sign for the delivery.
It’s also easy to return any items if you change your mind – we offer a no-quibble returns policy, as long as you haven’t worn the shoes.
Simply send them back and we will refund the purchase price. We can’t refund delivery costs, but UK customers can receive a free replacement pair, once per order.
Investing in a new pair of men’s shoes could help Brits to dispel the “whiff of laziness”.
Mintel claim that more than one in five men don’t change their pants and socks on a daily basis.
This figure is higher than for women, and drops when men get married or start a long-term relationship.
Mintel’s Richard Caines says: “It seems that the influence of a partner is a positive one when it comes to changing underwear and socks.”
Before committing to changing socks on a daily basis, born-again clean-freaks might want to buy a new pair of men’s shoes to rid their feet of what Caines calls the “whiff of laziness”.
That counts double for men’s slippers, too, where a new pair is often the only way to get that feeling of new-slipper fluffiness, and to get rid of the stale smell of a well-worn pair.
Indeed, where clothing is concerned, most Brits are much more committed to cleanliness.
Mintel found about two in five homes wash clothing two or three times a week, with the same number washing four or more times.
With the ever-present risk of being asked to kick off your footwear when entering a host’s house, don’t let your feet be the part that lets down the rest of your personal hygiene routine.
Men’s boots are not only a fashionable choice – they can also provide safety underfoot during icy or rainy conditions, when the ground can be slippery.
The Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance to help avoid slips, trips and falls in the construction industry, but many of the suggestions can apply equally well to pedestrian thoroughfares and footpaths, whether they are in urban environments or in the countryside.
Don a pair of men’s boots with hard-wearing tread, and you lower your risk of slipping on mud or ice, or on a smooth but wet surface.
The HSE guidance reflects this fact, advising site managers to “signpost any slippery areas and make sure footwear with a good grip is worn”.
Out and about, pedestrians have a certain responsibility to equip themselves with suitable footwear for the weather conditions, and men’s boots are a stylish and sturdy option year-round.
With many designs offering elements of waterproofing, due to the materials and structure used, they can be a warm and dry footwear choice in the winter months.
Men’s boots also typically deliver good ankle support for people who spend long periods of time on their feet – and, of course, are an aesthetically pleasing form of footwear in contemporary fashion.
Boat shoes might not seem the obvious choice of winter footwear, but for visitors to the Lake District in the coming months, they could be perfect for the task at hand.
Coniston Boating Centre opened its doors on January 4th, and is open 10am-3pm every day until the end of February, with the exception of Mondays and Tuesdays.
For people planning a more active 2012 as part of their New Year’s resolutions, a few hours on the open water could be ideal.
Until February 12th, a ‘two hours for the price of one’ offer applies to hiring electric self-drive boats at Coniston.
However, they are not the only vessels that visitors can choose to step on to – or into – in their boat shoes.
Experienced sailors can hire a dinghy – either a Hawk 20 or a Wayfarer – and catch the powerful winds that have characterised 2012 so far.
Alternatively, canoes and rowing boats can accommodate parties from one person to as many as six, adding a social sense to the day’s activities.
Comfortable and versatile men’s shoes might be a wise investment even for those staying on dry land, with bikes also available to hire in order to explore the National Park.
These allow Coniston’s surroundings to be enjoyed from a two-wheeled point of view, and include electric bikes for those who have not yet made as much progress with their New Year fitness resolution as they might have liked.
Men’s boots are among the Christmas gifts most likely to be waiting beneath the nation’s trees on December 25th, Mintel has revealed.
Footwear of all kinds, together with clothing, made the most popular gift category for Britons to give to their loved ones in 2010.
Nearly three fifths (59%) of Brits gave footwear or clothing last year – pushing the traditional favourite, fragrances, into second place with 49% giving perfume or aftershave.
With another icy winter widely expected, men’s boots could be a thoughtful and practical present for 2011.
Thicker soles and waterproofing help to keep the wearer’s feet out of the snow or icy puddles, while rugged tread can also offer a little extra grip on patches of solid ice.
Men’s boots are available with a choice of fashionable fastenings, from lace-ups to buckles and elasticated slip-ons.
With natural materials used in their uppers, they also allow the feet to breathe – helping to keep you dry in the winter weather and cool as the warmer days of spring approach in the new year.
Leather belts could help give your willpower a boost as 2012 gets underway, particularly if your New Year’s Resolutions include losing weight.
It can be fairly easy to start losing weight, once those Christmas chocolates have been polished off and the last of the turkey leftovers are gone.
But as your waistline starts to shrink, you can be left with clothes that feel baggy – leading to the urge to grow back into them.
Leather belts are a fashionable and practical way to cinch in the waistline of your favourite pair of trousers.
Doing so helps to cut out that illusion of having lost more weight than is actually the case.
Meanwhile, investing in leather belts could also help you to save money as the months pass.
If you manage to stick to your weight-loss regime over the course of the year, using belts to help your existing clothes fit can cut down on the number of times you need to replace your entire wardrobe.
Whatever your plans for the new year, remember – where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Buying mens shoes online offers a level of convenience that bricks-and-mortar retailers could find it difficult to match.
In a new report, Research and Markets has made predictions for the UK clothing and footwear markets through until 2015.
The analysis suggests that bricks-and-mortar retailers will be doing more to offer convenience to their customers – such as providing click-and-collect services.
“A transactional website is no longer enough,” Research and Markets explains.
However, when you buy mens shoes from Henry James, we can provide you with a broad range of delivery options to make receiving your new footwear as convenient as possible.
We can deliver on a Saturday to the UK mainland and the Isle of Wight, fast-track emergency orders and deliver on specific days if arranged in advance.
All our deliveries are insured while in transit, and our couriers will only leave a package somewhere if they are able to take a signature as proof of delivery.
If you are unable to be at home at that time, you can arrange in advance to have your new mens shoes delivered to another address, such as your place of work.
If you are due to attend a party or formal event any time soon then in terms of footwear you could do much worse than really attractive mens Chelsea boots made out of suede.
If you’ve never worn suede mens shoes before, it can be a little bit daunting as they create a different look and feel to classic leather. However, mens Chelsea boots make for a really stylish footwear alternative and so they’re a great way to take the plunge into suede shoes.
One of the great things about suede Chelsea boots is that they are available in a good range of colours. So, if you are feeling a little bit cautious, you could stick to an attractive black that will go really well no matter what else you happen to be wearing.
Alternatively, if you are feeling brave in terms of colour then a gorgeous sandy-coloured suede could make a great option and would look wonderful with jeans. Blue is another good option as it goes with almost everything and yet is neutral enough not to be too eye-catching.
Mens Chelsea boots are also available in leather, so if you like the idea of a different shoe design but don’t want to leave behind your love of leather, there’ll still be plenty of great options for you to choose from.
It almost seems to go without saying that women’s shoes are not just a practical clothing consideration: they’re also a fashion statement. This is reflected in the array of shoes that are available to women. But, we have to ask, what about men’s shoes? Outside of the fashion industry, there seems to be a general belief that men’s shoes are, by and large, something practical, with style a secondary or even tertiary consideration.
Yet why can’t they be both? Of course, the practical side of shoes is arguably the most important and it always will be. Men’s shoes are designed to protect your feet and it is right that this is the very fibre of their being. But that doesn’t mean they can’t also look nice.
The good news is that there is a growing array of men’s shoes available in an increasing number of designs. From sensible yet stylish black leather classics to men’s shoes that are made out of bang-on-trend fabrics such as tweed and velvet, this growing choice must surely be welcomed.
This means that men who enjoy putting together an outfit and looking good have more choice than ever before, as well as being able to enjoy the continuing practicality of men’s shoes. It seems that the balance between need and fashion are currently just about right.
