Step into summer with The Riviera Collection, Crockett & Jones’s new lightweight range
The English maker’s latest line takes on a European flair, with its choice of soft, featherweight loafers
Words: Josh Lee
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Since its founding in 1879, Crockett & Jones, the famed Northampton shoemaker, has been feted for its high-quality, world-renowned footwear that’s been slipped on and laced up by some of England’s most discerning gents, from Daniel Craig in the James Bond films to HRH King Charles III.
Such reverence for the brand owes largely to the fact that each pair incurs a handmade process that involves up to eight weeks of intensive labour, the finest leathers from Europe, over 200 highly skilled operations and the inclusion of Goodyear welts, a construction that ensures stability and longevity on each product.
The outcome is a portfolio of durable, tough shoes and boots that last the decades. But, though Crockett & Jones may trade on its reputation for heavy-duty creations, it has a softer touch, too, as evidenced most recently by its new Spring/Summer 2023 line, The Riviera Collection.
Taking its cues, both in name and style, from the French Riviera, Crockett & Jones’s latest range – which further pads out the label’s unstructured collection – is imbued with a European flair, with its bevy of soft, featherweight loafers that are perfectly crafted for wearing during the months of high heat, blazing sun and travel.
One of our favourite options in this easy, breezy set is the ‘Antibes’ model, which is defined by its sleek, sharp silhouette and decorative tassels, and comes in two options: an ‘ocean’ calf suede; and new milled calf in a rich chestnut hue. As with the other options in the collection, this design has been made on Crockett & Jones’s newest last (No.393), which allows for a refined toe shape, including a shallow-yet-soft toebox, and a superlative fit around the feel. For leisurely strolls around the marina and docks, we recommend pairing with a linen shirt and some well-tailored shorts.
For something with a slightly different trimming, namely a subtle penny slot, there’s the ‘Nice’, a pennyloafer style – in dark-brown milled calf, and a lighter tobacco calf suede – that lends itself to more dressed up, preppy ensembles, whether that’s a knitted polo with chinos when walking around town squares; an Oxford button-down shirt for long, lazy lunches; or, simply, a jumper draped over the shoulders, when exploring the local cafés.
Then, for those who prefer a design that’s completely free of embellishment, the ‘Cannes’, a clean-lined, graceful creation, might draw attention. During afternoons when the mercury rises and the climes are sweltering, plump for the tan milled calf-leather option, whose vibrant tone harmonises with fine weather; and, when night falls and the colours get dialled down a little, the dark-brown calf suede alternative offers a solid foundation when heading to the wine bar.
Moreover, though they may be soft, supple and unstructured, these models, whether in leather or suede, are underpinned by a SUPERFLEX leather sole – an exclusive feature that may be the brand’s most flexible to date, but is also hardwearing and constructed with grip, thanks to the waxes that were applied during the lengthy and scientific tanning process.
By combining an easygoing spirit with Crockett & Jones’s signature ethos that prioritises hardiness and durability, the new Riviera Collection will have you putting your best foot forward throughout the sun-strewn months ahead.
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