Life is unfair: Men can get away with just one good suit and a timeless pair of shoes for the rest of their lives. No need for them to update the way women do if they’ve got this duo down pat. Think about it: The suit can take them through most formal occasions. They can even take it apart and use one element for another outfit. The pants can go with any shirt. The coat can do if a jacket can’t while the shirt is a must-have for travel outfits.
When it comes to shoes, one for every kind of affair is suitable as well. You have oxfords and loafers for weddings, work, and even weekends. Sneakers to rely on for a casual outfit apart from your exercise routine. Throw in a pair of boots when abroad during the winter months and men are all set. When it comes to colors, I guess it’s not about following what shade is on trade at the moment for them. It’s about something basic and easy to work with, a good neutral that won’t clash with anything else.
I’m thinking of how many hours of shopping time that I can save if this holds true for me also. Then again, if you just need a limited wardrobe that can be versatile for years to come, the selection ordeal becomes more rigorous.
Looking for just the right one becomes a steady process, looking for the best of the best. No wonder a suit is hardly just bought off the rack. You get a suit tailored by a designer you can trust, with taste you can rely on, and with an eye for materials that will make the suit last a lifetime. How many fittings would it take? It doesn’t matter as long as you get the details right.
I can imagine that this eye for detail is doubled when it comes to shoes. Aside from the aesthetics, they have to be tough. You are looking for two things. First is how the design is something that should be perennially stylish and goes with your personality. Second, they have to be tough. Our shoes take quite a beating and if you’re busy man, your soles will take quite a lot. But a real reliable shoe shouldn’t look like they’ve been to one too many meetings and nights out.
The fit is also key. They need to be comfortable or else, you’ll be the one who will suffer. I don’t think I need to emphasize how a good shoe fit can take you far, and how a bad one can ruin your whole day.
It is with these in mind did I look at the selection from John Lobb. The label recently found its home here in Manila at Greenbelt 3 beside Hermès. The brand was established in 1866 in London at the famed Regent Street. In 1899, John Lobb found a place in Paris. Their ethos harks back to a tradition of bespoke shoe-making. I heard they had an international clientele, which is no surprise since their touch for old-school shoes hasn’t been lost. In fact, I feel like this quality is what makes them more important in this impulsive buying culture.
They haven’t changed their touch with their designs that are classic but impressive. Think of them as the power shoes for men, sans the heels and the hype. To own just one pair will get you through so many days. Did I mention how much I envy men at this point?
John Lobb puts a premium on quality materials and I found that the designs were neither dated nor trying too hard. They were far from boring as well and it’s for a man who want a sophisticated look without the frills. It was the almost-mythical “just right” selection when it comes to shoes.
Classic Oxfords, loafers, boot, buckle shoes, and even sneakers are in the offing. Every season, they update their collections with a limited line, something to spice up the rack of a collector or any shoe addict. (Men shoe addicts do exist! Just check their closets.) And while I was wearing my favorite pair of heels, I had a bit of an itch to try on a pair, and see how I would fare in them. Isn’t fashion all about experimentation also?
Kidding and fashion-choices aside, I think John Lobb is one of those brands a man can’t do without and must-know. It’s an investment piece and even a heritage one.
I don’t know about you, but this brand is bookmarked on my search history. Something to recommend to a man in your life especially when they’re ready to commit to that one pair they’ll be proud to wear again and again.
Photos courtesy of John Lobb’s official Instagram account
