When summer rolls around, replacing the grey gloom of winter, what we wear on our feet changes. For most, the answer is trainers. And they have their merits, of course, being exceptionally comfortable and easy to throw on. But they lack the smartness of a proper, leather or suede shoe. 

For Crockett & Jones, the 146-year-old Northampton shoemaker, the answer lies in its summer collection. Comprising sleek suede chukka boots and lightweight suede Oxfords, it combines the exceptional build quality the brand is known for with lighter construction and classic silhouettes. These are the kind of shoes you can wear to the office in high summer, or for holiday cocktails in the sun. 

There’s the Harvard 2, a soft, unlined version of the brand’s classic Boston loafer. It takes its name from the Ivy League university and borrows from the classic preppy ideals of the institution’s 1960s style-heyday. In removing the leather lining, Crockett & Jones bolstered the shoe’s flexibility, ensuring it’s more comfortable and breathable than most. This is done without losing any of the shoe’s inherent quality, a testament to the leather hides used, which will last a lifetime if looked after correctly. There’s also the snuff suede example, which has been tanned in a way that makes it water repellent, lasting throughout the life of the shoe. This puts to bed the notion that suede can only be worn in dry weather. 

Next up is the Salcombe. The first completely unstructured shoe made by Crockett & Jones, it demonstrates the shoemaker’s knowledge when it comes to construction, as well as the adaptable skills of its workers. The Salcombe remains Goodyear-welted, while the toe box support has been removed for further flexibility, making it exceptionally comfortable right out of the box. 

This is all done without compromising on the quality of construction Crockett & Jones is known for. The excellent fit of the shoe’s last, in this case the 376, also remains intact. Salcombe also comes on the brand’s own Superflex sole, a light leather sole treated with wax during its tanning process to make it more pliable. Developed and refined over two and a half years, the sole was engineered by speciality leather sole tanners in partnership with Crockett & Jones’s managing director, Jonathan Jones. It combines with Salcombe’s uppers for an extraordinarily light, flexible finish. 

For something with a bit more structure but an equally relaxed feel, there is the Salcombe 2. It comes with a leather lining, which gives it a more robust, slightly less flexible feel, and a wedge sole, which is the Northampton brand’s latest creation. Named for the slope between the waist and the heel, it’s made in England at the Harboro Rubber Co to C&J’s specifications. Designed for comfort, durability and grip, it’s perfect for bouncing around the city thanks to its impact absorbency. It transforms the Salcombe into a versatile, comfortable option for summer and beyond, and further proves why loafers, rather than trainers, are the ultimate warm-weather shoe. 

crockettandjones.com