Edward Green. Aficionados of smart dressing nod their head in familiarity when they hear this name, a synonym for quality and style for over a century. The 202 model, which we will be examining today, is, in our opinion, the most traditionally British product on offer from this historical footwear manufacturer, which has been operating from its original home in Northampton since 1890. This long-established brand, which attracted customers of the likes of Ernest Hemingway and the Duke of Windsor, still cuts the best Italian and French leather by hand, thanks to an army of sixty specialized artisans, who together craft around 350 pairs of shoes per week.
The Berkeley model in dark oak (shown in the photo) broke in after few seconds of use and I believe it's the perfect solution for morning formalwear, for two main reasons: first of all, because they are Oxfords – slightly more formal than their cousins the Derby – and also because the colour brown is decidedly unadvisable for eveningwear. And the lightly decorative stitching on the cap leads us to see this particular model as being the halfway-house between the ultra formal undecorated cap-toes (perfect for ceremonies) and the more casual – although still in the formalwear category – brogues, which are embellished on the ends. It goes without saying that the construction is Goodyear, with double stitching and a layer of cork in the welt which ensures the wearer unbeatable comfort, even after hours of wear. And finally, the cherry on the cake comes in the form of the antiquated hand-finished sheen produced by the expert hands of the Edward Green craftsmen.
Bespoke hugs,
Fabio
