Dress Down. Dress Well.
Exploring the hybrid artistry of smart casual with
Loake’s new ‘Viper Sole’ collection
Words by Will HALBERT
In the ever-evolving realm of men’s style, change is always just around the corner. Over the years, the divide that once stood between sartorial sleek and casual cool has broken down in favour of an exciting menswear middle ground. Faced with this flow of constant evolution, it pays to stay hybrid.
This hybrid ethos can be seen in every aspect of men’s styling: Savile Row types can be seen relaxing their typical, sartorial severity in favour of less constructed lines, boxier silhouettes and the addition of more casual – even sporting – footwear choices to their tried-and tested suit combinations. Likewise, streetwear savants can be seen sharpening up somewhat; bringing a little light tailoring and richer, more diverse textures into the mix. On both sides of the spectrum, the result is a demand for a considered look with a more versatile appeal.
Stylistically speaking, it’s a tightrope act: A delicate balance of smart and casual. There’s a real artistry to the whole endeavour, a refusal to take on a style wholesale, opting instead to pick and choose the best elements from a range of styles to create a hybrid look that balances the smart and the casual, the traditional and the modern, the outstanding and the everyday.
A case in point would be Northamptonshire shoemakers, Loake, and their latest Viper Sole collection. It might come as a surprise to some, but it really shouldn’t. Loake’s forays into the middle ground of smart casual have always proved rich and rewarding. And how could they not be? As one of Britain’s oldest reigning shoemakers, Loake have been quietly combining traditional patterns with contemporary styling for many years. The Viper Sole range is the latest iteration of the brand’s quietly confident and expertly-handled experimentation.
‘There’s a real artistry to the whole endeavour, a refusal to take on a style wholesale, instead opting to pick and choose the best elements…to create a hybrid look that balances the smart and the casual, the traditional and the modern, the outstanding and the everyday.’
New to Loake’s Design Loake range – already renowned for combining contemporary design with traditional Loake craftsmanship – the Viper Sole comes in three distinct styles across five colourways. Each pair combines time-honoured shoemaking techniques and perennially popular styles with a less formal, more modern, and endlessly versatile aesthetic.
For too long, dressing down has been considered a compromise; an obligation to relax your style for the sake of comfort and practicality. Loake’s Viper Sole range removes this sense of compromise by offering the style-conscious the option to dress down, but dress well.
The Cobra, the Python and the Mamba make up Loake’s Viper Sole range; a Derby brogue, a chukka boot and a Derby brogue boot, respectively. All three styles come furnished with Loake’s exclusively designed and branded, ridged EVA sole. The EVA sole offers a lighter option than the company’s other leather and rubber soles whilst also boasting improved grip and traction for all year round wear. As we’ve come to expect from Loake, each style is handcrafted using techniques that can be traced back to when the Loake family first started producing shoes, five generations and over 130 years ago.
All in all, Loake’s latest Viper Sole collection doesn’t feel like a compromise, but a carefully crafted middle ground with some serious mass appeal. For all of the brand’s dedication to age-old craft and time-honoured heritage, the Viper Sole range feels remarkably fresh and exciting. By all accounts, it’s another confident step forward for Design Loake: Contemporary, hybrid footwear with some serious bite. EJ
A closer look at the Loake Viper Sole key styles
COBRA | Brown Pull-Up
Goodyear Welted Viper Soles, Fully Leather Lined, Leather Insoles, Last Viper, F Fitting
Sizes 6 to 11 inc half sizes, 12 & 13
MAMBA | Tan Suede
Goodyear Welted Viper Soles, Fully Leather Lined, Leather Insoles, Last Viper, F Fitting
Sizes 6 to 11 inc half sizes, 12 & 13
PYTHON | Brown Pull-Up
Goodyear Welted Viper Soles, Fully Leather Lined, Leather Insoles, Last Viper, F Fitting
Sizes 6 to 11 inc half sizes, 12 & 13
Loake’s Viper Sole Collection is now available at loake.co.uk
