During my last visit to London, in May, I actually dedicated some time to capturing the essence of Jermyn Street and what it offers in terms of shoes. Part of that was a trip to the John Lobb store to see what they had new in and to capture their classic offering that still makes this a great brand. Sadly, over the years, their Hermes ownership has naturally veered toward more ‘fashion’ style designs that you often see in the fake style mags like GQ and the like. But entering the shop is a different experience. At the store, you actually see what makes John Lobb (Paris, as it is sometimes called) great.
When I lived in London, I knew the store manager and would often pop by the John Lobb store to take photos of their new collections. Being that I left London 7 years ago, though, and getting to the store in the Upper East Side is a journey not often worth it, it is rare that I now get to see–in person–their offering. I decided to make an effort this trip, as I still appreciate what John Lobb brings to the industry. Although their shoes are for the very upper class, starting at $2000 for your classic welted Oxford, I still admire John Lobb for their design and historical efforts. Their new echelon of status makes them unachievable for the average guy, but their shoes are still admirable for the pioneering of many great designs and ideas that often drive the industry.
I learned something new about the brand while visiting the John Lobb store in London, and that is the extensive nature of their Made to Order (MTO) program. While it is exclusive to certain models and can only be done in-store, the availability of leathers, soles, and buckles is quite vast. Mainly on display to represent this collection was the Lopez model (their classic moc penny loafer) in various colors and sole options. From a simple two-tone to a very unique-looking tri-tone option, the possibilities are endless once you decide to take the plunge. It is rare to see so many buckle options for monkstraps.
Although I would never personally spend over $1000 for a casual, soft-sole loafer (probably because I do not have that kind of money), I quite like their more Spring/Summer casual line-up of footwear. If I were a millionaire, I would probably be wearing John Lobb over all of the other fashion brands, as I know that Lobb, at least, still offers quality materials and construction. Sadly, that might remain a fantasy for me 😉 Time shall tell!
If you are ever in London, make sure to visit Jermyn Street and the John Lobb store. Alternatively, if you are Stateside, they have a brand new shop in NYC that is quite lovely. I have only passed by it, but I must make a visit one of these days before I leave the Tri-State area.
Read more about John Lobb on the Blog here.
Learn more here: https://www.johnlobb.com/
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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