Are men’s slippers the ultimate Christmas gift? Well, I can confirm that my husband has them on his list, so slippers will be a key component of his Christmas! But what makes slippers such a requested item? I feel they are easy to ask for and easy to buy, which is appealing at this busy time of year. They also express care for the person receiving them as the gift-giver clearly wants to keep the recipient’s feet warm!
As the festive season nears, allow us to give you a tour of our top slipper styles just in case you are wondering which men’s slippers to request or purchase this Christmas.
The origins of slippers
The word “slipper” was first recorded in English in the 15th century. It is thought to derive from the Old English language words of “sliper” and “slipor” which means “slip-shoe”. However, Spanish cave drawings that date back more than 15,000 years had already depicted a version of this shoe.
Felt factory workers in north-east England made themselves slippers from the scraps left on the warehouse floor leading to savvy retailers beginning to sell them in the late 1800s.
Queen Victoria’s consort Prince Albert was a keen slipper wearer, but he chose more luxurious styles and wore them with smoking jackets, black-tie attire or velvet robes, and hence they became known as Prince Albert slippers. The Victorian loved the ease of the slipper, but after World War One, they were also deemed essential to cope with heatless homes.
Slippers were being advertised as the ideal Christmas present for men from the 1920s.
What is a slipper?
Slippers, as the name suggests, are easy to slip on and off, and do not have any fastenings. They usually have a soft, minimal structure and a thin sole. They are not for walking over hard ground but for pottering around indoors.
Types of men’s slippers
Moccasin slippers
These are the softest of the soft in the slipper world with the most relaxed construction. Often the cosiest as well, they sometimes have a fleecy, warm lining to keep your toes toasty. Our Fergus style is a typical moccasin while the Duke and Earl are slightly more structed with a sheepskin lining,
Mule slippers
These are backless slippers and the ultimate slip-on style. Again, these can be warm lined, like our Logan slipper, or a little sleeker for a lighter step. See Herring’s navy Baronet (below) or Church’s black Arran style for inspiration.
House shoes
Again, you can slip these on and off, but they have a little more structure to them but still have a soft leather sole so are unsuitable for outdoor use. The Noble has the rather fine addition of an elegant piping around the edge of the upper while the Baron is a little more low key.
Prince Albert slippers
These very regal styles look incredible with a black-tie outfit or for soaking up the luxury at home. Prince Albert slippers are more structured with a velvet upper. Our Prince Albert styles come with a quilted lining and are hand embroidered. Our Stag style is a firm favourite with our customers (see below), as is the Skull version.
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