Herring has launched new two-tone men’s spectator shoes for the summer season.
The Kingston is a classic two-tone shoe which blends the finest navy suede with beautiful brown calf and brogue detailing. These are handmade by our friends at the Carlos Santos factory in Portugal and are testament to wonderful in artisanal shoemaking.
The spectator has been a staple in the Herring collection for a long time. We we love them! It is the most common welted footwear design to use two different colours. Different types of leathers or coloured leathers for the toe, vamp, facings and counters are used to create the two-tone effect. A wingtip or full-brogue brogue pattern is often added to complete the look.
The story behind men’s spectator shoes
The term ‘spectator’ has its origins in sport. Golfers and cricketers adopted this style on the fairways and around the wicket. The gentlemen who came to watch them began to wear these shoes too.
This tradition has continued with spectators wearing this colourful style at summery sporting events: tennis tournaments, regattas and race meets. The spectators’ summer vibe means they are favourites for weddings and other celebrations.
What’s an alternative name for spectator shoes?
The alternative name for the two-tone shoe is the correspondent. This name is linked to King Edward VIII’s and Wallace Simpson’s notorious affair. A divorcee still married to her second husband when the King proposed marriage, there was no doubt who the ‘co-respondent’ was in this love triangle. ‘Co-respondent’ is the term used for a wrongdoer named in a divorce suit. The King and Simpson were very fond of their two-tone shoes, and so the name stuck.
People who like to express a little flair still wear spectator shoes. Our good friends Jerry Tharapos and Kazi Atiquzzaman both like to dress up. Spectator shoes are an integral part of their look. In Jerry’s words, this shoe style is for people who like to “be dashing…be daring”.
Best spectator shoes for men
We think we have got some of the best. The aforementioned Kingston is one of several brown and navy calf styles we have on offer. The brogue detailing often the differentiating factor. See our Farnham style and Barker’s Keiran.
The Henley II blends tan calf and canvas for real summertime aesthetics. This British-made shoe is truly iconic and just needs a trilby with some strawberries and cream to complete the look!
Our ever-popular rubber-soled tweed and calf shoes and boots – the Dartmoor and the Exmoor – are popular for colder days, but they can keep until autumn.
Our white and black offerings come with Oxford lacing. They differ though with the Farnham spectator shoe featureing brogue punching while the Gusbourne is all about the clean lines. We have made the Gusbourne in tan and white too to give our customers a choice of sumptuous elegance.
Spectator shoes men’s
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