How to choose the right pair of shoes
Comfort, support, materials, real use: the criteria that make the difference between a pair you keep for years and one you regret.
The 3 things to check before you buy
Before you look at the style or the price, three elements determine whether a pair of shoes will really suit you: the use you intend for them, getting the size right and the quality of the build.
Start from real use, not intended use
A city shoe, a walking shoe and a sports shoe do not answer the same demands. Ask yourself how many hours a day you will wear them, on what kind of ground and in what weather.
If you walk more than an hour a day, go for solid cushioning and a flexible sole. Our shoe collection is sorted by use, so you can filter on that criterion straight away.
Measure your size and the width of your foot
Sizing varies from one brand to another and a foot changes over the years. Measure the length of both feet while standing and keep the larger one. Allow about one centimetre between your longest toe and the front of the shoe.
Try them on late in the day, when the foot is slightly swollen, and with the socks you will actually wear. Width matters as much as length: two feet of the same size can need very different widths.
Look at the materials and the construction
Full grain leather breathes and moulds to the foot over time, where cheap synthetic traps moisture and loses its shape. Check the inner lining too, often overlooked although it sits against the foot at all times.
Finally, look at how the sole is attached: a stitched sole can be resoled, a sole that is only glued is difficult to replace. That detail is what separates a three year pair from a ten year pair.
With those three points in mind, the choice becomes far simpler. Browse our shoe collection to find the model that fits your use, and complete the look with our leather goods , made from the same leathers.
Take the guide with you
The three criteria, the method for measuring your size and a size conversion chart, gathered in one document you can print or check in store.
Download the guide PDF, free and no sign up required