The life of the diplomat seems like an enviable one. Trot the globe over as an emissary of your own culture and nation. Meet interesting people, sample native cuisine, read the literature, and maybe get involved in a international affair. People assume you're connected, worldly, and amenable to pragmatic solutions to difficult problems: diplomatic. I'm getting at two things here: (1) that Church's shoes have been the representative of the best English shoemaking tradition since 1873, when they were founded in Northampton, England; and (2) that if you aren't about to be appointed ambassador to a small, wealthy country known for its beautiful women, you can at least dress the part in Church's shoes. Maybe the classic Diplomat or Consul models. Church's has the additional distinction of being an early shoe innovator. Before Church's began making their shoes in "adaptable" pairs, most shoes were straight--that is, not specifically meant for your left foot or right. I shudder to imagine a world without the beautiful yin and yang visible in the graceful lines of a well-crafted pair of (left and right) shoes. Read more

Church's city shoes are all business when necessary, but sometimes pairing a black city shoe with a good pair of denim is the perfect contrast. Church's classics are well-designed and reservedly ornamented with broguing when appropriate. They don't have to exaggerate to make a point. Their country shoes are comfortably and tweedily English. "Black for the city, brown for the country," some say, but I'm down with brown in town. Any pair will serve you faithfully and make a good impression during important international meetings (what's a diplomat for, after all?), or at a cafe with a new lady friend.

Written by Pete Anderson

» Shop Church's