Footwear Style
GUIDE
A look behind the scenes at Harrington shows exactly what we’re about — premium leather, honest craftsmanship, and timeless styles made to last.
— Edward Harrington, Founder
The Different types of English Shoes
At Harrington Leather Works, sharing the story behind our shoes is part of the experience.
We take real pride in helping our customers understand the details — the why and how behind every boot and loafer. Step into our store and you’ll find more than shelves of leather shoes. You’ll meet people who genuinely know and love what they do — and who are always happy to chat about what makes a truly great pair.
Not quite ready to dive into the details just yet? No worries — our Style Guide is here to give you a head start.
Learn what sets a Derby apart from a Monk, or how a Saddle Loafer differs from a Penny. We can only scratch the surface, of course — the world of classic men’s shoes runs deep, and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting.
— Edward Harrington, Founder
LOAFERS
With American roots and connections to the original moccasin, Loafers have grown from strength to strength over recent years. Another ‘no lacing’ option, Loafers are the most casual style available from a Goodyear-welted shoemaker such as Crockett & Jones. They are commonly produced in both ‘Lined’ and ‘Unlined’ forms.
- Constructed as either one whole piece of leather or two sections including galosh and apron. Both constructions have a strap
- Fitting of the last is key around two main points – the Heel and the Joint (widest part of the shoe)
- Variations: Penny (short strap stitched with a cut-out), Saddle (long strap stitched with a cut-out), Tassel, Unlined/Lined, Split Toe, Wing Cap, Long Wing, Butted / Hand Pulled Up Apron
MONK STRAP
Said to have been developed by an alpine monk in the 15th century, and worn throughout European monasteries, this style was popularised in the 1920s. Unbeknown to many, a Monk strap style hosts similar fitting qualities and construction to a Derby. You could think of a Monk style as a ‘modern day’ Derby, of sorts. With open quarters, and a whole cut vamp and tongue, Monk straps (single and double buckle) are remarkably comfortable on the foot. However, they will not offer the same level of adjustment, due to the absence of laces. The sequence of operations for constructing a Monk is similar to a Derby.
- Inside and outside Quarters are stitched to a tab point either side of the vamp
- The tongue is cut as part of the vamp and is not a separate component
- Suited to higher insteps, but can lack adjustment
- Variations: Double Buckle, Single Buckle, Wing cap, Toe Cap, Plain Front, Country, Spectator