Duck.

It's been raining in Manchester for like three days. I hate wet feet. So I'm paying attention to Duck Boots which have made a successful transition from catwalk to sidewalk. 

Ill let you know what find. So long as my feet are dry.

@SockandSole

Grenson x Barbour

Readers, two of England's most iconic heritage brands. Six iconic shoes for Fall/Winter '11. Barbour and Grenson have created this collection of Brogue, Brogue Boots, and a Military Boot.

#MadeInEngland

@SockandSole

Under the Boardwalk [Empire]

'....down by the sea, yeah, On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be' [The Drifters]
The resounding success of Martin Scorsese's Prohibition era drama series was said, by GQ, to be responsible for a crazy percentage increase in the sales of tie pins. However look a little lower and you'll see that a 1920's gent sported a two-tone brogue with his three piece suit. And they looked well, see for yourself.

They can be procured from Church's, Tricker's and Grenson and for those attempting to incorporate a pair into their wardrobe, I would. Nucky Thompson style.
For those who haven's seen the show, watch it. You won't be disappointed!

@SockandSole

Mean Shoe Game: Ed Westwick

Meet Ed Westwick, of Gossip Girl and Chalet Girl fame. The character he is best known for (Charles 'Chuck' Bass) is a completely different being altogether who may grace the 'Mean Shoe Game' postings in weeks to come, but for now let us concentrate on the non-fictional Westwick.

Take note of his footwear allies.

• The Tasslled Loafer
• The Penny Loafer
• The Trainer 
• The Military Boot

I personally like the non-fictional actors who have style, as opposed to the characters they play, who are styled. Ed Westwick sums this up.

#xoxo

@SockandSole

Take A Hike...

@bazape asked me via twitter message, a question to the tone of 'Are you going to be writing about all this walking shoes that are cropping up in shops and magazines this season?' To which I replied 'I already have!' But for those who may have missed it I will bring you again the Art of The Walking Boot from Sock&Sole's 11 for '11 back in March of this year.

Popular brands here include Red Wing and Wolverine. The difference between the fashion pieces seen here and the functional pieces you can pick up in your local outdoors/camping store is the design, particularly in the soles. I wouldn't trust these on the Pennine Trail just as much I wouldn't trust the Merrell Chameleons on the catwalks at LFW! So there you have it @bazape, #informed!

@SockandSole

'I Got a Mean Shoe Game'

'My feet are still on the ground, I just wear better shoes.' 

Oprah Winfrey 

Happy October, readers! Fall is truly upon us, I know this as on my weekend trip to London, my Clarks Originals Desert Boots looked pretty good as I walked through leaves of a similar colour palette to my boots. I would like to profile a few people from various walks of the life be it popular culture, film, TV, music or even made up characters that express themselves chiefly through a love of shoes. 'Mean Shoe Game' will show them in their best and tell you about their best wares. So who's up first? I have a few ideas... Answers to @SockandSole please!

Smart Shoe of the Year: The Tasselled Loafer

To the winner of the smart shoe of the year, beating off stiff competition from Oxford Wingtips, Brogues and Monk Straps, the Tasselled Loafer has come out on top! Why you ask? They look just as good with jeans as they do with a suit. For this reason, I've plumped for this shoe as my Smart Shoe of 2011. Although they look a bit aloof as a shoe, once you get some they are indispensable.

#GetSome!

@SockandSole

Casual Shoe of The Year: The Boat Shoe

One of the best parts of my opening salvo at Sock&Sole was the piece on boat shoes. They sell themselves, especially when they are supported by images of 'Drizzy' Drake, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams sporting Sperry Topsiders or Sebago Docksides, with American Apparel T's looking supafly! Suede in spring, leather in the fall! And there you have it! The boat shoe, Casual Shoe of the Year.

#ImOnABoat

@SockandSole

Tom Ford: The Best Man in Town

Meet the aptly named Tom Ford, who has been a fundamental contributor to this blog and created our logo!

Meticulous in nature Tom's shoe collection is over 30 strong and includes a healthy mix of all the styles profiled in this blog and a few more that are still to come. This particular shot sees him sport a driving shoe

Works with the uniform of an Oxford shirt and stonewash jeans.

#PeaceBrother

@SockandSole

Shoe Brand of The Year: Clarks

Not getting why?! Well I've bought three pairs this year and when people say, 'THEY'RE CLARKS?' I say yes. They don't just make shoes for your older relatives or you school attending siblings! This year has seen Clarks team up with expert shoe makers Poste to create the Clarks x Poste Desert Boot & Desert Trek shoe, as well as Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame to create the Clarks x Pretty Green Boot.
Ch-ch-check it out!

You still not sold? Well Wu-Tang rock Clarks Wallabees, LL Cool J reps Wallabees! So in the words of Nas, 'Wallabees be the apparel'

#Schooled

Any feedback? Hit me on Twitter @SockandSole

Sock of the Year: Falke

Maker of the markets best invisible sock, but much more than makers of a sock which is especially harder to see...Falke socks steal Sock of the Year for us! Their range is a healthy blend of classic and contemporary the making them this year's sock for business or pleasure and even their slipper socks are the house socks of dreams!

#winning

@SockandSole

Sock of the Year: Runner Up - Pantherella

The runner up (and only due to my massive bias on the eventual winner in this category) is the Pantherella Sock. Pantherella are purveyors of the finest socks and the famous 'Gentleman's Business Sock' exported worldwide as the sock to complete the suit. My favourite Pantherella product is their cashmere socks and for those who haven't worn a pair of cashmere socks, know that the feeling of putting them ON is like the same feeling you have when take OFF your regular socks in bed, but better.

An honourable mention goes to Happy Socks who just create socks that do what they say on the sole!
Check out there recent work with Be@rbrick and some early Sock&Sole work on their Spring/Summer '11 Collection.

@SockandSole

Trainer of The Year: #WINNER

And the winner, as chosen by my good friend @HelloMrGroom is the Patta x Nike Air Max 1.

Patta, who incidentally designed the artwork for a classic hip-hop mix-tape by Frank the Butcher also came up with this refreshing take on the classic Air Max.

#iwantthose!

@SockandSole

Trainer of The Year: Runners Up

Runners up, and testament to my love of Nike's collections and collaborations this year come:

1) Nike x Supreme. On the back of Supreme being the brand of choice for Odd Future and its enigmatic leader, Tyler, the Creator.
2) Nike Air Jordan. The latest incarnation of the iconic shoe has found fans in a new generation of younger hipsters, yet still remains a classic 26 years after the original.

You Know I Got Sole: The Sock&Sole Awards, 2011

'Its been a long time, I shouldn't have left you, without a strong [shoe] to step to.'

Eric B & Rakim (You Know I Got Soul)

My apologies loyal readers, I have been in transition! The messages from readers like @JammyOlives on Twitter really gave me a shove to get producing some new material. 

Anyway I'm back now and you will be blessed with my interpretation of a year in the shoe game, in the form of the The Sock&Sole Awards, as you can tell this idea came from the VMA's and I thought to do my own. 

The format is simple. Six categories: 

• Best Smart Shoe
• Best Sock
• Best Casual Shoe
• Best Trainer
• Sock Brand of the Year
• Shoe Brand of the Year

Shortlist of three, from which the winner will be selected, by Sock&Sole. 

Any questions?

#StandbyForThePresentation

@SockandSole