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

Be@rbrick X Happy Socks

Still loving the collaborations at Sock&Sole we have another one for you! Be@rbrick, the toy bear makers from Japan, have released a new sock with one of its bears. In truly limited edition fashion, may I present, the Be@rbrick x Happy Sock.

#HIGHLYCollectible.

#Interact. @SockandSole

Brand Watch: Quoddy Shoes

Made in Maine, New England, Quoddy are purveyors of the finest moccasins Sock&Sole has had the pleasure of writing about. When first looking at the collections, we looked at the price and not much else, but as the old adage goes, you really do get what you pay for! Individually hand sewn shoes, the finest materials and comfort to match! Check them out on their site... But as usual S&S's representation does just as good a job!

Gentleman's Stripe Happy Socks

Following on from Tom Ford's Five Easy Lessons To Be A Modern Gentleman, Sock&Sole interprets 'Rule 1) You should put on the best version of yourself when you go out into the world because that is a show of respect to the other people around you.' As a tedious way of saying...wear great shoes. Wear greater socks. Happy Socks agree and have produced a sock of gentlemanly ilk.

#TrueGent 

@SockandSole

Hermes x Vans

'Hermes, Pastelle, I pass the [VANS]!?
Hermes have embarked on a collaboration which theoretically shouldn't work on any level. But strangely enough it does. Classic Hermes design meets contemporary slip on plimsoll. Based on designs from Robert Verdi's vintage Hermes scarves, the end product speaks for itself.

#Coveted

@SockandSole

New Shoes

'I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything is right'

So Sock&Sole have been active in the shoe market of late, and we thought we'd show off some of our new weapons!

They include Nike Blazers, Brogues and a weaved slip on sandal with a Monk Strap curtesy of a charity shop.

Invest.

S&S

Dr. Sole

'Who's The Dr. They Told You To Go See?'
Dr. Martens. They're becoming a staple boot, purely on merit and their simplicity, and these guys making them look fresh. Thick soled boot. Patent upper. Wild array of colourways. They look like they'll take a while to break in. Go vintage. Simple.