A Toe Cap Story

(Image sourced from google images)

The toe cap style has been around for quite some time now - originating from Chanel with their gorgeous quilted balled pumps with contrasting toe cap. This season has seen them being revived with metallics and new toe shapes. Whether you go for sky scraper heels with a pointed toe, flat pumps or an ankle boot there is a way to work the trend for all ages and wardrobes. 

Here is our toe cap story....

Pedro Miralles 7426 Black £95

Pedro Miralles 7426 Navy £95

Pedro Miralles 7440 Black £110

Pedro Miralles 7451 Black £95

Cefalu Modern Black, Wine and Grey £69

Cefalu Mollyn Taupe £69

Cefalu Zaput Navy, Purple and Black £79

Gabor 74.106 Black & Grey £85

Gabor 75.353 Black £79.99 

Gabor 76.471 Black £65

What do you think of the toe cap trend? Have you given it a try?

Trend Alert - Brogue Detailing for Men

A timeless trend in men's fashion is the brogue - whether its the traditional leather soled high shine brogue for the city or a suede coloured brogue boot for casual summer days brogues are everywhere and go with everything. Casual outfits get taken to a new level with brogue boots, classic wardrobe staples get brought back to life with a smart brogue shoe and tailored, work suits look sharper then ever with a high shine brogue lace up.

Below are the best of the brogues at Hoads:

Boots

Anatomic Gel Gustavo - a vintage looking waxy leather pull on boot with traditional brogue detailing to the toe and around the twin elastic side panels. Anatomic gel boots scream comfort with their gel and sheep skin comfort padded insole - straight from the bow they feel like your old trusty's from the back of the wardrobe! Pair with jeans or chinos and checked shirt and chunky 

knit.

Steptronic Bassett - another Chelsea style boot here with brogue detailing to the toe; the deep mahogany shade and smooth leather makes this boot a much smarter option perfect for the office or an evening out. Steptronic also have comfort gel and sheepskin padded inner soles and flexible rubber outer soles therefore being on your feet all day in these is not a problem.  Pair with chinos and a shirt and you are bound to turn heads!

Barbour Belsay - lacing up the front, thick contrast sole and burnished toe and heel detail along with the brogue elements give this boot so much character. Made with a padded arch support and cement sole construction perfect for every day. Pair with cords and your favourite wax jacket or gilet. 

Josef Seibel Brandon 04 - blue suede paneling takes this boot up a notch in the fashion stakes but the thick padded collar and heavy set sole unit adds a more casual element. Josef Seibel boots are well known for their comfort and generosity in the width fitting. Perfect for a night out on the town or kicking about town. 

Shoes

Anatomic Gel Manaus - comfort made with Anatomic Gel's gel and sheepskin inner sole, flexible rubber outer sole and butter soft leathers this shoe is perfect for a man on the go. Smart enough to wear to the office without being too dressy to wear with your chinos on a weekend; multi purpose shoe at its best!

Barbour Westoe - burnished toe detail, vintage waxy looking uppers with brogue detailing and a waxed canvas heel pad make this Barbour heritage shoe the perfect smart casual ensemble. The tonal brown detailing add to the style of these shoes making them a show stopper piece or a blend into the outfit kind of item. 

Barker Albert - high shine leather, traditional lacing and brogue detailing with a leather sole makes this the perfect city shoe - smart enough for a wedding or special occasion too! Barkers are made to last and this one will fit into any shoe collection perfectly. 

Barker Jackson - now this shoe is loved by fashion followers and traditionalists alike with the brown suede uppers, tweed panel and brogue detailing. Looks simply stunning with a blue suit and just as good with a pair of dark jeans and a smart shirt. 

Barker Grant - this definitely isn't everyone's cup of tea but for those of you that love it (and we REALLY do!) it's a real statement piece. Style simply with a plain grey suit with a white shirt and let the shoes shine or burgundy chinos, a pale blue striped shirt and a cream chunky knit for an array of autumn colours.

Needless to say whatever your style there is a brogue to suit you. How do you style your brogues? 

HB Fashion Shoe Collection

In 1964 HB opened their first shoe shop in London's prestigious Bond Street - since then the brand has been known for its exquisitely designed and incredibly comfortable Italian shoes.

All of HB's moccasins and pumps are still made in the Tuscan Hills around Florence, where premium materials are selected to create each style. The unique look of HB's footwear comes from the combination of feature materials and trims chosen by the Tuscan craftsmen and always completed using their traditional shoe crafting methods.

Since its success HB have expanded their range to include a dressier and more fashion based collection from Spain. Two years ago we introduced HB into Hoads to add more interest to our collection - since its introduction HB shoes have sold out within weeks and therefore we thought we'd try something a little more daring this season so see how it goes. Below is our range from the fashion end of HB; we will however always offer a larger selection of their basics because everyone needs a comfortable basic mocc in their shoe collection!  

HB 0091 £127 in brown or black. 

Now who doesn't love a bit of animal print?! Animal print should be a constant in your wardrobe as it never goes out of fashion, the key is how you style it that lends itself to continue through seasons upon season. This exquisite tassel front loafer mixes androgynous brogue styling with leopard print to take this shoe to the next level. Fully leather lined with leather and rubber mix soles and a slightly raised rubber heel - you can feel the wonderful craftsman ship as soon as you slip your foot in. The perfect trouser shoe can be dressed up or dressed down, used as a singular statement piece or to enhance another printed item such as a blouse or cardigan. Perfect for the office with 7/8ths trousers and a blazer or lunch with the girls in jeans and an over-sized coat. 

HB 5200 £127 Brown or Black 

If you're going for the full masculine look then what better way to complete your outfit than these gorgeous lace up suede, leather and leopard print mix lace ups. Enough coverage on the foot to avoid getting wet in the rain while just leaving enough upper foot and ankle to pull of the cropped and tailored trouser that is so big this season. Pair with thick tights and a dress for a more casual androgynous look or dress them up to the nines for office wear with a high neck shirt and statement necklace around the collar. Simply stunning and quite a statement.

HB 201 Creeper £110 Black Croc or Leopard Print

The creeper - you either love it or you hate it but here at Hoads we are massive fans of this one in particular. Extremely light weight despite the heavy looking sole and fits like a glove - a twist on the classic loafer with slight height from the creeper sole. Along with adding a fashion element to your outfit the sole unit provides great grip and is light weight enough to throw in your bag at the last minute (ever the practical thinker!). Go for the black crocodile effect loafer for a more subtle take on the trend and wear to work and functions alike or go for the leopard print, tick off two trends in one shoe and really go to town! 

What do you think of our HB range? Do you like animal print fashion shoes or do you prefer to stick to the classics and make a statement with your clothing?

The coat to build all outfits around....

Recently Hoads have collaborated on a fashion evening with the fantastic little clothing boutique on Dorset Street in Sevenoaks called devine run by our good friend Elaine. For our fashion event we put together three 'get the look' boards matching outfits with our footwear to create a casual, work and evening look based around this gorgeous Great Plains coat. 

Below is why we chose those items:

Get The Look: Casual Day Out

1. Great Plains Palace Tailored Coat, £130
2. Jackpot Chirava Cardigan, £90
3. Gabor Nikki Brogue Boot, £105
4.Nougat London Corduroy Trousers, £90
5. Gabor Maxi Satchel, £69.99

This stunning tailored slightly over sized classic coat in camel is a wardrobe staple this winter - smart enough to wear to the office but warm enough to wear on the weekends at the edge of a football pitch! This neutral colour matches well with this seasons palette so will fit into your wardrobe like a dream. The Jackpot knitted cardigan again in a neutral colour will go with jeans and skirts alike, throw it over a long sleeved dress with a chunky necklace and add a bit of pattern and colour to your winter wardrobe. The colours used through the pattern detail on the cardigan will carry you through to next season and can even double as a Christmas jumper! Corduroy skinnies are the new jean this winter and the evergreen colour remains key. The Gabor Nikki ankle boots in brown add a masculine feel to this outfit - lacing up the front and brogue detailing to the toe make this a real stand out piece while remaining comfortable and classic. The perfect boot to match with any trouser look and the deep chestnut brown looks great in a tonal combination or as a stand alone colour adding richness and depth to your ensemble. Tie it all together with a satchel across body bag following through from previous seasons as the go to bag, we have chosen our Gabor Maxi satchel keeping to the tonal browns and tans of the outerwear. No makeup or a swoosh of mascara and splash of blusher add the perfect girl about town look.

Get The Look: Day at the Office

1. Great Plains Palace Tailored Coat, £130
2. Great Plains Leopard Love V Neck Dress, £55
3. Gabor 71.639 Boot, £150

Here, the coat is just the right amount of tailoring to wear to the office and just the right length to keep you warm no matter the weather. The Leopard love v-neck dress has a flattering cut - nipping in at the waist and skimming over the hips flaring out to a knee length skirt. Greys and blacks suit a multitude of people and occasions but never look dull; the leopard print smartens up this dress while also being bang on trend in terms of detail this season. Paired here with a classic cut knee length plain black boot by Gabor for comfort all day and style where it matters. We, like lots of you, love to match our bag with our boots and have chosen the Classic Mulberry satchel to finish of the outfit - the perfect size to carry all the office essentials, with a tonal cream and grey ombre pashmina for those colder days. Throw on a blazer from the back of your wardrobe for meeting a new client or add a statement necklace and the heels you keep under your desk for the last minute drinks after work. Complete the outfit with a deep berry lipstick and stud earrings for an easy but polished look. 

Get The Look: Evening Out

1. Great Plains Palace Tailored Coat, £130
2. Darling Jenny Dress, £75
3. Pedro Miralles 7600 Antique Silver heels, £95
4. Pearl Jewellery, similar available at devine.

The Jenny dress - the perfect little black dress. Lace detailing with sheer sleeves and a sheer hem make this dress simply stunning on showing the perfect amount of skin and fitting like a dream. Make the dress the statement here with simple pearl drop earrings and a pearl cuff - classic and sophisticated pearls make the perfect addition to any outfit adding a vintage feel. The Pedro Miralles heels in antique silver finish the outfit off perfectly - the washed effect silver colouring add just the right amount of colour without drawing too much attention away from the statement dress. This perfect shade of silver matches well with this seasons colours and the thick but elegantly cut heel enables you to reaming comfortable all night. Cover up with the classic tailored coat and you are good to go! Smokey eyes with a hint of lip gloss and burgundy nails make this outfit complete. 

How would you style these outfits? What is your staple wardrobe piece that you build all outfits around?

Step into Autumn with Cara London....

Cara London is a new fashion brand we have just started to represent at Hoads. Cara shoes and boots are made by an Italian company with factories in Europe enabling them to offer high quality fashion forward products at competitive prices -  the type of edge that makes other footwear brands aspire to be. 

"All our Italian shoes are built with British feet in mind. Gone are the days when Italian shoes meant narrow little killers." www.carashoes.co.uk

So here is our Cara London collection and what we love about it;

Cara Rusty - available in black and whiskey leather, £120. 

The detail on this ankle boot is divine; the leather button detail down the front adds a tougher military feel to the elegant cut of the boot while the brogue detailing to the toe hints at the androgynous trend. 

The chunky style heel makes this boot perfect for every day wear - adding a little height without feeling too dressy. 

These boots would be perfect to toughen up a tea dress or with skinny jeans and an over-sized button up coat. 







Cara Pippa - available in black suede or wine suede, £99.

This cute little ankle boot has a cowboy feel to the styling with the suede uppers, burnished toe detail and stacked block heel (in a contrasting colour on the wine boot). 

The wine option is bang on trend with this seasons colours and looks fantastic with a black skinny trouser or coated jean. Play matchy matchy with black on black or pair with a swing dress, chunky scarf and boyfriend fit cardy for the perfect "just threw this on" look!

Gold detailing this season is massive especially in the form of studs or zips - both of which you have here on one boot - saving you money if you want to keep up with both trends! This boot is the perfect accompaniment to any outfit adding a splash of colour if you choose the wine or becoming a staple in the wardrobe if black is the one for you.

Cara Berkely  - available in black or whiskey leather, £159

The Cara Berkley boot is made with gorgeously soft leather uppers with twin elastic panels down the back and a half zip on the inside leg. This boot fits like a glove - you might need to size down in the foot however as they are coming up quite long. 

This classic style has always been a favourite among fashion lovers and savvy shoppers alike down to the sophisticated cut and simplicity of the boot. 

Wear this boot with even the most casual of outfits and watch the look transform into a sleek and enviable ensemble. You cannot help but love this boot once it is on and you won't find a boot that fits and sculpts your calf quite like this one. Give it a try, we know you will love it!

Cara Sabrina - taupe suede, £99

This casual styled slightly slouched ankle boot is the perfect neutral taupe with a vintage appearance to the suede upper. 

Lacing up the front of the boot and a full inside zip make the fit on this boot perfect while the contrast block heel adds that slight lift that makes a comfortable day boot.

Paired with a dress or trousers this boot adds a masculine and country feel to any outfit. Although remaining neutral in its colour and simple in its styling this is no boot to be ignored. Once bought this boot could can easily become a daily staple for those of us that have a huge place in our heart for jeans and all that is casual and cosy. 

Wear with a plaid button up shirt and jeans for a daytime look that feels put together rather than thrown together or a maxi skirt and chiffon cami for those evenings by the fire in the local pub. Go against the grain and dress this gorgeous casual boot up with a delicate floral dress or black skinnies, blouse and statement necklace - its so versatile you can't go wrong with Sabrina in your footwear collection. 

How do you wear your boots? We'd love to know!

To view our full Cara collection visit our website http://www.hoadshoes.co.uk/shop/category/cara-london/

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