Usher in Your Rock Era With John Lobb's New 'Smith' Derby
The rock revival is on. Can't you feel it in the air?
There's a folk-rock resurgence bubbling, sure to explode upon the release of the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown. The upcoming third act of Beyoncé's music trilogy (currently comprising Renaissance and Cowboy Carter) is rumoured to be blues-based. And as the scene kids of TikTok wave goodbye to Y2K styles, focus has shifted towards the indie aesthetics of the late 2000s (our current moodboard: 2009's 500 Days of Summer).
Quite unexpectedly, John Lobb – the fancy footwear brand founded in 1849, named the official bootmaker of the Prince of Wales in 1863 and bought by Hermés in 1976 – is adding to the energy.
The label's contribution to rock's rebirth comes in the form of a derby that has been appropriately dubbed the Smith.
The luxury leather shoe gets its edge from its defining quality: the voluminous sole. The chunky substructure was designed to ensure “excellent grip and durability”. Plus, it's a “goodyear” sole, which is menswear speak for shoes that are easily resoled thanks to a welt that runs along the perimeter.
As you can see from the lookbook – shot by Indigo Lewin in and around a record shop in Shoreditch, London – it's substantial form is ideal for adding some weight to your slim, sleek winter looks: a wax jacket, chinos and scarf combo, or even a jeans and leather jacket look.
And, of course, the colourways have been strategically selected to emphasise the silhouette's rock sensibilities: there's black, oxblood, black and white (blanc on the apron) and black and white again but on this last one, electric blue piping.
Which one should you opt for? Don't look at us. Please, please, please, get what you want...
The Smith is available on johnlobb.com and at John Lobb boutiques worldwide for £1,350.
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