Monk Straps Capturing the Spirit of the Age | JOHN LOBB

JOHN LOBB

The New "MORVAL" Brings a Relaxed Feel to Your Footwear

The Pair to Choose in an Era of No Right Answers

In recent years, men's fashion has been diversifying. While styles like trad and preppy have garnered attention, the authentic three-piece suit remains a strong presence. In this era, the "MORVAL" is a pair that you can confidently purchase.

Photographs by KOBAYASHI Takashi (ITARU Studio)Text by ITO Yuji (OPENERS)

A Journey Through the New Dress Code of the Era

Fundamentally, increased freedom in fashion is a benefit. However, for men, this can sometimes lead to悩みの種 (a source of worry). One such phenomenon is the change in dress codes within the business scene. Previously, simply wearing a suit was sufficient, but a trend emerged favoring more stylish enjoyment with jacket and trousers.

As a result, this trend has contributed to the overall elevation of men's fashion, and this freedom continues to expand further.

Sporty, relaxed, casual, and effortless. The list goes on, but what all these keywords have in common is the desire to enjoy fashion more easily.

However, the line between comfort and sloppiness is thin. Whether you cross that line or not makes a completely different impression. Therefore, choosing a pair of shoes with a distinctive style might be the gentlemanly choice for today's era.

Shoes That Maintain the Line of a Gentleman

As exemplified by business styles, men's fashion itself is currently polarizing. If you're dressing in a sharp three-piece suit, a pair like John Lobb's "WILLIAM" would be suitable, but in terms of pairing with jacket and trousers, it might be considered too refined in its appearance.

The model that bridges this gap arrived in the 2015AW collection: the "MORVAL." Crafted on the same "0015" last as the new boots, this pair features a rounded last, exuding a certain charm. The design, combining a monk strap with a moderately voluminous toe, can be seen as injecting new life into John Lobb, a brand whose icon is the double buckle.

The reason we propose this "MORVAL" as a contemporary design is its excellent compatibility with the trend of shorter trousers. Whether it's grey slacks or denim, in today's fashion where lighter feel is emphasized with shorter hemlines, the volume of the shoe becomes important for maintaining balance. As the hemline shortens, the shoes take on the role of compensating for that missing length.

Fashion is freedom. Therefore, wear what you want to wear. However, whether it is stylish and appropriate for the times is left to individual taste. In this era without definitive answers, if you want to make basic items like jacket and trousers, denim, or chinos look contemporary, the "MORVAL" is one of the safe choices you can make.