Embrace the Ritual of Boots with Short Shoes | JOHN LOBB

JOHN LOBB

The Craftsmanship of a Bootmaker, Seen in the "CLIFFE"

A Ritual Completed by Fastening the Buckle

For the adult man, grooming is a kind of ritual. By adding a personal touch that one is satisfied with, the mind finds peace and a sense of fulfillment. This might be a worldview that rational women cannot comprehend. I would like to introduce the "CLIFFE" as a pair of shoes that allows one to enjoy a similar ritual of meticulous attention.

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

Seemingly Useless, Yet Never to Be Sacrificed

Consider wet shaving. Lathering the soap finely with a badger brush, applying it to skin steamed with a hot, damp towel. Then, carefully shaving with a straight razor. One might think that such an elegant use of time is unnecessary on a busy morning, but for the person performing it, it is simply a routine. This extra step brings inner satisfaction and a sense of calm.

For men, rituals are precisely that: seemingly unnecessary, yet absolutely indispensable. Even the act of putting on shoes, using a favorite shoehorn and properly lacing up, provides a satisfaction that is entirely different from rushing through it.

When it comes to boots, the ritual is completed by fastening the buckle. The "Saddle Story" proposed by John Lobb in the 2016 Spring/Summer collection allows one to savor this very pleasure.

Fastening the Buckle Sharpens the Mind

The distinctive design, with a strap covering the top of the Derby shoe and fastened with a buckle, is inspired by the brand's origins as a bootmaker. The new model, "CLIFFE," embodies this "Saddle Story." Last year's model, "COMBE," featured a lace-up boot with a single strap, and the "CLIFFE" is its rendition as a Derby shoe, incorporating that same detail.

The design, where the strap is attached to the inner part of the quarters and passed through the outer buckle, elegantly fuses the parts with the shoe's body, creating a finish that exudes a certain elegance. The "CLIFFE" possesses both this beauty and the unique pleasure of "fastening a buckle," previously limited to boots and strap shoes.

Furthermore, with both calf and suede materials available, they can be paired with a wide range of styles, which is another appeal. We encourage men who enjoy the meticulous ritual of putting on shoes, a process that sharpens the mind with each wear, to experience the "Saddle Story."

Model Name: "CLIFF"
Color/Material: Black, Claret/Calf; Parisian Brown/Suede (Nagoya Matsuzakaya Limited Edition)
Last: 8695
Sole: Single Leather Sole
Construction: Goodyear Welted
Price: ¥291,600
Sizes: 5E - 9.5E