Robert is comfortable and hard-wearing and has the timeless look of a stylish derby shoe. The collection is available in leather in Burgundy, Black Bookbinder, Dark Brown, and Espresso Burnished while our suede shoes are available in Brown, Black, Cashew, Coffee, Earth, Navy and Red.
The Robert Derby shoe can be identified by its “open” lacing system, meaning that its eyelet tabs are stitched on top of the shoe’s vamp. With its “open lace” construction, the Robert is suitable for a wider fit and higher in-step. This ensures more comfort compared to an Oxford shoe which has a tighter lacing system. Also known as a Gibson or Blucher, the Robert Derby has the ability to be delicate and classy, as well as sturdy and rugged.
The 14th Earl of Derby is the name synonymous for the cut. The Earl apparently was a man of generous proportions, and his large feet made it difficult for him to wear boots. In response, his bootmaker developed an open-laced boot that accommodated his feet better than closed-laced boots.
The Derby became a popular sporting and tramping shoe in the 1850s. By the turn of the 20th century the derby had become appropriate for wear in town.
The Robert is classic and comfortable and like many of our styles they are very suitable for formal occasions and their sleek and simplistic appearance lends itself well to casual and smart casual outfits. As such, derby shoes can work just as well with a pair of jeans as they can with wool trousers.
The Robert can slot into near-enough any wardrobe. They’ll let you level-up laid-back looks and give a relaxed look to more smarter outfits.