We’re not going to wax lyrical about this shoe, the close-up shot above should explain why we chose this loafer from fine footwear makers John Lobb. Black Couchevel calfskin with that fine grain means that very little else had to happen on this shoe, no tricks needed.  One of the slickest pair of loafers we’ve seen in a while, these are sitting over at Leather Soul, just hanging out and being the best.

“Going for a run? You’ll probably grab a pair of New Balances. Shooting some hoops? Then you’ll be lacing up some Jordans. Going for a nice afternoon drive in your Aston Martin coupe? Well, now you have the right footwear.” So goes the press sheet on these snappy numbers from John Lobb.

Frankly, we find this verbal setup a little dubious. Sure, you use your feet quite a bit for driving, but you don’t need extra arch or ankle support. What you need is a soft, slim shoe with edges that don’t catch the pedals. These meet those needs and then some: “Perforations on the out and instep add the right touch of airflow as you are working the pedals …” (hyperbolic much?). Thing is, so do a grip of non-driving shoes. We do, however, like that they look like another specialized shoe: bowlers. Handsome shoes in lots of cool colors; hype not necessary.

More looks in our gallery…

Today, we head over to Europe for a taste of Italy through the eyes of Marco Ravanetti, the editor of one of our favorite sites, Men’s Reveire. We asked him to pick eight of his favorite items for the holidays; goods that could serve as gifts for just about anyone. We of course get a very discreet list what can only be seen as a very considered offering.

As Mr. Ravanetti tell us, “Yes, I do love gifts. A lot, although I don’t receive them very often. Due to this, eight, is a very tight number, therefore, I hope Jeff will allow me to cheat just a tiny bit.” Yes, sir, you can cheat.

Click for more looks at the eight gift selections from Italy’s Marco Ravanetti.

Those purveyors of elegance and excellence E. Tautz have collaborated with another elegance specialist in John Lobb. Made for Wallpaper’s ‘Handmade’ issue, it’s one of those collaborations we’re surprised hasn’t been made earlier. Costing £795, they’re available from the John Lobb store on 88 Jermyn Street. They also come with specially made shoe trees – and considering the price, they bloody well should do.

John Lobb have paid respect to their patron saint, Saint Crépin, the only way they know how: making a shoe. A captoe oxford on the 8000 last, it’s made using their ‘prestige process’, something that involves all sorts of wheeled welts, tapered heels, hand sculptured waists and other old school techniques. It’ll be released on October 25th which is, coincidentally, Saint Crépin day.

Dandy Project gets a look at the John Lobb “Spirits of Capitals” collection which looks to bring the collection to the feet of those other than “stodgy old men.” “The ‘Spirits of Capitals’ collection was born out of a challenge for the house of John Lobb to craft a pair of shoes that would embody a city in the world. John Lobb commissioned a number of teams of designers, shoemakers, and clients of different backgrounds: artists, performers, and possibly a couple of private people with bucks to blow. The result is an album of shoes that profoundly exemplify the cities that inspired them.”

More looks after the click.

Driving shoes are the new thing… Maybe they always just were here, but it is clear that as street fashion guys get older, they are looking for something new. For those in the urban locales with no vehicles, you can still rock these. Hell, you wear deck shoes off-boat. (s)

Gentleman looking for a new pair of walkers, should consider this double buckle beauty from the John Lobb collection. “This ankle boot version of the company’s iconic William double buckle shoe includes a hand-sewn toe cap, a double leather sole and the signature twin buckles in nickel.” Well done.

00o00 turns us onto this John Lobb video ‘190 steps’. As you might guess from the title, it’s a short video that showcases a couple of the 190 steps needed to complete a John Lobb shoe.

After much fanfare, Mr Porter has finally launched and the site that will finally get men shopping is here. By now we all know the sort of product they’ll have in stock, but more interesting is their side magazine, The Journal. The launch issue has this feature on John Lobb Double-Monk (aka the blogger’s choice of shoe) showcasing just why this big bucks shoe costs big bucks. Read it over at Mr Porter.