Thinking Through the Double Monk

I love the double monkstrap just as much as the next guy.  But what I don’t like is the fashiony herd-mentality that has put all bi-buckled shoes under a blanket label and everyone and their mother pining for a pair.  Any pair.  Come on guys, let’s be a little more particular than that.

I’ll admit the double monkstrap bandwagon is an easy one to get on, but a recent post at The Armoury really hit the nail on the head for me.  Not all double monks are created equal, and when you go after a pair (which, for the record, I still think you should) I recommend you look at more than brand name and color.

As the gents at The Armoury so finely put it, the double monk is traditionally a country shoe.  If you want to subvert that, great – just know that you’re doing it.  And if you don’t, then wave the banner of tradition proudly.  John Lobb’s offerings provide the perfect example.  The John Lobb St. Crispin is certainly an envy-worthy shoe.  It has delicate buckles, a blind seam, and a razor sharp waist – not to mention the stunning Misty black leather.  But it’s far more fit for a stroll down a New York street than a Cotswold path.  About the only thing it has in common with Lobb’s more rustically-inclined William model is the buckles.

 

If you want to get a sense of what’s out there, Derek of Die, Workwear! and Put This On did a great series at the former on double monks a few months back.  He covered quite the variety of styles and price ranges, so I recommend you take a look.  Get a sense of what you like and what you don’t.  Plain toe or toe cap?  Dark Brown, Tan, Black, Burgundy?  Heavy or dainty hardware?  Type of leather?  Last shape?  You know, the sorts of things the well-educated customer takes for granted these days.

I just want to pause and let my probably-nonexistant veil of nonchalance slip for a moment.  The gents at The Armoury, who are still at the end of the day running a store, have deliberately thrown over something extremely popular to instead provoke us to think.  Sure they could sell a few dozen more Inca-last Carminas, but they’d rather get us thinking.  To that I tip my hat gentlemen.  Here here.

Thanks to The Armoury and Leather Soul for the images.