6 essential shoes for summer
The beer gardens are full. The ice cream vans are out. Men are marauding Britain’s high streets in short-vest combos. They can only mean one thing – the sun has arrived.
It’s the time of year when are hardy-soled, sturdy-uppered boots and brogues are given a spring clean and placed in a safe place for a rainy day, to be replaced by the breathable, slip-on friendly shoes of summer.
To help you make this transition without any slip ups, we’ve pulled together six of the Hip Store’s must-have footwear styles for the season.
The penny loafer
Getting a smart shoe that will also keep your feet cool as the temperature rises is notoriously difficult to get right. At least it was, until Bass Weejuns invented the Penny Loafer. Hand-stitched, available in wine, black or cognac and signature penny-keeper strap, the Bass Weejun Larson and Logan loafer is a shoe that won’t look out of place in the office or the pub, no matter how hot it gets.
The deck shoe
Just because you’re hitting up the beach doesn’t mean leather and suede are out of the question, as shown by the following two perfect exponents of the deck shoe. Smart yet casual and today a true menswear classic, the deck shoe should have a place in every man’s wardrobe. Whether you go classic leather with the original Sperry Topsider, or suede with the subtle charm of Sebago’s deck shoes, hit the deck and pick up a pair today.
The canvas pump
Like many of the above, the canvas pump was born as a practical solution for a functional issue, before transcending its original purpose to become a style staple in its own right. Sported by tennis players the world over from the 30s onwards, the canvas pump is now synonymous with easy wearing summer style. Go for the original with new to the Hip Store’s Spring Court, or take a contemporary step with our favourites Novesta.
The sandals
Sometimes, the heat gets to such a level that those toes need to be freed. Worn correctly, the sandal is the perfect choice to keep cool and comfortable this summer. Leather Birkenstocks have been the go-to sandal for men in the know for as long as we can remember, while Suicoke of Japan’s Depa range are ones not to be mixed.
The luxury option
Who says sneakers can’t be smart? Common Projects trainers are about as luxury as trainers come, with their incredible build quality, detailing and durability. Go with the 1895 for the finest slip-on choice. Filling Pieces have also long been treading the line between high fashion and streetwear when it comes premium summer sneakers.
The casual option
Last but not least, the casual option is also well worth considering when you come to choose one of your many summer sneaker options. The undisputed kings in this field are of course adidas Originals and New Balance. Whether you go for the vintage, sporty styling of the former’s Racing 1, or the unnerving quality of the latter’s M577BDB, you won’t go wrong.
How to take better photos on your phone
For some – such as the on point urban photographers we profiled recently – photography comes easy. However, this is not true for everyone. Despite the fact that everyone now is walking round with a HD camera in their back pocket, most people still don’t know how to get the most from it. Poor framing, lack of focus and thumbs over lenses are still common place, and no amount of Instagram filters will solve those.
To help you nail those perfect shots this summer, we’ve pulled together this quick guide which will have you taking better photographs on your smartphone in no time.
Gridlines
Probably the simplest trick of them all. Using the rule of thirds principle (putting points of interest at the cross-sections of the lines), your image will be more visually stimulating for the viewer. The gridlines also help you to ensure everything is lined up nice and straight, and you aren’t chopping off half of your missus’ head in front of that iconic landmark.
Reflections
One of the good points about the unpredictability of the British weather is that you almost always have puddles, even in summer, which instantly opens up scope to have some fun with reflections. There’s something instantly appealing about a mirror image, so always keep one eye out for the chance to snap one.
Symmetry
Like reflections discussed above, there’s something deeply satisfying ingrained in the human psyche about symmetry. Symmetrical photos always look great, and if you’ve followed step one and have your gridlines turned on, it’ll be really easy to make sure everything is lined up and looking on point.
Don’t zoom!
It may be tempting to start pinching at that touchscreen to get a little closer in on your subject, but you’ll almost always end up with a blurry, pixelated image which is almost unrecoverable. Instead of zooming, simply move closer to your subject, or embrace the fact it’s going to be smaller in the final shot. Framing it in a lower quadrant, embracing negative space or adopting an irregular angle for the shot can all make a feature of the smaller subject matter.
Introducing our latest addition: Albam
Welcoming a new brand to the Hip Store family is always cause for celebration, especially when they align so closely with our ethos and values. For the past decade, Albam has been winning over legions of new followers with its understated, quality menswear, and if you haven’t already met, we’d like to introduce this stellar British brand to you today.
History
Albam was created in 2006 by London-based Alastair Rae and James Shaw, who were yearning for a menswear brand built around ‘the confidence you get from wearing a favourite piece of clothing,’ and the inherent, special connection between man and cloth.
Since the early days on Bleak Street in Soho, the brand has focused on producing wardrobe essentials that value quality fabric, fits and finishes above all else. Adhering to the ‘good design is something you never see’ principle, Albam has never been described as flash, and that’s exactly the way they like it. Each seasonal collection carries an understated elegance, creating a timeless quality engrained into the fabric of each garment, meaning your favourite Albam piece will stay with you for years to come.
Key pieces
Boat jacket
This versatile jacket should be a mainstay in any man’s wardrobe, and is the perfect outerwear for summer evenings. Available in navy, white or khaki, the Albam boat jacket is constructed in the ‘trucker’ style, with front pockets and adjustable side straps from 100 per cent cotton.
Rail shirt
A lightweight shirt is a must for warmer months, and we can’t think of many better options that Albam’s rail shirt, complete with ticking stripe. The pyjama collar creates a level of informality perfect for the season and the ultra-light Portuguese linen will keep you cool and calm no matter how high that heat dial soars.
Classic pocket t-shirt
You can never have too many t-shirts, and Albam’s version of this menswear staple definitely deserves to be that ‘just one more’ in your collection. Available in white, navy and regatta blue flavours, this classic pocket tee is 100% cotton with a regular fit to ensure you don’t get hot under the fabric-trimmed collar.
View the Hip Store’s complete handpicked selection from Albam online and instore now.
Branded City Breaks – Volume One
As the days get warmer and the nights get lighter, we long for a weekend away somewhere new and exciting, with the extra bank holidays at this time of year making it the perfect time to stretch your wings and try somewhere new.
To make sure you make the most of these precious weekends, the Hip Store has compiled some of its favourite European city breaks, inspired by the brands that they house and inspired.
Paris
The ultimate city break for many, Paris is on point at this time of year, with the hazy evenings perfect for alfresco dining outside your favourite bistro, with a glass f wine in hand, naturally. For those that have never visited, a walking tour of Paris is the best way to see the city. Start at the picturesque Montmatre with its iconic Sacre Couer before meandering down to Notre Dame and the winding streets of the Latin Quarter, snaking along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower, crossing the river to Trocadero Gardens and finishing up on the Champs-Elysees after a brief rest watching the traffic fly by Arc de Triomphe.
Must see
The Pompidou Centre and its stunning array of carefully curated works of art from the classics right through to the modern day.
Must wear
When in Paris, it has to be A.P.C., with the effortless cool of the brand’s garments marrying perfectly with the laidback nature of the French capital – the A.P.C. denim shirt in indigo is perfect for such a stroll as described above.
Amsterdam
Look beyond the stories from your mate’s stag do and up at the imposing architecture, and you’ll appreciate the Dutch city of Amsterdam in a completely different fashion from many a tourist. With the recent passing of the Dutch master Johan Cruyff thrusting in Holland and it’s culture into the limelight once more, anyone with even a passing interest in the beautiful game is recommended to read David Winner’s book Brilliant Orange before visiting this ace city, to get a greater understand of how football has the city of Amsterdam and vice versa.
Must see
No trip to Amsterdam is complete without visiting Vondelpark, the huge sprawling city centre park perfect for a sunny day, and full to brim with museums and galleries should you need to grab a little shade.
Must wear
Fit in with the locals by donning Patta for your Dutch trip. The retro styling of this italic print t-shirt in white fits the tone to a tee.
Copenhagen
While once the 20-somethings of the UK would venture to Barcelona or Berlin to get away from it all during the summer months, Copenhagen has emerged in recent years as theweekend break for those in the know, as Brits can’t get enough of the ice-cold cool of Scandinavian culture.
Must see
For something a little different to the norm, Tivoli theme park cannot be missed, with its 150 plus years of history making it the second oldest adventure park on the planet.
Must wear
There’s no option but Norse Projects if you want to assimilate in Copenhagen is there? Unfussy and perfectly put together, Norse Projects is the archetypal Danish brand, with the Jens cotton linen broken twill overshirt in navy the perfect garment in which to transition from afternoon to evening in.
Check back in with Ways & Means soon for the next instalment in our branded city break guides.