On Sale Tomorrow, May 27th, at vente-privee: Barker Black Shoes
Hope everyone’s having a good Memorial Day weekend.
Wanted to give a heads up that tomorrow, May 27th, vente-privee will hold a Barker Black sale. A high-end line of footwear that’s Goodyear-welted and made in England, Barker Black is probably most famous for it’s frequent use of the skull-and-crossbones, including in the medallion of their brogued shoes. It’s an homage to the 17th Lancer Regiment, a storied British Army unit that participated in The Charge of the Light Brigade.
As you’d expect, the skull-and-crossbones draws “love it or hate it” reactions from menswear folks, and the same could be said about the design of many of the shoes. Barker Blacks’ creative director Derrick Miller often says he wants to make English shoes less boring, so this sale includes some odd designs, such as a triple monkstrap boot. The quality of the shoes is rarely disputed, though—the lasts are handsomely-shaped, the leather is very good, and the construction of the shoes is often compared to Crockett & Jones, perhaps as nice as C&J’s Handgrade line.
It’s generally agreed that Barker Black is overpriced at full retail, but the vente-privee sale prices seem fair given the reputed quality—most are a bit more than you’d pay for Allen Edmonds, but on par with Crockett & Jones Benchgrade and well below Crockett & Jones Handgrade. I included some of my favorite models included in tomorrow’s sale above. While I really like the wingtip oxfords, single-strap monk, and jodhpur boot, the most intriguing model to me is the Hartwell slip-on in bourbon. As regular readers may recall, I’m a big fan of laceless shoes that work with a suit—they’re perfect for when you’re rushing out the door with kids in tow.
vente-privee’s Barker Black sale begins tomorrow, May 27th, at 10 AM Eastern. If you’re not yet a member of vente-privee, please consider joining through my referral link here.