Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
If you are looking for a great looking, casual shoe then there is no better choice than split toes. Today we’re looking at only splits toes with richly grainy leathers, a combination that we think is fantastic due to how well the texture leather meshes with the toe stitching.
1) Edward Green: Dover in Utah
Edward Green is known as one of the nicest, ready-to-wear footwear brands in the world and their Dover shoe is among their best offerings (at least in this writer’s eyes). Featuring a soft square toe with an apron that was handsewn using a boar bristle, every detail on these shoes is immaculate. They’re finished on a studded Dainite sold ensuring you’ll get the maximum amount of time between resoles.
Available for £1,200 (~$1,585) from Edward Green.
2) Alden: NST Blucher
Alden has a lot of great styles, but their NST (Norwegian Split Toe) Bluchers are one of the most distinctive. The iteration pictured above uses their dark brown country calf leather on the almond-toe shaped Aberdeen last, a combination that is easy to admire. Finished on a commando sole, these shoes are easy to wear as your daily driver.
Available for $650 from Leffot.
3) Carmina: Norwegian Shoes
Carmina’s Norwegian Shoes are another great option for those who want a split toe blucher with a traditional, pebble grain texture. They’re made on Carmina’s Forest last, which gives these shoes a classic look that is easy to wear in a ton of wardrobes. They feature a studded rubber sole, giving them ample grip for city wear.
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Available for $475 from Carmina.
4) The Armoury: Jubilee Pebble Train
The Armoury’s Jubliee Pebble Train shoes were designed in conjunction with Yohei Fukuda and made in England, and the result is astounding. They’re made with a classic pattern and leather combination, but the chiseled last makes for a very dramatic piece of footwear.
Available for $495 from The Armoury.
5) Meermin: NST in Country Calf
Meermin is often referenced as a phenomenal, budget shoe brand, and their NST in Country Calf shows exactly why that is. The French Country Calf leather, studded rubber outsole, and lightly contrasting apron stitching comes together to create a shoe that anyone would be happy to have in their wardrobe for a very reasonable price.
Available for $195 from Meermin.
Plus One – Löf & Tung: Denham Chestnut Kudu
Löf & Tung continues to increase in popularity and it’s easy to see why. Their offerings are beautiful, well designed, and come in at very palatable price points. One of their most exciting pieces is the Denham in Chestnut Kudu, which features a highly textured Kudu leather from the U.K., Dainite sole, and Goodyear welted construction. If you’re only going to buy one pair of split toe shoes, this one certainly deserves consideration.
Available for €280 (~$315) from Skoaktiebolaget.
