Smart formals don’t have to be boring, with Duke + Dexter’s one-of-a-kind Printed Penny Loafers
Featuring a graphic yet illustrative design, and created via a process rarely used in shoe production, these are your warm-weather steppers…
Words: Josh Lee
In association with:
Most summers, we’re often pushing the virtues of white sneakers – the unembellished, frippery-free appearance; the way they pair with almost all ensembles; how they can tread that careful line between casual and off-duty.
Yet, generally speaking, we’re also advocates of the bold and the statement-making; summer is, after all, a period in which to showcase a more expressive, vivid style.
Which brings us to Duke + Dexter, the British brand that has, for the past eight years, drawn fanfare for its ability to modernise timeless footwear by dovetailing traditional handmade craftsmanship with punchy and vibrant designs.
For its newest collection, ‘Club Morocco’, the label took to the beautiful, otherworldly corners of the north-African country, showcasing its products – a blend of Boho styles with traditional aesthetics, classic looks and spirited creations – among bazaars, backstreets, riads and the expansive desert landscape.
Among the range you’ll find the Commando Boat Shoe, which is instantly recognisable by its deep-lugged rubber sole; the SS23 Ritchie Sneaker is a reworking of Duke + Dexter’s most coveted style, now made with an updated bamboo fibre eco-lining; and the Hunt Driving Loafer – done out with a rubber gommino sole – will have you on firm foundations throughout your summer sojourns.
But, the silhouettes that we’ve been drawn to most, of late, are the Printed Penny Loafers, a tightly curated range distinctive for its embellishments – the bulk of whose unique designs are created by Duke + Dexter’s in-house artist, Jess – that have a quality that’s both graphic yet illustrative and are made via a process rarely used in shoe production. Notably, the custom design on each pair is digitally printed and stitched onto the vamps of the brand’s signature loafers, all of which are crafted from soft Italian leather, hand-assembled in England, produced in limited runs, and also available in a range of women’s sizes, if you’re ever in need of gifting inspiration.
One of the standouts of the new collection is the Wilde Lemon, which exhibits a botanical-style illustration of the citrus fruit so synonymous with the warmer months, one whole, dangling off a stem, the other segmented below.
Then there’s the Wilde Olive, which, too, evokes a feel of balmier days, the shimmering green of the rounded skin and the elongated branches offsetting the black-and-white shell.
And finally comes the Wilde Snake with its pair of serpents that face each other, bodies tangled and jaws unlocked – a bold statement that’ll inject a sense of verve and life into every step you take in the coming months.
Want more from Duke + Dexter? Read about the brand’s SS23 collection, a celebration of subtle and playful design…
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