Slip on the best in summer boat shoes from G.H. Bass & Co
The penny loafer originator digs into its archives for summer’s finest nautical designs
Words: Zoe Dickens
In association with:
If you don’t know the name G.H. Bass & Co, you’ve almost certainly seen its shoes. The inventor of the original penny loafer has, after all, been the brand of choice for famous faces including JFK, Audrey Hepburn and David Beckham for decades. Those iconic loafers at the start of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video? G.H. Bass & Co.
But, having been founded in late 19th century Maine as a company making shoes for the area’s hard-working farmers, drivers and outdoorsmen, its expertise extends far beyond the go-to companion for your favourite chinos. For spring/summer ’20, G.H. Bass & Co is drawing on this heritage with an extended line of boat shoes inspired by its vast archives, combining its time-honoured construction techniques with modern silhouettes and contemporary styles.
Remaining to this day part of the popular Camp Moc family of shoes first debuted by G.H. Bass & Co in the 1910s, the new collection bears the trademarks of its predecessors in its hand-sewn craftsmanship, hard-wearing white rubber soles and the leather laces which make the boat shoe so distinctive.
Unlined so as to remain comfortable both with and without socks, modern touches to the new collection include cushioned soles for a sneaker-like all-day wearability and an anti-slip sole designed for practicality on deck – but equally useful if you’re just running around town too.
So, with three options to choose from, which pair from the new collection will you be investing in? Traditionalists will undoubtedly be drawn to G.H. Bass & Co’s classic leather design. Each pair is crafted from a carefully selected pull-up leather rich in natural waxes. Offering a beautiful, subtle shade straight out of the box, the hue of the leather develops over time, adding character and personality the more you wear your boat shoes. Available in black, brown and navy options, these promise to be the most versatile summer shoes you ever own.
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday shoe, however, you may want to consider G.H. Bass & Co’s suede options. Soft and breathable, they’re the ideal choice for warm weather and offer a more casual alternative in the same black, brown and navy colourways as their leather counterparts.
Finally, for those with a taste for the finer things in life, G.H. Bass & Co’s nubuck boat shoes are hard to beat for eye-catching style or sheer quality. Designed with contrasting coloured panels in brown and tan, navy and boater blue or red and blue, these joyful summer designs have all the elegance of their most understated siblings but with just a little more sartorial flair. We won’t be wearing our shorts with anything else this season.
How G.H. Bass & Co. turned the penny loafer into a cultural icon…
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