Every so often in the course of running this Brooklyn style blog, I come across a company that defies convention, that makes me look twice — and that makes me appreciate the art and science behind crafting, say, some of the best sneakers for men on the market. In recent weeks, British shoemaker Crown Northampton has come across my inbox — and my footwear shelf — in utterly fine form, delivering some of the best men’s sneakers I’ve had the pleasure of lacing up.
The venerable footwear brand has been in the business of making some of the finest shoes for men since 1908, with five generations of family members carrying on that legacy. It’s remarkably impressive, as it’s no small feat to consistently make some of the best men’s shoes while staying steadfast to time-honored methods.
The company takes the delicate art of dress shoe making and applies it to everything from desert boots to sneakers to handsome leather goods, each made with richly crafted leather from the likes of Horween and available in a range of exceptionally handsome, stylish shades (including the rich black leather I opted for in selecting my pair of Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers, one of several varieties within the Abington family).
Suffice to say, in my Crown Northampton review — as you might have seen over on my Instagram — I was exceptionally impressed with the care and craft that went into seemingly every stitch of my new favorite high-top sneakers.
The Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers stand alone from other high-top sneakers — sometimes made from canvas by other brands — for their intense commitment to quality construction and the rich array of top-notch materials across the board.
I opted for a Gum sole in selecting my own pair of Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers, which can be made to order and shipped out in about 9-12 weeks (but sometimes quite a bit more quickly, as I found out — the Crown Northampton team is surely serious about its business).
A style like the Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers can also be customized with a Black or White sole, not to mention an eye-catching and simply beautiful array of leather upper options. Upon arrival, the leather is thick but supple, certainly of the highest possible quality. A full leather lining made the Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers comfortable right out of the box, while touches like the heel pull tab felt substantial and sturdy.
These sneakers have the durable appeal of boots without the clunky feel of some pairs of boots — these are high-top sneakers, after all, but the silhouette and style of the Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers in particular makes them feel like they can be dressed up ever-so-slightly with stretch chinos, an Oxford shirt and a navy blazer.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous — and if you want to get the most possible wear out of your new pair of custom-made men’s leather sneakers — you could even style the Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers with a lightweight olive suit in a cotton-linen blend (atop a crisp black T-shirt, of course — just one suggestion to try on for size.
Although the Abington sneakers also come in a low-top variation, I’ve found the Crown Northampton Abington Hi Toe Cap Sneakers to be exceptionally comfortable and stylish with everything from light wash jeans and a short-sleeve henley to olive chinos and a chambray shirt. Again, with a pair of custom-made British sneakers, maximizing the ability to wear your new go-to pair of sneakers is key, as I’ve found out lately.
If I were you, I’d act as quickly as possible to upgrade your spring footwear rotation in a fashion unlike any other: With a pair of perfectly fitted, remarkably well-crafted, truly stylish shoes from British shoemaker Crown Northampton. They’re worth the wait, the investment and the incoming style points for your wardrobe, my friends.
The Style Guide 