Best of British: Something Old...

I'm British, and while patriotism is illogical and feintly pointless, I'm proud of it.

Luckily for me, British style is undergoing a welcome revival. The simplicity, quality and timelessness of the heritage brands has returned to the forefront of fashion at a very welcome time; some have put it down to the rush to return to old sensibilities in times of difficulty and distress - I'm talking about the economy here, although the X-Factor could apply too - and I'd be tempted to agree. To an extent.

The first of a series of posts is about Grenson, following on from my recent footwear-related post.

Established in 1886, Grenson has retaken its rightful place at the top the male shoe-making industry and quickly became my favourite shoemaker after I purchased my first pair last years; I've wasted more money on sub-standard shoes than I would even care to think about and the firm was a revelation.

His

Read past the jump to find out what makes Grenson so special.

The best thing about Grenson, other than the comfort, is how they somehow manage to perfectly blend contemporary details with classic sensibilities. The style above, for example, look great all year round; smart enough to wear with chinos and jeans, but the Vibram sole (an Italian company make the very best lightweight rubber soles) means they'll actually be suitable for the winter, unlike those leather-soled brogues you don't want to take out just in case it rains. Or you step in a drunkards urine (apparently the curb has become a secondary toilet in the 21st century; who knew...). Bit conservative? How about the same style in a grey nubuck with a red sole?

Hers

The firm have also released a women's range, so don't forget to treat your other half to a pair of gorgeous brogues. After all, nothing says "I love you" like buying your woman a pair of shoes almost as nice as your own. I tried to find a favourite pair from the female collection but couldn't bring myself to pick any one over the rest, so I'll say Hannah for casual, Eliza for a party and Emma for the winter (click through for my colour recommendations).

Good footwear is an investment; if the shoes aren't right, the aesthetics of an outfit fall apart. If you really want to look your best, visit Grenson. Anything else is a waste of time.