• English

• Crockett & Jones
  for
  Peal & Co.
  for
  Brooks Brothers
  Classic Monk Strap

  Euro 340

  Since January 1965 and the closure of the venerable Peal & Co. firm, Brooks Brothers have marketed superb Edward Green shoes under the “Brooks English” and Peal & Co. names. In recent years they replaced Green with Crockett and Jones and Alfred Sargent products. This pair, with its channeled and skived welting (the best technique of attaching the street sole to the welt), is clearly of the earlier (and superior) Crockett production.

  The model itself, the Monk Strap is very much in the English taste, an aristocrat’s shoe from the old school, but has penetrated the consciousness of Continentals and North Americans over the years. I myself am a great fan of the Monk and have a pair for myself in more or less every configuration, including calf skin, cordovan, and the not-to-be-neglected Suede Monk. Most Monks are plain fronted, affording an elegant, streamlined look suitable for all but the most formal dress, and, punctuated with a discreet buckle, they proclaim the independence of the wearer.

  As regards build quality, suffice it to say that I am unable to detect the difference between this and certain other “Peal” models from equivalent John Lobb ready-mades that sell for almost exactly double the price and are almost surely made in the same Northampton workrooms. In short, these middle-year Peals are an open secret among savy gentlemen shoppers.

  Size Details

  US 10.5D.......UK 9.5E.......Continental 44D, for the mid-width foot.

  Condition

  All original and fitted with an additional protective thin "Topy" sole. The original heels can be seen to be hardly worn.

Out of stock