Few brands manage to capture a country’s identity without drifting into caricature. The French? Oh-so-effortlessly chic. New Yorkers? Perpetually in a hurry. But Church’s, the British shoemaker, has spent the past 150 years carefully defining what it means to be a true English gentleman – unflappable, refined and impeccably dressed from sole to cuff.
Church’s has been weaving together this heritage since 1617 when Anthony Church began crafting shoes in Northampton, a town with as much history in leatherwork as England has in, well, bad weather. Officially established as Church & Co in 1873, the brand has stuck to its roots, manufacturing every pair in Northampton even as they opened stores in places like Paris and Tokyo.
In that century and a half, Church’s has crafted its fair share of classics, but perhaps none as iconic as the Shannon, a shoe that has graced gentlemen’s wardrobes since 1974. One of the brand’s most enduring designs, this whole-cut derby with its sleek lines and timeless polish celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In a fitting tribute for the occasion, Church’s has released a re-edition of the original 1974 Shannon, crafted on the historic 224 last and available in both black and dalmarnock polish binder leather.
This reissue speaks to Church’s commitment to the highest quality, featuring a commemorative package that celebrates the shoe’s journey from its 1970s debut to its place today as an icon of English refinement.
To celebrate this milestone in suitably refined style, Church’s kicked open the doors to its exclusive Church’s Club, the delightfully old-school-style members club tucked away in London’s Twenty Two hotel. The festive fête brought together Church’s ambassadors – including actor Harry Lawtey, who stars in the brand’s latest campaign – for an intimate yet lavish evening, with shoemaking demonstrations, a Vinyl DJ set and cocktails that could have been served at a dandy’s manor.
And since it wouldn’t be a Church’s event without the “cheers” part. The brand unveiled a custom cocktail, The Dandy. Crafted with innovative British spirits, The Dandy is a nod to the classic cocktail canon but with a twist that makes it unmistakably modern.
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Ingredients:
– 30ml Bourbon
-30ml Red vermouth
Content from our partners
-5ml Giffard Triple Sec
-Two drops of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
-Two drops of orange bitters
Method:
-Stir all ingredients with lots of good-quality ice for roughly 20 seconds, until the drink is both chilled and diluted.
-Fine strain into glass
-Serve in a frozen small sherry glass and garnish with a lemon twist
Church’s 50th anniversary Shannon shoe is now available in stores and at church-footwear.com.
