Let’s state things plainly from the off, because if the shoe was on the other foot, we’d hope you’d do the same; no gentleman’s wardrobe is truly complete without a pair of Oxfords. 

However, with so many shoe brands out there, it can be hard to know which to choose. It’s all about striking that balance – comfortable, but stylish; elegant but bold; unique but fashionable. 

Nothing beats the intricacies of a pair of handcrafted Oxfords, and the craft involved has been passed down through generations of footwear institutions, to arrive at the prestigious product we have today; handmade, hefty yet delicate (the best versions, that is).

So, if you’re looking to add a little luxury and sophistication to your wardrobe, then look no further; there are 5 of the best brands of Oxford shoe every many should own.

TRICKER’S 

Tricker’s is one of the world’s (and England’s) oldest family-owned shoe makers. Founded in Northampton in 1827, they’ve been producing high quality footwear for almost two hundred years. 

A cornerstone of British style and elegance, in 1989 Tricker’s was awarded the Royal Warrant as shoemaker to the Prince of Wales. When you purchase a pair of Tricker’s Oxfords, you’ll be walking in footwear fit for a (future) king. 

GRENSON

If you’re after reliability as well as style, then look no further than Grenson. One of the shoe manufacturers enlisted to create footwear for the British army in the First World War, this historic institution is known for its trusted durability. 

Whether you visit one of their stores (Grenson have four in London; in Bloomsbury, in Soho, on Jermyn Street and a factory outlet on Hanbury Street) or purchase your pair through an online stockist such as Pediwear, you’ll receive the perfect set of Oxfords to smarten up any outfit. 

BARKER

As with only the best British shoe brands, Barker has its origins in Northamptonshire, the home of high quality, hand crafted footwear known as the shoemaking capital of the world. 

What began in a small cottage in the 1880s quickly branched out to become one of the most sought-after footwear producers anywhere on the planet. Last year alone, Brackets produced 200’000 pairs of hand lasted sewn shoes, showing their commitment to quality even when doing remarkable numbers. If you’re after a pair of Oxfords to fancy-up your formalwear, then look no further than Barker for quality, style, and comfort. 

CHEANEY

Cheaney, established in 1886 before moving in 1896 to the factory they still use today, is an award-winning shoe brand that won the Queen’s Award to Industry in 1966 and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2016. This recognition demonstrates the craftsmanship, determination, and care that goes into every single pair of shoes that Cheaney produces.

Their Oxfords are available in a range of colours and styles, with the traditional shape sitting (or should that be ‘standing’?) alongside the more modern Oxford brogue for the gentleman who’s seeking a contemporary look. 

CARLOS SANTOS

Carlos Santos is a family run enterprise based in Portugal. And despite being lesser known, this brand by no means lacks luxury. They specialise in only the best high quality craftsmanship and stock a wide range of men’s shoe styles.

But it’s their Oxfords that really stand out, combining centuries-old shoemaking tradition with contemporary designs to ensure you have a unique look, whatever you choose to pair them with. Right now, they have just two pairs in their collection – goodyear welted classics in black and brown – but with this revered shoemaker, quality very much trumps quantity.

THE BOTTOM LINE

When shopping for Oxfords, always choose handcrafted. It’s worth paying a little more to ensure that you have a pair of shoes that fits you well and lasts you longer. Handcrafted shoes are made to be repaired not replaced, making them a much more sustainable option in the long run, too.

And if you’re looking to bolster your shoe collection even further, then put a spring in your step with these 4 men’s shoes must-haves for the spring/summer season.

Has there ever been a more vital time to consider growing your own fruit and veg at home? With a much larger focus on sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyles, as well as some considering the increased risk of disasters and doomsday prepping, finding ways to become more self-sufficient is an admirable goal. 

Not that South Kesteven District Council agree; earlier this month it was reported that the district council had fined a couple £470 for not seeking planning permission for the raised beds they had recently installed in their garden. Talk about discouraging greener behaviour!

Indeed, it is understandable if you feel overwhelmed by the concept of starting your own at-home growing area. After all, growing food is an ancient discipline that’s been perfected over thousands of years, and you’re not going to be immediately successful, however hard you try.

Don’t let that put you off, though. Starting your little home-based allotment may be challenging, sure, but with a little bit of research and dedication, it can also be fun and hugely rewarding once you start getting your first harvests. If you’re planning on growing your own fruit and vegetables, here are a few pointers on getting started.

SUNLIGHT RULES

While most plants will be able to thrive in different levels of shade, you’re going to want to find a nice sunny spot for your back garden veggie plot. Plants need sunlight to thrive, and finding an area that gets as much sunshine as possible will be the best choice here. 

Of course, some vegetables do grow perfectly well in partial shade, but if your full sunlight space is limited, give priority to the vegetables that need it the most. If your garden is plagued by a fair covering of shade, you can still get by growing root vegetables and hardy perennial herbs like rosemary and thyme just fine, for example. 

If your garden gets between four to six hours of sunlight, this is ample time to allow beans, beetroot, carrots and onions, as well as leafy crops like lettuce and kale, among many others, to thrive. 

PLAN YOUR LAYOUT AND ROTATION

We recommend laying out a blueprint of your planned crop layout so that you can be sure you’ve chosen the right areas for all of your fruits and vegetables, allowing you to rotate as necessary.

Rotating the position of your crops reduces the loss of nutrients in the soil as different plants will absorb different minerals. It also helps to reduce the appearance of crop-specific pests as they will have fewer opportunities to latch on to a host. 

Alongside this, it will also help you to keep the number of weeds down, too. Certain fruit and vegetable plants act as a natural deterrent to weeds, such as those that block out the sun, helping to overshadow weeds.

Though it’s a complex subject matter and hinges on your chosen produce, generally speaking, each year sees separate beds dedicated to three or four subgroups of vegetables. Here’s a fairly standard breakdown of four plots, divided according to preferred soil conditions:

• Potatoes, tomatoes and peppers
• Beans and peas
• Brassicas (cabbage and cauliflower, for example) and leaves 
• Root vegetables and onions

Each year the beds change accordingly, to ensure the diversity of soil, though some crops, like rhubarb and asparagus, are perennial, and grow all year round. Because each crop requires a different pH level of soil (more of that later) rotation is a wise move.

CHOOSE A VARIETY THAT SUITS YOUR SKILLSET

When it comes to deciding on your fruit and vegetable selection, obviously it’s important to choose those crops which you enjoy and will be useful to you. However, try to make sure you pick a variety of crops that grow and fruit at different times of the year, providing you with more regular harvests. 

Otherwise, if all your plants are harvested at the same time each year, you’ll be inundated with fruit and vegetables, increasing the chances of waste or the need to give them all away. As well as this, knowing that you’re going to be getting new fruits and vegetables every few weeks will keep you interested in this new hobby. 

Read: 10 IDEAL hacks to turn your food waste into something delicious

In terms of the vegetables which are easiest to grow here in the UK, let’s break it down a little for you:

• Lettuce is a great beginner’s crop as it can be sown into the ground for most of the year and produces a crop within a few weeks of planting.
• Swiss chard is a continuous crop, meaning you can simply pick the leaves and allow the plant to stay in the ground, producing further leaves over time.
• Kale is hardy, and if sown in late summer, it will likely survive all through winter, providing you with delicious nutrition even during the coldest months.
• Runner beans are easy to grow from seed and can crop for months should you pick them regularly.
• Courgettes grow abundantly without much intervention. You should plant in late May for results later in the summer. Do remember to keep picking them, otherwise they’ll grow into marrows, which do tend to be a more bitter affair.

PROTECT YOUR CROPS

Before you start to plant your seeds, it’s important to prepare your garden to cope with pests that would prefer to use your seeds and seedlings as a tasty snack instead. If you’re living out in the countryside, you can expect everything from rabbits and mice to deer and certain birds to take a bite out of your plants and ruin all of your hard work. Birds will happily eat your seeds, too. 

To prevent these critters from getting to your crops, while allowing them to get sunlight and rain still, you could use a fruit cage or other form of crop protection. As William James & Co, purveyors of fruit cages, recommend, such structures form large, protective barriers made of polythene netting suspended by an aluminium or steel frame. They are tall enough for you to walk inside and maintain your crops without hindrance.

SOIL SMARTS

As you do your research, you’ll quickly learn about all of the different soil types that certain fruits and vegetables prefer. Potatoes and other root vegetables tend to do perfectly fine in the dense, clay soil, which is so abundant across the UK, but they would prefer sandy soil if possible. 

However, more delicate plants such as berries will prefer a siltier soil, which will be able to hold onto water a lot better than some other types of soil. It’s worth planting your strawberries in their own specific pots if you’re able to. Strawberry pots help you to protect them from weed growth better as well as provide better drainage than standard pots. 

It’s a wise idea to test your soil prior to planting. Most garden centres sell pH testing kits cheaply – above 7.0 pH and your soil is alkaline, below and it’s acid. Generally speaking, 6.5 is the ideal pH for all-purpose growing.

When the pH is very acidic (below 5.0 ish), most nutrients in the soil become unavailable to crops. Many keen urban gardeners remedy acidic soil by adding lime to it. On the flip side, a soil which is too alkaline causes certain nutrition deficiency in crops, too. Adding an acidifying element, like sulphur or iron sulphate, can remedy this.

START PLANTING

It’s important to avoid planting your crops with little consideration. You might think that simply putting seeds and bulbs in the ground will suffice; however, certain seeds need different levels of care and conditions when they’re sown. Of course, hardier bulbs and seeds can get by with being dropped into the ground and forgotten about, but there are a number of seeds that will need to be started off in seed trays away from the harsh elements. Understanding how to sow your seeds is crucial to growing a healthy crop, so make sure you don’t get ahead of yourself here.

WATER AND FEED YOUR PLANTS

Regular watering is important for your fruits and vegetables, especially in hotter, drier climates. Keep an eye on what your plants are trying to tell you. There are some tell-tale signs that your plants need more water, such as the wilting and yellowing of their leaves. On the flipside, if you’ve overwatered your plants, you’ll know it by the sight of their brown, limp looking leaves. Your plant may well also be dropping both new and old leaves, and have soft, squishy stems, two telltale signs of overwatering.

While your different plants will cope with varying levels of watering and nutrients, they tend to cope with a generous watering session. 

Remember, if your plants are in pots and raised beds, it may be worth being more conscious of which plants need what amount of water to avoid over or under-watering them. 

When plants are grown in the ground, they’ll benefit from the much better drainage of the earth and will also be able to draw more nutrients from the ground too. It’s worth adding some plant food to your watering schedule, however, to replenish nutrients where possible to ensure better quality growth.

If you’re keen to dig a little deeper (in more ways than one!), then check out these 6 common issues that might befall you if you’re growing your fruit and veg in a greenhouse.

People always desire a good place to belong, and each house has that special touch, which is what makes it a home. The vast majority of people decorate and bring unique elements to create a homey feeling in their residence. Academic memorabilia, family portraits, and even pet portraits of dogs and cats for pet lovers are just some of these home decorations.

You might be wondering whether it is advisable to spend money on pet portraits considering the fact that they cannot appreciate the gesture anyway. Still, there are some reasons why you may consider having portraits of your beloved pet:

PROFESSIONALLY DONE PET PORTRAITS LAST A LONG TIME

Portraits or photographs could serve as good memorabilia even after your beloved pet has already left your household. Badly done portraits, however, could end up making you feel bad as opposed to reminiscent, which is why it is always advisable to have experts in the field do them. Professionally done pet portraits can last for years, perhaps even after your pet has passed away.

The more professional the service, the longer the material is likely to last and the better the outcome is likely to be. Here are other benefits that you can enjoy if you decide to use expert services:

– Your pet will look good in the photograph

– All the editing and printing will be done for you

– Photos can be customized according to your use, such as if you want a photo for a Christmas card or a phone wallpaper. And if you use professional dog photography packages, you could of course have both!

PETS ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY

The animals in your house are considered part of the household and part of the family, which is why you would want to have pictures of them around your house too. If you love your pets, you should never exclude them from having their own photo sessions and special photos displayed in the house.

PET PORTRAITS ALLOW YOU TO LOOK AT GENERATIONS OF PETS

Families usually take family portraits every generation or whenever a new member joins the family. The family portraits essentially provide updates to visitors of the numerous generations who have ever lived in the household. This kind of concept can apply to pets too, especially if your dogs and cats give birth. Photos of pet parents can be placed beside that of their offspring in several years.

PET PORTRAITS CAN BE WONDERFUL CONVERSATION STARTERS

People usually display photos around the house to represent milestones or stories they wish to share with visitors and guests. Pet portraits are no different from these. Pet portraits can be used as conversation starters each time you have visitors. It can be a great way for your friends to know a bit more about your beloved pets.

PET PORTRAITS ADD A PERSONALISED TOUCH TO PETS’ AREAS

Pet owners choose to have animal companions in their homes for a variety of reasons, and they are usually affectionate towards their pets. Some pet owners give their pets special clothes, blankets, beds or even rooms.  A pet portrait can be a good personalised touch to your pets’ living space or bedroom. 

Here are some ideas:

– Framed images displayed in a bookshelf

– Canvas-printed portraits hung like a painting

– Images printed on a bed sheet or blanket

– Pet portraits printed on a shirt

– Pet photos printed using edible ink and featured on cakes on your pets’ birthdays. 

PRECIOUS PETS WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED

You would have a pet portrait for the same reason you would want your own photo taken. The picture will always serve as a memory for anybody that sees it. If your pet has already passed away, you will remember the good times you had with them after seeing a photo of them in their happy and vibrant youthful days.

PETS HAVE FEELING TOO

You might have realised that your pet responds to many of the things you do, and this is largely because animals also have feelings. Animals are actually more sensitive than humans in some ways, such as the sense of hearing and sense of taste. There have been cases whereby pets are seen responding to images of themselves, and having a pet portrait can help them feel like they are an important part of your family.