A pair of Clarks Wallabees may not be one of the first shoes that come to mind when one thinks of Trad, Ivy, or Preppy shoes. In fact, it may remind some readers of one of the most non-traditional decades in terms of dress the 1970’s. However, Wallabees have been a part of my wardrobe since the mid-90’s and there is something that I find classically casual about the shoe.
It is true that most classic casual shoes such as the penny loafer, bit loafer, tassel loafer (probably a few more loafers), and of course their brand cousin the desert boot are all pretty sleek. The Wallabee is not a sleek shoe and may have more in common with a long wing gunboat or all weather walkers with its chunky sole than its casual counterparts. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes hearty clothes such as wide wale cords, a flannel shirt, jeans, or even a thick sweater can use an equally chunky shoe to balance out the look.
If you are looking for an alternative to the boat shoe or camp moc I think that the Wallabee can make a nice addition especially in the spring/fall months. For those that are still on the fence I have included a few pics that may help to win you over and remember to always look for the real thing (Clarks Wallabee vs Clarks Padmore).
These may not be Wallabees, but they could be.
Also the shoe of choice for Walter White on Breaking Bad.
That’s a really nice Aran sweater. What’s the brand?
JGH – I have never seen the show. Does he make them look cool?
Mike – Thanks! My sister made it for me!
I’m also a huge fan of the Wallabee (of course, something else we have in common). I think Wallabees are associated with prep, just as much as they are with “nerd wear.” To go along with that, Walter White does wear the Wallabee almost exclusively. It seems intended to emphasize his dad-like nerdiness. Other big fans are Wes Anderson and the late JFK jr.
Personally, I think a roughed up pair are both preppy and hip when worn with the right khakis, cords or jeans. I think the charm of Clark’s is how their appearance actually improves with age. Below I’ve linked to a bunch of my posts that involve the Wallabee, since my beeswax pair get a lot of wear.
http://mrerikj.tumblr.com/tagged/Wallabees
Whaaaat? Your sister must be the goddess of knitting!
Truly amazing! Well done!!!
I bow down to your sister, that is one gorgeous sweater!!!! The shoes are nice too, they look extremely comfortable.
Jerrod, I’m so excited, I gave the sweater his own post:
http://inner-city-style.blogspot.de/2014/03/an-amazing-aran-sweater.html
Mike – My sister will love seeing that. I hope your readers enjoy it!
Loved the comments on Clarks Wallabees. Interesting particularly re. the comparison of Clarks Originals (with crepe soles) with Clarks Padmore (with a rather solid, non-crepe sole) . If you review the history of Clarks you will find that the “Original” was, in fact, manufactured in Ireland by Padmore & Barnes. The company still exists, focusing on outdoor clothing and the like, but no longer manufactures shoes….sadly! The quality of the made in Ireland Clarks was far superior to the later versions made in China. I have three pair, purchased when a fine clothing/shoe store in Columbia, SC closed its doors. The gentleman in the shoe section educated me re. the difference between the old stock made in Ireland and the then current Clark shoe produced in China. Again, the difference in quality is substantial. Ironically, Clark apparently elected to interject the name “Padmore” years later on a still more inferior product made in China, with the rather solid rubber sole you describe. The Padmore & Barnes model had a crepe sole, superior to any Clark offered after Clark initiated production in China. Again, thanks for the comments–from a fellow Wallabee admirer!