"I've always looked at shoes as being immensely beautiful things."
-Graham Coxon
Did you know that Graham Coxon is famous for being obsessed with shoes? The Blur guitarist is rumoured to have hundreds of British shoes in his London home, all stacked up in a closet.
Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn actually bonded over a pair of shoes. In an interview, Graham Coxon said: "I became a mod when I was 12, and so began my obsession with brogues. I was influenced by the Jam and the 2 Tone movement, and I'd wear the slimmest-cut school trousers I could find, and alter my blazer to three buttons instead of two.
"On 'civvies day', when you could wear what you wanted, there would be fights on the field between the mods, skinheads and casuals. As soon as it was break time, us mods had to run somewhere safe - there were only six of us. I met Damon at school: one of the first things he said to me was that his brogues were nicer than mine. He had leather soles and mine were rubber."
All the styles we feature below are available from the fabulously British menswear shop Samuel Windsor that you will need to dress like a Brit-popper. Samuel Windsor sells quintessential British footwear, as well as men's shirts, polo shirts and suits. They offer a wide range of tailored, affordable shoes that ever music fan needs to achieve his or her favourite musician's look. Best of all, they offer shoes at 30% the prices on the high street - that's really affordable!
Regardless, here are 3 top shoe styles that YOU need to look like a Britpop celebrity.
1. Leather Loafers
First on the list are leather loafers- you cannot go wrong with loafers because they go well with shorts or longer pants. This elegant, versatile shoe trend is a favourite for celebrities and musicians. For singers in the Britpop era, they are no exception. For a timeless Britpop look, the penny loafer will be a great choice. These versatile men's shoes look great with a formal suit or casual weekend wear.
To get a Britpop look, we bought a pair of loafers from Samuel Windsor. Their loafers are the quintessential slip on shoe, made from 100% real leather with strong construction. We are very impressed with the make and finish of the shoe- our order was shipped out fast and the quality of the Classic Penny Loafers we got is fantastic! With these shoes, anyone can look like Damon Albarn or Graham Coxon- at a very reasonable price!
Another must-have for a Britpop look, Brogues are some of the most versatile shoes that any man can own. They are stylish, elegant and accords with a true Mod's style. Graham Coxon can be seen wearing leather brogues for some of Blur's most famous photo shoots and magazine shots, as well as in the 1990s interviews. Graham Coxon began wearing more brogues during the 2000s, evidently when he started his solo career. Brogues are also favourites of most of Britpop's legends- Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Brett Anderson and Jarvis Cocker.
The Samuel Windsor range of leather brogues are available in a huge range of colours and materials. Their brogue designs are available as either black or brown brogues. These traditional, cool-looking leather shoes look good for work and formal occasions.
3. Chelsea Boots
Alex James may be the laid-back bassist that everyone thinks he is, but did you know that one of his most-seen styles are his brown Chelsea boots? Chelsea boots were made famous by The Beatles in the 1960s, but is one of Britpop's biggest styles. Chelsea boots vary in style, but the best ones such as those from Samuel Windsor are handmade from suede and leather. Alex James paired it with a pair of casual jeans for a quintessential casual, laid-back British style.
