Kurt Geiger has teamed up with some pretty heavy footwear hitters recently like Grenson and Tricker’s. Now, it’s Sebago’s go at it and expectations are riding high. For Spring/Summer 2010, they’ve teamed together to offer an exclusive and limited-edition capsule collection of a reworked classic. The result, is another version of Sebago’s popular Dockside Beacon Boot dubbed the ‘Manitou’ as an ode to its New England heritage and aptly named after the 62ft yacht sailed by JFK during his presidency. Produced in a leather and suede combination and available in three colour options including chocolate brown and beige, mint green, grey and cream and sky blue. Available here.

New Balance took last year’s very bland Gore-Tex collab and injected some vibrant new life, using the flight-jacket/military inspiration route and releasing a Gore-Tex collab MTG580. They are arguably the nicest NB’s since Jeff Staple’s Pigeons although, the flight-jacket inspiration is nothing new in the game. That being said, the interchangeable Velcro “N” logos are fun, and the overall construction using highly durable rough Gore-Tex fabric is something more brands should offer. So if you missed out on the last 3 rounds of Undefeated’s Poorman Weapons, here’s your shot. Available July 2010.

On our last trip to NYC, we had stopped in at the Ace Hotel for a night cap and were caught really digging the amazingly elaborate attention to detail of the vintage/retro feel of the decor. This feel carries through in their recent collaboration, and unless you remember last years’ release, you would never think a hotel and a footwear brand would have anything in common. Curated by Arkitip, the Ace Hotel Palm Springs have teamed up with Generic Surplus to release a mesh-canvas Shoe and Tote that lends itself perfectly to both the pool-side side of the environment and image of the hotel. This years’ edition comes in different colors, and is made of a breathable cotton mesh upper -perfect for that dry desert heat by the pool. A mesh tote compliments the footwear and allows you to carry your daily essentials around the resort. Available for pre-order here.

Before we pack away our winter footwear, here’s a damage assessment of my second Canadian winter with Shofolk’s Andre Boot (photos on the next page). While we’re no stranger to boots made by American craftsman like Quoddy and Yuketen nowadays, a few years ago, European labels was where it was at.

These have held up fair. Based on our research, they are handmade in Portugal from Italian leather, and in small batches just like their aforementioned American counterparts. Efforts to find a long-term test with the competitors unfortunately yielded no results. After begrudgingly and shamelessly wearing them through heavy slush and pools of salt for two seasons, and even after spraying them, the lower uppers are beginning to look more weathered, even with a relatively thick sole that generally keeps you above the slop. That’s not to say though that the leather doesn’t still look the part because they do. While we’re on the topic of soles, these don’t have a tread, which proved challenging on a Bambi-on-ice level on several occasions. In snowier conditions however, these are the truth with interiors that are thickly lined with sheep-skin and leather. We’ll stop short of saying these could beat a Sorel, but from a purely aesthetic perspective, these get the co-sign.

Spring is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to trade in those heavily insulated winter boots for something a little more breathable. But with the winter melt usually comes the daunting task of trying to maintain a shoe’s appearance and some will stop at nothing to keep theirs in as pristine a condition as possible, adamantly avoiding water at all costs. But despite their best efforts, the inevitable will eventually take place, only to leave the wearer in great sorrow and anguish. Now I wouldn’t suggest you go trudging around the damp parts of town with these Cosmic Wonder Light Source boots on for fun, but it certainly never hurts to ‘get your feet wet’ every now and then, both literally and idiomatically speaking. With a distressed leather exterior, they already give off the vibe that they’ve been around the block a few times anyway; kicking up a few puddles, whether intentionally or not, shouldn’t do much to tarnish the boot’s rugged worn-in look. The leather laces and hand-sewn crepe sole set the boot off just right. Available here.

For those among us that prefer a closed-toe shoe for sockless enjoyment in the summer, aside from the classic boater, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better choice than the look and feel of a good moccasin. And that’s not to say we’ve forgotten about the Nappa leather that wraps our bare feet in a classic Common Projects sneaker. Surface 2 Air makes some of the finest looking footwear for a non-footwear based label. Each piece, from their boots to their sneakers are always on point and this seasons drop is no different. We’ll eventually get around to giving each model its proper stage, but for now, we’ll just describe these moccassins made from soft, premium suede with a flexible, lightweight sole. Available here.

Australian footwear label Vanishing Elephant offers up a luxurious take on the classic Desert Boot. Fittingly, the brand is committed to marking a return to gentlemanly style, and achieve this exact goal with this boot. Made of soft leather in an elegant dark navy, the leather sole and contrast stitching give the aesthetic some real modern punch. There’s something to be said about a man who can wear (and pull off) a blue dress shoe, the resulting look is bold and confident. Available at Need Supply.

Since 1883, Wolverine boots have been outfitting generations of working class Americans from Farmers to Mill workers. Over 125 years ago, founder G.A. Krause created the first 1,000 Mile Boot, a historic footwear line that set the standard for durable workwear, with special focus placed on quality craftsmanship. While most of the Wolverine lineup is comprised of rugged boots that are fitted to help build railroads, erect skyscrapers and provide safety in factories, this new look 1000 Mile Boot is designed for the urbanite. With clean, sleek lines, it’s Made in American for buttery brown leather and features a stacked leather midsole and outsole with classic welt construction. A great-looking piece of American Heritage. Available here.

We remember spotting the Series 1 of this collaboration awhile back and being blown away. We’ve always been partial to the Pierre Hardy high-top sneakers that have remain unchanged season after season, but this ongoing collaboration with Kitsuné continues to impress. For Series 7, they’ve gone with soft tanned suede uppers and inners, thin white leather sole and contrast color laces. In our humble opinion, the Spring/Summer 2009 drops still remain the ones to beat. Available here.

Patent leather deck shoes is something we’ve been wanting to get down with for a while now but for whatever reason haven’t passed over straight leather options. One major concern being the friction on the Achilles heal. The look of patent leather, especially on a boater, works well for us, especially spotting some of the Band of Outsiders x Sperry Top Sider collaborations a few a seasons back.  The color combination above though from Sebago is pretty tough to beat. Available here.

Perennial favorites You Must Create bring us a different take on the traditional desert boot, adding a twist of style & functionality to a very classic silhouette. Like a Desert/Chelsea boot hybrid, the YMC Buckle Desert boot is elegantly made from smooth suede in a Rust or Sand color, with a slim crepe sole and brushed leather lining, which eliminates the annoying color bleed on your socks. The addition of a rugged metal buckle is a clever touch in the design aesthetic, giving the boot a definite unique look and feel. Available here.

Kris Van Assche can really split opinions with his extraordinary sneaker designs.  Of course, such is the dilemma for any creative who works outside of the proverbial box.  The Dior Homme creative director’s tendency to go over-the-top with velcro straps seems to be the real dividing line.  While his newest high top look is devoid of velcro, it does bring an exaggerated laces look.  It also features his somewhat signature tie detail at the back of the ankle.  For us, what really sets this design off is the tonal contrast created by the laces in combination with the goat suede tongue and side gussets versus the smooth leather of the upper and toe box.  Available here.