Clarks Weaver… the look of a shoe, the comfort of a trainer

There are few things more pleasurable (for me at least) than trying on a new pair of shoes for the first time. Lifting the lid of the box, inhaling that ‘new shoes’ smell and then slipping them on… well, these are the things that make life worthwhile. 

Especially when the shoe in question is a Clarks Weaver Wallabee.

 

Launched in 1967 (as a copy of a German shoe called the ‘Grasshopper’), early publicity campaigns featured go-ahead action types like photographers and climbers, though they found real favour with ’70s dads, who all looked a bit like the screws in Scum. 

For visits to steakhouses (“Hi Brian, Joan – this is my wife, Jan”) or the safari park (“Craig! Stop eating your sister”) these versatile shoes were just the ticket. And unlike the brogues so beloved of their fathers, they wouldn’t be swamped by a flared trouser – something one had to bear in mind in 1975. 

Ridiculed by snarly casuals in the late ’70s (“Look at him, wearing his arl feller’s shoes”), by acid house they were back – nestling nicely under Manchester flares and baggy jogging pants. Since then, they’ve been the choice of Britpoppers, rappers and well, the sort of bloke who still thinks he’s got it, but can’t get away with wearing Adidas Superstars any more. 

This brings us to the shoes pictured here, the Clarks Weaver. Satisfying chunky, this particular Wallabee has many imitators – notably the Visvim moc – but few equals. With a decent pair of jeans, a nice jumper and a Barbour jacket, it’s just the thing for a winter’s day. Whether you’re a photographer or not.