James Bond’s Boots: Visiting Crockett & Jones’ NYC Store

Today, we’ve got another look at the best places to buy boots and shoes in New York City. We headed to Spring Street in SoHo to visit the tippy top of English bootmaking, Crockett & Jones.

Although the brand is associated with C-suite executives, lawyers, and just about anyone whose work requires them to dress to impress (they got a direct shoutout as the boardroom footwear of choice in HBO’s Succession), the brand’s most famous patron is the fictional spy, James Bond.

We sat with Jonathon Colon, the NYC store manager at Crockett & Jones, to discuss their history and popular style.   

A Brief History of Crockett & Jones

“Crockett and Jones is a very unique brand,” explains Jonathon. “We are a 143-year-old shoemaker based out of Northampton, the shoemaking Mecca of the world. To this day, our shoes still come out of the same factory and we are still privately owned by Charles Jones’ family, who are now fifth-generation owners.” 

Crockett & Jones was founded in 1879 by two brothers-in-law, James Crockett and Charles Jones. Both founders came from families that had their foot in the Northhampton shoemaking trade for generations.

For those not in the know, Northampton is considered one of the many shoe capitals of the world. Many well-known brands such as Church’s, Grensons, Edward Green, Tricker’s, and even Dr. Martens came out of this tiny city. 

“We are a brand with a lot of history and heritage behind our operations. A couple of years ago, we were granted a Royal Warrant,” explained Jonathon, referring to a seal denoting that the company makes goods in Britain that meet the expectations and requirements of the Royal Family. “This is seen as a high prestige for any company to have. We are a brand that represents quality craftsmanship and heritage.“

James Bond’s Boots

One of the first things that come to mind when I think about Crockett & Jones is James Bond.

“Daniel Craig is actually the person who really started the collaboration between the production company and Crockett and Jones,” said Jonathan. “He was a regular shopper of ours and is very familiar with our shoes.”

Specifically, Daniel Craig wore the Molton Chukka in No Time To Die. This is a beautiful chukka boot constructed out of a rough-out suede leather upper and rubber soles. It’s very practical for day-to-day wear but also perfect if you’re out fighting crime like Mr. Bond.

He also wore The Camberley in Spectre, which is a little closer to the shape and styles that he typically wears in the films.

“It’s got more of the classical Bond aesthetic with a chisel toe and double buckles,” explained Jonathon. “It’s unusual because it’s a mix of a chukka boot and monk straps.“

Crockett & Jones Bestsellers

“Our flagship style is going to be our Chelsea boots, the Chelsea 5 in particular. This is a boot that we do in a few different finishes.”

For those who are not familiar, rough-out suede is suede that’s been given a waterproof finish with a wax coating. The wax passed over the leather fibers to seal and protect them against moisture, and as the wax wears away, it produces a very cool patina. Y

ou can always rewax your suede boots, but boot guys always prefer that patina.

“We also have the Islay Boot, a style Bond wore in Skyfall,” Jonathon said. “It is also a top seller for our brand. The Islay boot is crafted from sturdy country grain leather, which is one of the more water-repellent leathers in our collection.”

They are soled with equally resilient Dainite rubber soles that provide excellent grip on slippery surfaces. In the film, you can even see Bond running across ice wearing the Islay boot. 

Overall, it is just a beautiful wingtip style, a classic British country boot that you could dress up or down quite easily.

Crockett & Jones Waterproof Boots

“The Snowdon has been in our collection for many, many years,” says Jonathan. “It’s crafted in a nice oak wax hide with a sturdy commando rubber sole using Veldtschoen construction, which is to say it makes the boot almost 100% waterproof. So it is a great winter boot, something that holds up to the tough conditions, you know, like the slush, the slime that winter brings.“

It’s very rare to see a Veldtschoen construction on a boot, and it’s a very old-world way of making shoes. Because of how the uppers are stitched to the soles, this construction method is as waterproof as possible in terms of traditional shoemaking goes.

Crockett & Jones Dress Shoes

We love boots at Stridewise, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss Crockett and Jones’ bread and butter: their dress shoes.

“Our dress collection offers a lot of different shapes and leathers; there is something for everyone,” says Jonathan. “The Alex (wholecut) is one of our best-selling shoes, and it’s also part of the Bond collection. Daniel Craig wore this style in Skyfall and Spectre.”

The Alex is made with leather soles and it’s whole-cut, meaning it’s made with just one piece of leather that’s pulled around a last and stitched at the back. It’s been the brand’s go-to shoe for formal wear for a lot guys as it is very elegant and easy to wear.

“From there, of course, we have our classic cap toe, the Audley (captoe) from the Hand Grade collection,” said Jonathon. “This collection is made using a slightly finer grade of leather.”

The classic cap toe is a timeless dress shoe style that will never go out of fashion. It’s got all the markers of a dress shoe: oxford style lacing, blind eyelets, and a leather sole.

It is suitable for work or for any formal event.

And then, just to mix it up for those who love loafers, they have the Sydney loafer. While loafers are worn with suits a little more often in the US than the UK, the Sydney has become widespread among the well dressed in both nations.

Built on the 341 last, with a medium point at the toes, it is easy to dress up or down. 

Although whole-cut shoes are some of the hardest shoes to make as they require the perfect piece of leather, many people find them to be comfortable dress shoes because it has fewer seams that irritate the foot.

Is Crockett & Jones Worth It?

Crockett & Jones’ footwear comes with a steep price tag, but you’re not just paying for their well-known name. You’re paying for a well-made product made to the specs of royalty and sharply dressed agents alike.

And to be honest, if you compare Crockett & Jones with other high end Northampton brands like Edward Green and Gaziano & Girling, you’ll find that relatively speaking, they’re actually well priced.

If someone is coming from wearing only sneakers, then initially, you might be shocked about the price of well-made shoes. However, a leather boot or shoe is an investment, and if you take good care of it, you’ll be wearing it for years to come.

Where Is Crockett & Jones in NYC?

Crockett & Jones is located at 156 Spring Street between West Broadway and Worcester. They are open every day except Monday, so if you want, you can enjoy a weekend here and look at their beautiful offerings.

At the shop, Jonathon and other knowledgeable staff will be able to help you with a nice fitting and help you find a great pair of shoes.

Wrapping Up

If you’re obsessive about quality, craftsmanship, and heritage, you’ll get a ton of value out of Crockett and Jones boots and shoes.

They are the masters of making classy British footwear and in 10 years, when you’re looking back and still wearing the same shoe, you’ll see it’s a great investment.