IGI&CO: shoes to wear all day, for men and women
A Gore-Tex membrane is a thin layer set between the upper and the lining: it lets the vapour produced by the foot out and keeps water from getting in. On this page you will find it in the men's lace-up ankle boots and ankle boots and in some city sneakers, and it is the reason a closed shoe stays dry in the rain without turning damp inside. On the models without it, the same job is done, to a lesser degree, by a water-repellent treatment on the upper, which needs renewing with a spray after a few months of wear.
The selection covers two different worlds. For men there are low-top sneakers, loafers, lace-ups, lace-up ankle boots and chelsea boots, the pull-on ankle boots with an elastic gusset on each side. For women the grid brings together sneakers, slip-ons, loafers on a low wedge, ankle boots, lace-up combat boots and sandals with a strap or a wedge. It is a range built on fit more than on trend: the lasts are generous across the forefoot and the heels, where there are any, stay low and wide at the base.
The materials are the ones that behave well over time. Suede is soft from day one but absorbs water: brush it dry and protect it with a spray before wearing it. Nubuck has a more compact surface and stands up better to daily use. Smooth leather should be fed with a neutral cream two or three times a season; patent leather is cleaned with a damp cloth and nothing more. The fabric models, which are lighter, are freshened up with a soft brush and a mild detergent, never in the washing machine.
To compare a whole category beyond a single brand, the category pages are the place to start: loafers for men and sneakers for women. One warning about sizing: a shoe with a waterproof membrane has one more layer of lining and fits slightly fuller, so anyone between two sizes is usually better off with the larger one.
