I’ve been away from the whole blogging scene for a week or two again, and the whole time I’ve been reading about some of the hot topics of the time, and viewing some of the best footwear collections I think I’ve ever seen. Visits to some of the biggest shopping centres around the country has led me to amazing collections of winter boots, and for fear of being ignored, or having you leave I’ve been in search of something else. As a fashionable male, or a blogger that has an enthusiasm in shoes and footwear you can’t help but champion the boots and brogues for the winter months as the shift away from canvas or white trainers is a must due to the weather that we’re set to experience.

This may excite many of you, or bore you in equal measure, so for something a little different I’ve been window shopping, researching and even cheekily picking up the phone on occasion and trying to get through to the buyers of some of the best fashion sites and shops at the moment. Many failed or led to confused people hanging up on me, however a couple didn’t and we’re happy to pass a tip or two across. Possibly to get rid of me, but I’m hoping that it was because they saw the sheer enthusiasm I have for the gear that they buy – unfortunately I’ll never know!

One tip that I received from someone who prefers to remain anonymous is the amazing Sperry x Penfield footwear collaboration. Now I know that you’re scratching your head wondering how Penfield have become involved with this, and when you know its actually quite obvious and simple. Both Sperry Topsider and Penfield are brands from New England in America and are both enjoying something of a boom in the UK at the moment. Penfield are kitting out the fashionable male in a casual yet fashion led range of outdoor clothing and winter warmers while Sperry are fast becoming known for their quality lightweight deck shoes and their variations of this key design and sole unit such as their chukka boots, bahama shoes, loafers and rigger boots.

So for this amazing collaboration Sperry have given the sole unit and general design features while Penfield have delved into their fabric archive and provided an array of materials and fabrics that match key pieces of their outerwear ranges. So for example Penfield have launched a beautiful Stapleton camouflage padded gilet for the winter 11 range, and the collaboration sees a waxed canvas camouflage pair of Sperry soled penny loafers that sit perfectly with a pair of beige chinos. Another is Penfield’s Kasson jacket in tweed and polyester/cotton mix in black and grey. The jacket is matched with a pair of khaki green chinos and some chunky grey knitwear, and the chinos are tucked into a pair of the popular Sperry Topsider Shipyard Rigger boots in black herringbone. This means that across the range you can mix Penfield winter outwear with a limited edition pair of Sperry shoes – what more does the fashionable guy need for winter 2011?

So, as a tip that’s very unique and different to the rest of the footwear world that’s out there at the moment how do you think this fares? All I know is that I’m going to grab a piece of this amazing collaboration history the second that it’s launched, as after all that’s what owning limited edition footwear is all about surely? As of yet there aren’t many stockists that are listed as carrying this amazing collaboration, however after e-mailing Sperry Topsider I can tell you that Mainline Menswear, Triads and End Clothing are among the 8-10 stockists that will be carrying the four men’s designs of shoes that include boots, deck shoes and loafers.