This seasons more substancial and smart casual footwear is the desert boot. Popular in the late 1940s and 1950s the desert boot or chukka boot was a popular choice of footwear among the British forces. Usually made of suede or calfskin the boots are a slightly higher end smart casual choice of boots that thanks to their lightweight materials are the perfect choice for the summer season. Worn with jeans or chinos (NEVER shorts!) they smarten a summer outfit without the need for smart shoes or heavier winter boots and just add another dimension to your footwear offerings. The leading desert boot maker has to be Clarks, while this may not appear too popular among some groups they have reinvented their own footwear ranges to keep up with the designer world and have some amazing chukka boots available in their spring summer 11 range. Clarks have even collaborated with Liam Gallagher’s brand Pretty Green to launch some Gallagheresq boots for this season. Pretty Green branding and Clarks quality is a must for the fashion footwear fan this season. If they are too far out of your price bracket then Lyle and Scott have added to their shoe range this year on the back of their successful plimsolls. The Lyle and Scott boots carry the golden eagle logo and have a slightly more conservatory price tag. Once you try the boots you’ll be amazed at the comfort. I was slightly sceptical, thinking that the soles would be too thin, however they are really nice boots, and I have to make a slight admission, I actually bought a pair of Grenson chukka boots, which were slightly pricey, oops! Other brands to look at include Fred Perry, Timberland and Ted Baker, however the best thing to do before buying and wearing out is to try them on with your jeans and a nice shirt or polo shirt. Hopefully the advice from Designer Shoes and Trainers will be a big help for you…