Barker Black

A small little one room boutique that will rarely entice new customers. The style is eclectic and edgy, and fits in to this neighborhood’s vibe, but the prices are going to be shocking to most.
Then again, you get what you pay for and in the world of handmade luxury goods, this brand is a top contender. The service is excellent with knowledgeable staff waiting on you. Don’t see the color you want? Custom orders are available for a nominal extra fee. I bought my first pair from Neiman Marcus a few years back, but their styles and colors were always so limited… not here. Lime green lace-​ups, white suede golf shoes, driving shoes, slippers, boots… there’s what seems to be an endless variation in styles and colors each season. They usually take about 5 – 6 full days of wearing to fully break-​in for me, but once they do, they are the most comfortable dress shoe I own. The subtle skull and crossbones detail is a fun little detail that only stands out when the shoes are being examined/​complimented (and they do get compliments!).
Excellent style and service. Truely a brand you can become obsessed with, and with their level of service, and custom options, there’s no need to go anywhere else. The location is appropriate for the style, but the quality (and price) is more of a 5^th Ave location.

Let me start off by saying that when you’re spending big bucks at a luxury boutique, you should assume the service will be equal to the merchandise. This was NOT my experience here.
I’ve been wanting to buy a pair of Barker Black’s for quite some time and finally had the opportunity to stop in while in NYC a few months ago. The entire time I was in there, the guy working (I assume it’s the same guy Christopher G dealt with in the review below) would not let up about this other store a few blocks away that he appeared to be in love with. He didn’t talk about HIS store, Barker Black, once. It was like he was a part time sales person for this other place trying to drive business their way. He didn’t help me once with the shoes, besides getting my size. It was awkward. Definitely not the vibe you would expect from a high end NYC boutique.
So I tried on two sizes and couldn’t get any feedback from the guy on which one was the right fit. I’ve always been told to size down as the leather would stretch, but again, I couldn’t get any help from this guy. So I went with the pair that felt the best. Great. Bought a pocket square too. Great. Paid $ 1,000+ and got out of there.
Problem 1: Keep in mind I’m in NYC for just a few days, I live in Chicago. So I’m getting ready to go out to dinner later that night and I go to put my shoes on… and discover that I’ve been given one shoe of the correct size and one shoe of the incorrect size. Not cool. So I have to go back to the store that next day, which takes forever because driving in NYC is murder, to exchange shoes for the right sizes.
Problem 2: I get home to Chicago and go online to order another pocket square (because they’re bitchin) and something doesn’t look right. I look at my receipt from the in-​store purchase and realize that I was overcharged $ 55.00 on the pocket square (PS: There are no prices on the items in the store. I think they assume that if you go in there, and you have to ask how much their stuff is, you probably can’t afford it. I’ve looked at some of their stuff online so I had an idea and was prepared). So at this point I’m pissed. I get better customer service at McDonalds…
I scanned my receipt, sent a screen shot of their pricing online to the store manager, and demanded a resolution within a business like time frame. I got a call the next day and received several apologies. They refunded the $ 55 over charge and sent me the pocket square I was going to order «on the house.»
So. The one PRO? The shoes are kick ass. I get a lot of compliments and again, I’ve always wanted a pair. It was not a good shopping experience though and will more than likely avoid going back. The service received was not that of a luxury brand.

First off I should clarify that I love good shoes and have pairs of Barker and Grenson shoes. I was very excited to learn of this stores, since they are one of the few places you can get Barker shoes (some of the best shoes in the world).
My excitement quickly disappeared when I walked into the store since the prices are pretty ridiculous, $ 800+ for any pair. I went in expecting high prices but the markup here makes me think I’d be better off buying a ticket to London. In London you’d get a wider selection of Barker shoes for a great deal less (my review of the London store is here,
). I’d argue the trip to London would be worth it if you were to buy two pairs of shoes.
Obviously people will still shop here and I love the product, just not the price. Out of principal I’d prefer to fly to London, check out a football game and fly back to the States fully stocked with Barker shoes. London’s calling…

Love this store! I wish it was bigger. It’s very cramp with stock everywhere, but with exclusive service.

It is hard rating a clothing store. A part of you wants to rate the physical place and the employees and your experiences and the other parts wants to rate the products…
Barker Black is the more premium line of Barker shoes, which are made in England and have been for like 200 years. (Think Purple Label to Polo Jeans). The Miller brothers definitely have great style and have designed shoes with much better lasts and detailing than their great grandfather Barker. The leather used definitely feels and does wear equally to shoes of much better reputation than that of Barker. Some people I know who purchase shoes from shoemakers in a similar price range still will not shop here simply because Barker Black’s shoes come from the very same factory as Barker. They claim you are really getting a $ 150 shoe as opposed to the $ 800 price tag on the Barker Black variety. Point taken, but the leather is not the same, nor is the style. Same goes for Horween shell cordovan on an Edward Green shoe for $ 2000 versus an Alden for $ 595. You pay for the last, the style and the legacy.
Speaking of shell cordovan the black fellow that works here rudely put that they don’t offer any shoes with shell cordovan as, «the Creative Director doesn’t like it», and it’s «kind of an American thing.» I feel that this is absurd. Shell cordovan is the one of the most durable unique leathers money can buy and much more reputable shoemakers in all over the world including England and Austria use it. How pretentious can you be to make these remarks when your shoes are in fact decedents of a low-​end shoemaker?
That isn’t the only time the black guy has been rude, I came in to buy more polish and he snapped at me when I mentioned I saw some Barker Blacks at Barney’s and they apparently don’t sell to Barney’s. «Well, it could have been Sak’s or any of the 1,000 other department stores in the area that look exactly the same.» I came back for laces once and they didn’t have any. While I was looking around I was stared at intently with a stoic gaze. Frankly, I have better experiences with the folks at the Dior Homme Boutique.
I have spoken to Derrick once and he was a cool guy. It seems like none of the staff really knows how to properly care for shoes. The black guy claims he wears pairs day after day, which is a huge no no for leather shoes. When I asked another guy how he keeps them from cracking he said, «You polish them.» Anybody who knows shoes, knows that just caking on polish improperly can do more harm than good.
They have some cool accessories, however I feel that their ties are too thick, and there is not much variety of styling. I feel that the whole skull and crossbones, while discreet on their shoes has been way overdone in fashion on scarves, ties, and pocket squares. I mean when Express and Hot Topic do it, I declare it dead.
Oh yeah, this is the 21^st century. An updated, working website would be cool.

I first discovered Barker Black shoes at Saks in San Francisco while helping a manfriend search out a perfect shirt and tie for a wedding. While my pal was in the dressing room I noticed another bloke trying on a pair of Barker Black’s and was immediately struck by their dead sexiness. Seriously, who doesn’t appreciate a man in good shoes?
A few weeks ago, my favorite Washingtonian and I were browsing around NoLIta before meeting friends for dinner on the LES and he wanted to stop into Barker Black. With no major signage to pronounce itself, I didn’t realize where we were until I picked up one of the shoes and recognized the crowned skull and crossbones. Ah, gotta love that subversive sophistication.
Shoe whores of the male variety won’t want to miss this English import.

All three stars are for the possibility of finding a beautiful pair of formal or semi-​formal shoes.
Lets talk about the positives before I hammer it with its shortcomings.
It is hard to find Made in England leather shoes which are way above in quality and finish than even the hand crafted versions of Paul Smith.
A good deal of attention seems to have been paid to the width and the length of the shoes. I mean if you are to compare wing-​tips made by another shoe co. or a leading designer of any size, say for instance size 9, barker black fits and even looks better. They are even more comfortable than the hand crafted «varda» line of formal shoes of similar designs at Jenny B located on Spring and Greene. The leather may be hard, but it hugs your feet without making it feel uncomfortable, so you can walk like an «Englishman in New York».
This is a serious shoe store. The prices are SERIOUSLY HIGH. Do not look for anything under 750 $. If you find anything You are either very lucky or you have a Yeti sized foot, because none of the popular sizes are listed below that price. The ties are good but also steeply priced at $ 140 and up. Band of Outsiders make much better ties.
Now for the bad. No not the bad: the HORRIBLE. The fucking service. The guys here, and one man in particular, behaves like he is the Crown prince of the Falklands. He does not seem to understand that neither is he in britain and nor does he seem to impress or convince anyone with his fake british attitude and accent. Look man: people are spending a fortune for shoes in a city where the culture of spending so much for leather shoes has not evolved as yet. This isn’t your London, Nor is it Paris or Tokyo. One does not usually spend even half of that for limited edition sneakers in the neighbourhood stores. They need to be more attentive about the market they are catering to rather than being obsessive about stamping their own identity.
The place is tiny and poorly designed with a massive couch and an even more massive Union F#$k (jack) in the background. Yeah we get it you Brit morons, You are trying to create a london oasis in New York. Congratulations you just created a shit hole of British attitude. Its the most gaudy display of some poorly imagined concept of British Culture.
Its so tiny that if six or more people are in there one would be confused as to where to stand, where to sit, what to do and while you are figuring that out, your ass hits one of the display shoes which is hanging on a narrow stand, the shoe (s) fall off and then the salesman gets into the british snotty groove again.
They may not have your size or the colour of the shoes you want, and do not trust them to give you a call when the one you want finally arrives. I never got a call. Also do not take cash: their empty cash registers do not even have 10 dollars in change to give you back.
What the hell are you expecting: people will come in, take your shitty attitude, buy a shoe of a size and colour they do not want, pay 750 dollars and pay it in your preferred method. Thats the most disastrous business model.
All said, if you find a good pair of shoes to your liking, and do not mind paying the amount, and most importantly can overlook the shortcomings I listed: you could own a pretty good pair of shoes which may not be found anywhere else in new york.
The craftsmen of the shoes deserve 5 stars, those who sell them took away 2 of the stars. Hence, the 3 stars.