Join Edward Green, Grenson, Gucci and Lanvin on a grand day out from London to Brighton.

It is about this time of the year that all of us feel a bit like Mole at the outset of The Wind in the Willows. After spending the winter in our “dark and lowly little house”, spring is penetrating us “with its spirit of divine discontent”. We long for a bit of adventure: to dig ourselves out of our hole and see what the world outside has to offer.  

For some, the recent vernal equinox has sent them looking for blossoming trees and the opportunity to roll in the warm grass of a meadow. But after subsisting on a steady diet of boots, we here at MR PORTER are longing for brogues, Oxfords, Derbies and sneakers. Not old favourites either. We want, we need and we deserve that sensation of opening a box and inhaling unsullied leather.

As for where to take your newly purchased Guccis, Grensons, or Edward Greens for their first day out, we leave it to you. The scenes below are merely suggestions from a recent day trip from London to Brighton.

Nothing happens before Java o’clock, which is why we’ve headed to Columbia Road in east London to get our morning fix. These comfortable and stylish camouflage running shoes by Valentino are one of the newest inductees into our footwear “hall of fame”. They debuted in the spring of 2013, and have been a runway mainstay ever since.

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A steadying lunch of pie and mash: the classic Cockney dish. Best enjoyed with copious amounts of parsley liquor, though do be careful not to spill any on your shoes – in this case, a pair of dependable brown leather wingtip brogues from the Northampton-based shoemaker, Grenson.

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The Gucci horsebit loafer in suede: a classic shoe to match the curves of this 1965 Jaguar Mark 2. For a weekend break, this sturdy leather and canvas holdall from the British leather goods specialist Mulberry provides all the space you’ll need and looks the part, to boot.

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An umbrella is a prerequisite for the capricious British spring (and summer) weather. At least with this one from the Milanese ombrellaio, Francesco Maglia, you’ll be carrying something that’s as beautiful as it is functional. Matching up smartly with the umbrella is this pair of well-polished leather Derby shoes by Cheaney.

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A trip to England’s south coast simply isn’t complete without taking in the Victorian architecture that surrounds the old pleasure piers. We found this fine example just west of Worthing Pier. But it’s not the only piece of Victorian engineering in the picture: the Globe-Trotter suitcase is made using processes that remain largely unchanged since 1897. It’s shown here with the “Dover”, which with its split toe and hand-stitched apron on the upper is Edward Green’s most iconic shoe.

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The original, 19th-century Worthing Pier was sadly destroyed in a fire in 1933, though its destruction did pave the way for this attractive Art Deco replacement, which first opened to the public in 1935. The Stan Smith sneakers seen here are decidedly more modern in design, having not appeared on the scene until 1971.

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And it wouldn’t be spring with out some romantic intrigue. These handsome Oxford shoes are from the Kingsman range, crafted by the renowned George Cleverley of London and exclusive to MR PORTER. She towers above him in a pair of lofty red leather pumps by Lanvin, available at NET‑A‑PORTER.COM.

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We’re winding down after a long day in the relative peace and quiet of the laundrette. These supple suede chukka boots are by Tod’s, the Italian purveyor of la dolce vita. The brand’s “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to style has won it a huge global following. Its most iconic product is the Gommino suede loafer, which is named after the rubber gommini (pebbles) embedded in the sole – a clever detail that it shares in common with this boot.

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