Proper leather shoes

for a bunch of supposedly young and hip londoners some of you wear old man shoes

Old man shoes are shoes than old men wear. Its not the shoes or clothing but the wearer that defines what is "young", "hip" or "square".

i wore the same when i was in the army because i had to

Let us not forget that the birthplace of the modern business suit was London and its model was the Army uniform--- same, actually, for the modern kilt as well. And the role model for the most stylish Italian suits? London again. Brioni, and later Kiton, took the English suit from Saville Row, raised the bar on workmanship and added Italian flare--- students outdoing their masters.

The British Army despite recent declines in standards through cost-cutting is still relatively well dressed. Robert Noble and Hainsworth are, for example, still making ceremonial cloths to the highest standards.