How many of you are into shoes... (Dress Shoes)?

[MDMax]

Love the thread. I also am a fan of AEs. My favorite pairs are the "old" Mark Nason shoes made in Italy. Fantastic look and feel great after years of wear. I finally found a cobbler that can redo the soles without destroying the look.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

If anyone is interested in John Lobb discontinued or seconds, Nick has refreshed his stock and updated his website.

http://www.bespoke-england.co.uk/

Great way to pickup a pair of John Lobb shoes or boots.

[Peter99]

Here's a pic of my last two shoe buys.
The light tan, Oxford brogue, hand made in calf, from Russell & Bromley London cost £175/pair.
The antique chestnut Belgrave, handgrade in Calf, from Crockett & Jones London cost £520.
Different price, different shoes.
The R & B is the lighter shoe at 400g, leather thickness at lace holes 0.090 inches.
The C & J at 500g and 0.110 inch thick.
NB as a matter of interest my Scapa Manta 20 year old walking boots are 900g/boot.
The R & B shoes were quick to break-in and now very comfortable to wear.
The C & J is taking a few weeks, reflecting no doubt the extra thickness of leather.
Although I often think that until shoes get really wet and hence mould to the feet they are never broken in completely.
I'll have to take those C & J's out in a downpour!
For sure the C & J is a sturdy shoe beautifully made, smarter to wear and I would think outlast the R & B.
But none the less the Russell & Bromley shoes are excellent value for the money!
NB The shoe trees are in the wrong shoes and R & B's are 1/8inch shorter in length.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Peter99

Here's a pic of my last two shoe buys.
The light tan, Oxford brogue, hand made in calf, from Russell & Bromley London cost £175/pair.
The antique chestnut Belgrave, handgrade in Calf, from Crockett & Jones London cost £520.
Different price, different shoes.
The R & B is the lighter shoe at 400g, leather thickness at lace holes 0.090 inches.
The C & J at 500g and 0.110 inch thick.
NB as a matter of interest my Scapa Manta 20 year old walking boots are 900g/boot.
The R & B shoes were quick to break-in and now very comfortable to wear.
The C & J is taking a few weeks, reflecting no doubt the extra thickness of leather.
Although I often think that until shoes get really wet and hence mould to the feet they are never broken in completely.
I'll have to take those C & J's out in a downpour!
For sure the C & J is a sturdy shoe beautifully made, smarter to wear and I would think outlast the R & B.
But none the less the Russell & Bromley shoes are excellent value for the money!
NB The shoe trees are in the wrong shoes and R & B's are 1/8inch shorter in length.

Very nice. I think break in depends on a number of factors, however I have found success for the most part by wearing my shoes or boots for an hour 3x over the course of 3 different days. Now this in its self does not guarantee success for all boots or shoes but it has helped greatly. When it came to a few pairs from Redwing I had to extend this period to two weeks and even after that my feet were sore for a few days after a complete day of wear even though for the most part I was sitting down while wearing them for the most part for the first few days. Redwing boots are known for a longer and harder breaking period. However I've never experienced this issue when first breaking in shoes from a number of other shoemakers. Surely a good fit plays a big part but I think other factors such as leather and sole may play a part as well. I know some of my best experiences are with shoes and boots from such shoemakers as John Lobb, Edward Green, and Gaziano and Girling. I've never had a problem with shoes and boots from Crockett and Jones, Alden, Carmine, Rancourt, or Viberg, but still I have found the experience just a bit better for the most part from the first three mentioned.

[Fredrik]

I believe break-in also depends on your feet. I never really have to break-in my shoes or boots. There has only been two exceptions to this, a pair of oxfords I bought in the 90s and a pair of Dr Martens that were utter crap. Both are since long gone.

All my boots from GG, C&J, Edward Green, Carmina, Viberg etc has been put into the rotation the same day I got them. Oh, the Bonafe boots where both a bit stiff to begin with, but they loosened up after a few miles.

[Peter99]

Yes, I think that the 'break-in' does depend a great deal on ones feet. I know that 20 years ago I used to lace up my walking boots without a thought.
But now after taking up running & the gym my weight has dropped from 160 lbs to 140 lbs, so I now have to take care how I lace up, with my heal tight against the back of the boot. Otherwise it's blisters.
So I guess my feet have lost cushioning, so per my post above, the C & J shoes being more substantial than the R & B, are taking a little longer for me.
I appreciate your posts, guys!

[Hamish]

Here they are!
I haven't polished them yet.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Hamish

Here they are!
I haven't polished them yet.

Great choice, congrats.

St Crispins come highly shined, doubt that one would have to shine or polish before wearing.

[Hamish]

Wait and see....they will look quite different when I am finished with them

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Hamish

Wait and see....they will look quite different when I am finished with them

Ok

[Wesley Crusher]

New shoes are in. C&J PTBs in whiskey cordovan.

I plan on scaling back my cordovan collection big time, but these are awesome.

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by Hamish

Here they are!
I haven't polished them yet.

Nice!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

New shoes are in. C&J PTBs in whiskey cordovan.

I plan on scaling back my cordovan collection big time, but these are awesome.

Nice!

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

New shoes are in. C&J PTBs in whiskey cordovan.

I plan on scaling back my cordovan collection big time, but these are awesome.

Very Nice!!

Yeah cordovan is nice and all, but give me antique calf any day of of the week.

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Very Nice!!

Yeah cordovan is nice and all, but give me antique calf any day of of the week.

I like the look of the willow calf that EG used in the past, but it seems like it is something that they no longer offer? I wonder if they offer it through the MTO program.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

I like the look of the willow calf that EG used in the past, but it seems like it is something that they no longer offer? I wonder if they offer it through the MTO program.

I actually passed up a chance to get some the last time it was supposedly available. It was a Dover in a light brown color for which I forget the actual color. Fabulous choice for a color and a shoe and one of the few regrets I have with regards to what I could but decided not to do. Great looking leather if you ask me. However if memory serves it also depends what color you get as to how much of that character comes through. Also if I remember correctly you really can't see it from to far away.

Anyway, that was supposed to be the last of the last. But as with anything when it comes to E.G. The worst thing they can say is no, so it certainly can't hurt to ask.

[kelv_w]

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

[Sperry]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

W O W !!! What a collection!

Here's today's shoe with hip socks:
c.2010 Alden black shell loafers, raised right heel to correct leg/hip issue.
The issue apparently corrected but this last pair retains the higher right heel.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

Very nice.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Sperry

W O W !!! What a collection!

Here's today's shoe with hip socks:
c.2010 Alden black shell loafers, raised right heel to correct leg/hip issue.
The issue apparently corrected but this last pair retains the higher right heel.

Nice.


Like those socks.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

So many nice shoes in your collection!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

Great collection!

[droptopman]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

Great collection
Who is the maker of the slate blue shoe at 3:00?

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

Now that's a collection!

Originally Posted by Sperry

W O W !!! What a collection!

Here's today's shoe with hip socks:
c.2010 Alden black shell loafers, raised right heel to correct leg/hip issue.
The issue apparently corrected but this last pair retains the higher right heel.

Classic.

Originally Posted by droptopman

Great collection
Who is the maker of the slate blue shoe at 3:00?

Looks like Edward Green.

[kelv_w]

thanks chaps.

Yup it's an Edward Green Beaulieu

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by kelv_w

Just realised that there's a dress shoe thread. I'll post this in the correct thread now

Fabulous collection.

[Syed117]

Was putting my walnut strands on this morning and I was shocked to find a hole in the sole of one of the shoes.

The cork was showing.

18 months old and worn maybe once a week. I have done a lot of walking in them on pavements in NYC so I guess that's what did it.

Going to drop them off tomorrow and possibly get a dainite sole instead of leather.

Thoughts?

I'd like the durability, but I really don't like the way rubber soles look. Yes, I know that it's the bottom of the shoe that I rarely see.

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by Syed117

Was putting my walnut strands on this morning and I was shocked to find a hole in the sole of one of the shoes.

The cork was showing.

18 months old and worn maybe once a week. I have done a lot of walking in them on pavements in NYC so I guess that's what did it.

Going to drop them off tomorrow and possibly get a dainite sole instead of leather.

Thoughts?

I'd like the durability, but I really don't like the way rubber soles look. Yes, I know that it's the bottom of the shoe that I rarely see.

Doesn't AE use single leather soles for most of their shoes? You could have some double leather JR soles installed (what AE uses for their cordovan shoes). Those will last you MUCH longer than the soles that came on your Strands.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Syed117

Was putting my walnut strands on this morning and I was shocked to find a hole in the sole of one of the shoes.

The cork was showing.

18 months old and worn maybe once a week. I have done a lot of walking in them on pavements in NYC so I guess that's what did it.

Going to drop them off tomorrow and possibly get a dainite sole instead of leather.

Thoughts?

I'd like the durability, but I really don't like the way rubber soles look. Yes, I know that it's the bottom of the shoe that I rarely see.

Look is one thing and functionality can sometimes be something else. For those shoes where heavy walking is required Dainite is always my first choice.

[Sperry]

Originally Posted by Syed117

Was putting my walnut strands on this morning and I was shocked to find a hole in the sole of one of the shoes.

The cork was showing.

Yep, I usually beat the heck out of my shoes before recrafting. These shell cordovan loafers came apart in a couple years.