I acquired these Edward Green oxfords at Brooks Brothers about twenty years ago. Labeled Peal, they're actually Chelseas on EG's 202 last. They were the beginning of my affair with that company's footwear and I've probably added two pair each year ever since.
As the oldest shoes in my rotation currently, they're proof that good shoes can last indefinitely when they are maintained. They were re-made at the factory once but are otherwise holding up nicely.
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Nice looking shoes, Will, I like the color. I bought a brown pair of tassle Church's in the late 90s and had them refurbished two summers ago with decent results. There was some drama involved with the crazy owner of the townhouse next to the Madison Avenue store who blew up his house causing the church's store to close for a while and delaying delivery of my shoes but that's a different. Story.
Very nice, and beautifully preserved. Which brings me to a question about shoe maintenance: I know the importance of using cedar shoe trees every night, and never wearing the same pair of shoes two days in a row, but what about cleaning and polishing? I usually use Meltonian neutral polish for all my shoes, but I inherited that habit from my father. Can you recommend a good cleaning/polising routine, including any products that you think work well?
xtoph3r, I wrote a piece on shoe care a few months ago. The search function will turn it up for you.
Those are beautiful shoes, Will. Thanks for showing them to us. Two pair (of EGs) per year for twenty years?! Bloody hell, that's a lot of beautiful shoes! I look forward to seeing them. Do you take requests? I'd like to see a pair of EG Malverns in an Edwardian finish, instead of the chestnut. I'm curious.
I see you matched the color of the shoe lacces with the socks. Am I right or is it an unfaithful rendition of colors in the picture?
Will, I forgot to mention it before, but the shoelaces look a bit crooked here, which leads me to believe you use what is known in the knotting world as a 'Granny Knot'. May I suggest you use a Standard Shoelace Knot (or 'Slipped Reef Knot')? This will result in straighter, more balanced shoelace bows that won't come undone. Email me if you need more detailed instructions.
Trad:
A colleague of mine at the office approached me 2 weeks ago indicating that his shoelaces make "noise" when he walks and asked if I had any suggestions. I rarely wear lace-up shoes (I'm usually in loafers) and really had no answer for him. Actually, I had never heard of such a thing and quite frankly thought it to be an odd question. But it is evidently important enough to him for him to track me down to ask.
Anybody have any suggestions for this well-dressed colleague of mine?
John, in my experience shoelaces don't squeak. Soles do, in the shank. The manufacturer should be able to fix the problem.
Laguna, I'm afraid there are no Edwardian Malverns here. I've a pair in burgundy and another in dark oak. I do have a pair of Cardiffs in Edwardian though.
Lorenzo, my shoelaces are dark brown. I'm not nearly obsessed enough to change my laces to match my socks.
John ~ By 'noise' I am assuming your co-worker means the shoelaces are 'flapping' against the top of his shoe? If so, look at his shoelaces to determine what kind of knot he is using. You can tell if he is using the common (but incorrect) 'Granny Knot,' because the shoelaces will be resting in a lopsided position (toe-to-heel) along the shoe. (For an example of this condition, look at the lopsided shoelaces in Will's photo). If this indeed is the case, the noise is caused by the shoelace bow bouncing up and down on the shoe leather when he walks. Your colleague needs to tie a Standard Shoelace Knot, where the bows rest over the shoe in a straight, horizontal manner. However, if your colleague already is using a Standard Shoelace Knot, the cause of the noise may be attributed to excessively long shoelaces, in which case he can solve the problem by: 1) tying an extra knot or two when he ties the shoelaces, or 2) amputating part of the shoelace. If he decides to amputate, I strongly suggest he consult a shoe specialist first. Good luck.
Trad,
Thanks for this info. I will forward it to him. He was considering tucking his laces into his shoe but only as a last resort.
I enjoy this forum not only for Will's excellent posts each day but also for the insight and observations the commentators bring. I will never look at shoelace knots the same way again!
Lorenzo - to echo your observation I noticed a young man wearing a shade of pink laces with his greenish sneakers about a month ago here in NYC. Now, granted, I would not do this myself, but I liked the pleasing visual it gave in trying to complement the laces with another piece of the ensemble. I couldn't stop looking at it. It's a concept one could incorporate to pull off something like Will has here with the laces complementing the sock or trouser. (I know you did not do it intentionally, Will, but it is nice to look at nevertheless)
Great shoes. Are you sure they are on the 202 Last and not the 404 last?
I know my EGs! Besides, they say 202 inside. :-)
Thanks! Wear them in good health. I bought my first pair of EGs from the former Bullock & Jones, which had a lovely shoe department in the back. I've never been able to lay my hands on a vintage pair of 404s other than holding the lasts in my hands at the factory. I opt for the 707 in ready mades.
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