There's no question but that bespoke shoes are a luxury. Only a few aficionados will notice the difference between a fine pair of bespoke and a great pair of machine-made shoes on a man's feet. That's unlike, say, bespoke suits where an observer can tell that something special is headed his way from quite a distance. But what a luxury they are.
My luxuries arrived Friday after what seemed like an interminable wait since a fitting this past spring, and I will say that if they age as gracefully as they impressed me upon arrival, they'll be my favorite shoes by far. I'm talking of course about the oxblood semi-brogues in the photos, which were made by London's W.S.Foster and Son.
First impressions, formed on a two mile walk to the shine stand and back, is that they are quite comfortable, to the point where they may actually be a touch large. They are also the lightest of my bespoke shoes by a noticeable amount, and I love the spacious toe box and the way they conform to the shape of my feet.
Oxblood is the new black so far as I'm concerned, and these will immediately join the rotation for wear with navy city suits.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Semi-Brogue Semi-Porn
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12 comments:
Very nice shoes, Will. Given the cost, I'd have thought twice about even wearing them, let alone walking two miles in them. :-)
I read Tom Wolfe's, The Secret Vice, yesterday for the first time. After reading it, it is now tough to buy or wear anything that is ready made.
Will,
does the bespoke shoemaker adjust the shoe to compensate for the fact that the foot naturally expands when walking on shoes?
How can you describe the difference in shoe design between Fosters compared to Gaziano & Girling's and/or Cleverley's?
Separately, they each make a defined chiseled toe, can you describe the difference
I believe you have a Gaziano & Girling bespoke shoe on order. Just curious, what was so different about the shoe designs of Fosters compared to G&G that you opted to use 2 different English bespoke shoe makers?
Lovely shoes.
It's the fit of bespoke shoes that only the wearer knows that appeals to me. As you say someone looking at them will have trouble telling them from a very good non-bespoke shoe. I agree with you about the lightness of Foster's bespoke.
Nice shoes! Thanks Will, I’m sure you will enjoy them.
I am struck by how perfectly the throat is closed when laced. That seems rarely the case except for bespoke, and to me, is a notable aesthetic advantage. Would you consider a medallion toe whole cut?
Will,
Splendid looking shoes Will. I'm pleased they arrived and you're as pleased with them as you are.
Allow me to suggest two shots that are missing from your otherwise superaltive shoe porn:
1. A shot of the soles. I suspect these shoes have a beveled waist. How I admire a beveled waist, in porn of all forms.
2. A shot of the shoe trees that came withe shoes. Those lasted trees are another luxury of bespoke shoes I'd like to see.
So let's see a picture with a navy suit, instead of the light pants, which I think do not form the best combination.
Shamigo, yes, measurements are taken with weight on and off the feet so the maker can see how they expand under load.
Ay, I have shoes from all three makers and they each have their strengths. Now that I have lasts at all three, I can take advantage of those strengths without switching costs. Foster's strength is that the shape more closely conforms to the foot, and the coloring is better.
Tim, personally I don't appreciate wholecuts.
Beautiful, Will. Lovely colour. I must say, I haven't been a fan of the chiselled toe, but you are starting to convert me. Striking.
There's a shot of the waist treatment here:
http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fosterwaisttreatmentdn3.jpg
Will, I have always been discouraged from my cobbler from going with metal toe taps for fear of sounding like a tap dancer. However, I chew right through the plastic ones. I can see that yours are recessed. Do you like having them in metal?
Youngin, metal toe taps don't make noise unless you're going down hard surfaced stairs. It's heel taps that click.
But you shouldn't walk on hardwood floors with them. They can make marks.
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