Perhaps influenced by President Obama's State of the Union address the other day, the driver from DHL who brought the photo's chocolate brown W. S. Foster casual semi-brogues shoes to my door asked why I did not just get shoes made in the "good old U.S.A." Loathe to get into a politically charged discussion after the mess I apparently made of Wednesday's Stone post, I mumbled something incomprehensible and signed his receipt as hastily as possible.
I suppose I should not get too excited about the second coming (no, this is not a religious post either) of shoes that were ordered two years ago. They fit, and that is a relief, but then bespoke shoes are supposed to fit and usually do.
It was the usually do part that was the thing with these. One of them, I believe it was the left but am too lazy to go back and look, originally arrived a quarter of an inch too long, which is Not A Good Thing for a slipon. The good folks at Foster's took them back and re-made them of course (I am told the originals are offered for sale in Foster's Jermyn Street store at a huge discount that might make them interesting to anyone who wears a Euro 41 1/2, UK 8 1/2 or US 9). My part in the matter was the most difficult - I sat and waited for most of another year - but that is over now.
The intervening time brought one small benefit and that is the new-to-Foster's oversized box that the shoes were packed in. It is designed to be labelled and then presumably to sit on a shelf waiting for its contents to be called upon. It is nice to know that I could use it that way if I wanted but my shoe shelves are packed too tightly to fit the box.
The important thing is that they fit!
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9 comments:
Will: the only Mess (not yours) were the rules not observed. Fantastic shoes, I'm deeply envious, but not for the current NE weather I fear.
Nice shoes!
Response to, “why I did not just get shoes made in the good old U.S.A."
Because then UPS would have delivered them, and you wouldn’t have been able to enjoy his charming company!
what are your thoughts on their ready-to-wear shoes?
Lovely shoes. The color, the style . . . bery nice. Wear them in good health.
Their RTW shoes are made elsewhere to varying standards. I have not examined them in detail.
"I am told the originals are offered for sale in Foster's Jermyn Street store at a huge discount"
They are - £525. I looked at the photo and thought 'hmmm, they look familiar', then realised why because I'd been looking at them only last week.
Will, dumb question, but I just assumed President Obama always wore black dress shoes... especially at the SOTU.
I must admit I'm a made in the USA guy myself or at least I talk the talk, but that doesn't stop me from shopping at Drakes, and, to be frank, I love the drive of a BMW or Volvo.
On the other hand, Mercer and Sons makes a nice dress shirt.
Part of the problem with the buy in the US mantra is it's hard to know. Brooks has almost everything imported except their Oxford Dress Shirts and Brooks is what I would consider the ultimate "American" store and yet it's 99 % imported.
England and Italy and even Scotland et al produce such fine quality clothes, then what is a made in America patriot to do? Wallmart is pretty much Made in Asia of some varietal.
Even if you wanted to buy made in American clothing, it isn't easy for the poor, the middle class, and, indeed, for the sartorial inclined.
I think I will completely give up on Bespoke clothing and especially shoes. I have had shoes made by Cleverly. They looked better on the model shoe than the real McCoy. They fit marginal at best and certainly are not comfortable enough to call them Bespoke. At the price they charge I find the workmanship to be good not great. As for Clothing, I fit pretty well in OTR trousers. I will still attempt suits and Jackets. I have a great Shirt maker. But waiting for this stuff is totally ludicrous.
"I think I will completely give up on Bespoke clothing and especially shoes."
I've never had bespoke shoes made but I've had suits, and some of them have turned out to be disappointing. Conversely, I've bought top quality OTP from Chester Barrie or Canali and the results have been excellent. In fact my oldest suit was purchased from CB in the row about 30 years ago and still looks great. I also have Church's shoes that are 35 years old had have been factory repaired several times. So ready made is not a bad option if you find the right product for you.
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