You are not logged in.

#1 2014-08-14 04:44:43

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

longwings

I took possession of an almost new pair of pebblegrain Florsheim longwing Royals at the start of 2012. Since then I have worn them somewhere around 40% of days, i.e. sometimes I wear them every other day, and occasionally they get a few days off. I have walked thousands of miles in them, and gone through countless heels and soles. Now one of them has a crack, that is undetectable except under close observation, but it is undoubtedly growing. 3 years of heavy wear is not bad I suppose, and I suspect they will last that long.

However they are going to need replacing soonish. I have come to the conclusion that I need a wide size, so finding a newish pair of Florsheims may prove impossible. The only other option I can think of is a pair of MacNeils, except now they don't appear to be made in pebblegrain.

Does anyone know of any other decent new longwings? Must be US-made, I'm afraid - some of the UK ones do look good, but not good enough for me. Also, must be in pebblegrain or similar. (I still have Florsheims in black and cordovan.)

And does anyone have experience of MacNeils, and know if it is still possible to get new pebblegrains?

Last edited by Yuca (2014-08-14 04:50:12)


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#2 2014-08-14 04:46:12

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

Last edited by Yuca (2014-08-14 04:51:26)


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#3 2014-08-14 05:02:16

Armchaired
Ivy I.V.
From: Old England
Posts: 7580

Re: longwings

Depends on your size but John Simon's  have the Walnut pebble-grain available on their site.


�Careful with that axe Eugene.�

 

#4 2014-08-14 05:41:39

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

And I have a ton credit there. Thanks!


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#5 2014-08-14 05:42:59

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

But no wide sizes . . .


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#6 2014-08-14 05:45:13

Tomiskinky
Member
Posts: 3229

Re: longwings

These ebay sellers usually have wider fits.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/oxfords-and-more?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dexter-USA-Gr-8-EEE-NEU-Full-Brogue-Derby-Raritat-Bordeaux-/121059337921?pt=DE_Herrenschuhe&hash=item1c2fb2e6c1

 

#7 2014-08-14 05:52:16

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

Nice! As I do still have some time to play with, continuing on the vintage route may be feasible, although with shoes it has to be NOS or barely worn for me.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#8 2014-08-14 07:22:48

Armchaired
Ivy I.V.
From: Old England
Posts: 7580

Re: longwings


�Careful with that axe Eugene.�

 

#9 2014-08-14 08:02:04

Senorservo2.0
Member
Posts: 767

Re: longwings

I would go for new shoes, they are worth the in investment.

 

#10 2014-08-14 08:21:37

woofboxer
Devil's Ivy Advocate
From: The Lost County of Middlesex
Posts: 7959

Re: longwings

I've got a modern pair of calfskin McNeils in black. They haven't had huge amounts of wear but I've been very pleased with them so far. The toe shape is a little more defined than I would ideally like, but they are definite longwings and stand out a mile amongst the pointy, chisel toes that dominate in office building lifts. Modern AE shoes are much wider than most vintage US shoes. I can be pretty confident that a AE 10D will be comfortable straight out of the box whereas I would need at least a 10E in an old Florsheim if not wider.


'I'm not that keen on the Average Look .......ever'. 
John Simons

Achievements: banned from the Ivy Style FB Group

 

#11 2014-08-14 09:03:18

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: longwings

I'd concur with woof on this , AE are a wide fitting shoe particularly compared to vintage.

Even if you don't buy them a trip to John Simons to try them may be a worthwhile,
just so you get an idea on sizing if you intend to buy mail-order from overseas.

The other bonus of buying AE is the factory refurbishment program, complete rebuilds of soles and heels (all done on the original lasts) and leather re-finishing for about £70 (including overseas shipping there and back). My loafers came back looking like almost new with an 'extra thick' leather sole at no extra cost.


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#12 2014-08-14 11:26:21

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#13 2014-08-14 11:28:31

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#14 2014-08-14 11:29:54

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#15 2014-08-14 11:42:13

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: longwings


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#16 2014-08-14 11:45:44

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: longwings


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#17 2014-08-14 13:36:06

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

Thanks to all for the info. I'm going to try to keep my Royals going for as long as possible, without taking them out of heavy rotation, however I will definitely consider the MacNeils. I'm a bit worried that if I get a pair I may end up singing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lB1efR-JFc every time I wear them. It's a great tune, but every other day for several years may be overdoing it.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#18 2014-08-14 14:41:30

Harpo
The Best In The West
From: West Wales
Posts: 3394

Re: longwings


Randy lower-class trifler

 

#19 2014-08-14 14:45:14

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

I bought a book about LJ a while back that's pretty good. He was a good guy, essentially. Nice to get a better handle on the man behind the music. If I ever get a 78 player I'd love to get a load of his discs (plus lots of old mambo 78s).


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#20 2014-08-14 14:56:06

Worried Man
Member
From: Davebrubeckistan
Posts: 15988

Re: longwings

I posted some LJ with his Tympani Five on the groovin' thread, but can't recall the song at the moment.  I think it was Buzz Me Baby.  Great stuff.

Well, here again...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCWUvI7yKtQ


"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955

 

#21 2014-08-14 19:51:41

P Hudson
New member
Posts: 8

Re: longwings

I've got two pairs of MacNeils, one in #8 shell and one in brown pebbled calf. They are superior to other AE products that I own (I have about 10 pair), built with more internal support and padding (on a par with my shell Leeds). If I were in need and could find a really good used pair from a few years back, I'd grab them because I doubt that new ones have the same quality as ones from just a couple years ago.

 

#22 2014-08-15 02:59:20

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

What makes you suspect a drop in quality in recent years? Have AE shifted to the 'developing world' and/or been bought out?


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#23 2014-08-15 04:43:48

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: longwings

I've found there's little difference in the quality over the past few years (you need to go back about 12-15 years to see a major difference and that is more in the leather quality and not particularly the craftsmanship ),
They are one of the few makers who actually increased the price of the shoes to retain their 'made in USA' provenance and not go overseas to keep costs/prices down.
The major complaints, it seems, with AE is styles have disappeared as the range has been 'modernised' and their rubber sole variants are not a patch (sic) on the leather sole versions.


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#24 2014-08-17 20:10:07

P Hudson
New member
Posts: 8

Re: longwings

 

#25 2014-08-18 02:16:39

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: longwings

Well the current colour definitely doesn't have the classic look, so you're right in terms of aesthetics. I would only consider pebblegrain anyway, so hopefully it doesn't affect me.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

Board footer

Powered by PunBB
© Copyright 2002–2008 Rickard Andersson