NOS Florsheim Imperial Wingtips Oxblood Shell Cordovan Size US 8C, V-Clit, erm V-Cleat:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Florsheim-Shell-Cordovan-Longwing-Old-Stock-8-Deadstock_W0QQitemZ290362604578QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Men_s_Shoes?hash=item439af5bc22
If only I had smaller feet!
Top!
THAT'S the stuff.
hell yeah!
to fit in those us 8's i have to cut my toes off!
Those are beautiful. I have a pair of black that were NOS purchased from the 'bay. It's hard to find the shell NOS. Some trad who lurks here will probably hit the "buy it now" option before the end of the day. There have been it at least six times I have been outbid that my losing auction item ended up on "Recent finds" threads on the other forums. The trads while not willing to pay retail for new items will throw down some change on Ebay.
Another good idea for this forum would be a thread where we post our measurements, so we can give each other good tips secretly "BTS"...
Maybe?
Last edited by Hard Bop Hank (2009-10-29 14:34:39)
It makes sense.
15.5/32
38s
33/28
8.5 us
Hold on.
*Copy pastes in dedicated thread*
Last edited by 1966 (2009-10-29 17:02:57)
You are a man of taste, Shooey.
For me, if you're going to do Shell then do it in a Longwing or a 'Smooth'. Suit the material to the item.
I have Cordovan loafers but they are Cordovan, not Shell - Very different and for me a bit of a USP.
The Shell fetish is a funny one - Everything is better in Shell? I think not. It's like saying that everything is better if it's made out of Mink...
More than a tad daft?
Last edited by The_Shooman (2009-10-30 04:05:41)
Last edited by The_Shooman (2009-10-30 04:43:40)
IMO.
I'll rustle up the pic again. The style is pure US done in France, like the Finsbury loafers, not English-ish done in the US like the LHS.
While shoes could be made with horsehide from the front quarters of the horse it would be a slipper-weight material and wouldn't be Cordovan: a designation which refers to the tannage as much as the location on the beast from whence the leather itself comes. For shoemaking purposes only the leather from the shell can take the 'fattening' needed to call it true Cordovan.
Are you sure you're not referring to cordovan-coloured calf Russell?
I don't necessarily believe that shell is a better material for all shoes in all instances. Because of its unique qualities and appearance it will only work in certain styles, but for some it's a must. A plain toe blucher in calf just looks insubstantial, dull, weedy and one-dimensional compared to its counterpart in shell cordovan. Balancing that I'm not convinced that true moccasins can be fashioned effectively from shell. Following on from this I'm interested in hearing from any members who have first hand experience of the Mark McNairy cordovan weejun.
Last edited by Natural Sole Brother (2009-10-30 04:56:07)
^ They're not in the current range online this year. These are new though:
http://www.fairmountshoes.com/co_produits.php?pdt=1&rfp=1FA-20-61-43&idl=102
Franco-Ivo!
A number of tanneries throughout Europe still produce horsehide for small leather goods and for jackets (the other parts of a horse hide are typically much thinner than the equivalent parts of a cow's hide). All horsehide is not cordovan. As I state above the term refers to the very specific tannage of a specific part of the hide. I suspect your French loafers are playing fast and loose with the terminology.
Not sure if this article from "New York" has been posted before. Apologies if it has. Sprang to mind again as today's copy of "Le Monde" has an illustrated legal notice which I think refers to an infringement of copyright re: Weston's loafers. I'll scan it later and post it up on the board. Someone with a better grasp of French than me may possibly enlighten us!
http://nymag.com/guides/everything/shoes/27345/
Staceyboy