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#1 2010-08-02 12:11:07
- Rip Rig & Panic
- Member
- Posts: 4697
DM Shoes
Kingstonian talked about having loafers in order to ring the changes. DM boots, particularly cherry red, high-leg for the real bad boys, were more ubiquitous in the smoky Midlands. Loafers were almost always low vamp, basket-woven and with tassells. Black brogues were quite rare as I remember it. Quite stylish, though - I thought at the time - were cherry red Airwair shoes; never seem to see 'em nowadays. I think the boots are made in China now, and are worn by all manner of nebs. My emo daughter fancies a pair. Not saying the shoes were in any sense Ivy, but they sure looked smart when polished up. I've seen references to American 'officer's shoes'. Any similarity?
#2 2010-08-02 13:07:00
- Get Smart
- Member
- Posts: 1106
Re: DM Shoes
while most are made in China, there is still an English made line that costs slightly more (and worth it). Or Solovair are still making all their shoes/boots in England (they were one of the original DM licensee companies)
I agree, not ivy, but a well polished pair of oxbloods can look the business.
#3 2010-08-02 14:40:10
- Kingstonian
- Member
- From: sea to shining sea
- Posts: 3205
Re: DM Shoes
Shoes used to be reasonably priced in markets and could be worn with lots of different things.
Doc Martens financed Rushden and Diamonds FC. Got them into the league. Their fortunes have now waned like the boot company. Maybe there is a now well-sponsored football team nearby the Chinese factory ?
#4 2010-08-02 15:00:20
- Rip Rig & Panic
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- Posts: 4697
Re: DM Shoes
I have a pair of 'Astronauts'. Made in Northampton. I wear them for digging the garden.
#5 2010-08-02 23:58:56
- shamrockmonkey
- Member
- From: chicago
- Posts: 1418
Re: DM Shoes
Last edited by shamrockmonkey (2010-08-03 00:03:09)
I brush my teeth with minty paste/I hate when Liquor goes to waste.
#7 2010-08-03 00:37:31
- shamrockmonkey
- Member
- From: chicago
- Posts: 1418
Re: DM Shoes
marine officers buy all their own non-combat uniforms. its an old timey military caste thing like id imagine the more storied brit regiments are. i do happen to have a line on deadstock 7.5 black ones, think theyre navy or coast guard.....if you want brown ones, search the reenactor sites, theres one that has 'em for less than 100 bucks, made in i believe mexico. i think i saw feedback somewhere that theyre somewhat uncomfortable (the WWII repros, the real thing is pretty well made).
I brush my teeth with minty paste/I hate when Liquor goes to waste.
#9 2010-08-03 01:23:51
- shamrockmonkey
- Member
- From: chicago
- Posts: 1418
Re: DM Shoes
dont quote me on that. id look through the threads though, there was a discussion of them at some point.
it was in relation to UK ivy hero steve mcqueen. someone bought suede combat boots (like he wore in the great escape) from the same people. they had nothing but good stuff to say about those.
Last edited by shamrockmonkey (2010-08-03 01:27:10)
I brush my teeth with minty paste/I hate when Liquor goes to waste.
#10 2010-08-03 01:43:18
- shamrockmonkey
- Member
- From: chicago
- Posts: 1418
Re: DM Shoes
they look pretty nice actually. on p. 61 of "what price glory"s enormous catalog. ship to the UK for 20 bucks. theres a lot of other stuff of interest on there as well-desert rats style high-topped desert boots, imperial indian army sweaters and plimsolls, etc. prices all very reasonable.
I brush my teeth with minty paste/I hate when Liquor goes to waste.
#11 2010-08-03 15:13:06
- Beatnik's ghost
- Member
- Posts: 337
Re: DM Shoes
The Doctor Marten boot is a timeless piece of British fashion history. As well as an iconic piece of popular music style.
#12 2010-08-03 15:18:54
- Rip Rig & Panic
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- Posts: 4697
Re: DM Shoes
I might still be tempted by an English made pair of cherry red shoes. They'd look quite good with jeans.
#16 2010-08-04 04:00:52
- Hard Bop Hank
- Ivy Soul Brother
- From: land of a 1000 dances
- Posts: 4923
Re: DM Shoes
Worn a lot of DMs in the 90s... when I had very long hair and very short hair... don't think I ever looked like a hooligan... BTW, I know a lot of skinhead blokes who detest the teenage delinquent image and still sport the look... some of them don't even like football or beer... I don't know a single right wing extremist, even though I'm aware that the majority of skins in Eastern Germany are Neo-Nazis or at least right-wing radicals... those skinheads with moderate right wing views are all conservative or liberal and none of them is a racist... at least that's what they say...
Many of them, it seems, are latent homosexuals, as they enjoy to take off their shirts and dance half naked, when they're pissed.
“No Room For Squares”
”All political art is bad – all good art is political.”
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#17 2010-08-04 06:24:06
- heikki k
- The Ivyist's Ivyist
- Posts: 1442
Re: DM Shoes
also a long-time dm user, since the mid to late eighties. i still have an old, battered pair of black 8 hole air wairs stashed in my attic + a newer pair of black greasy leather dm shoes, very good on rainy days. + quite comfortable for long distance walks.
#18 2010-08-04 07:33:55
- 842
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- Posts: 24
Re: DM Shoes
Wore DMs steadily from the late Eighties through the Nineties. Still like the look of 'em with Red Tabs and a Bennie as it reminds me of some of my best days. By '98 I had stopped wearing boots all together in an effort to tighten up my look. A few of my old friends and I became fairly stuck on what we were calling the 'Minority Look' which soon led to Ivy.
Imperials, Cardies & Boss Sounds!
#19 2010-08-05 01:12:16
- shamrockmonkey
- Member
- From: chicago
- Posts: 1418
Re: DM Shoes
always liked the original styles, thought it was sad when they oversaturated the market over here and committed fashion suicide. the exaggerated styles (more than 10-12 eyelets, triple soles, etc) on the other hand should be banned. also particularly bad were the sandals, which were de rigeur for the fratboy/sorority girl/ dave matthews fan element when i was 20 or so. i thought they looked like enormous, obese centipedes or deep-sea creatures devouring the wearers' feet.
I brush my teeth with minty paste/I hate when Liquor goes to waste.