I wear mostly dark suits for work and with them i wear black lace up oxfords. I might wear a wingtip. Recently I enjoy an espresso brown colored calf oxford which is a trompe l'oeil for black. I might wear a  chelsea boot with a business suit too but that's about as crazy as it ever gets. No tassels, no slip ons, no monk straps, ever.

For casual I can wear boat shoes, loafers, lace ups, balmoral boots, dressy sneakers (Like the ones Tim Little make), suede lace ups, etc...

I think my most out there shoes are my black and white specs which i feature in my Edward Green write up. I'm not very expressive with shoes which i believe are probably a more accurate assessment of a man than other items he wears. You know how there's the forum crowds who think plain white or blue shirts, or dull ties or solid suits are the only proper things to wear? Well, I'm something like that with shoes.

I was wearing Trickers shoes at college, that might be the earliest good year welting experience. I have shoes from Lobb, Green (So many that I have unworn pairs from years ago), Fosters, Tim Little. I have a few more G&G pair but they're almost all plain dark oxfords. I might get a pair of Chelsea boots soon.


The other day, two men on a train platform were talking and one of them starting saying something about the shape of my G&G lace up oxfords. He had suddenly noticed and admired the shape. That's the sort of reaction that pleases me for work.

I am at a point in my wardrobe where I simply cannot fit one more item, not even a pair of socks. I have bags and boxes of unused stuff. I have piles of unmade fabrics...which I want to make up but cant fit anywhere.  Even cufflinks take me months to get to. And shoes require quite a lot of storage space.

Yes, you don't want to be discussing quality mens shoes with the average Gucci wearer because he would never understand or appreciate the finer points of footwear design, it's purpose and message (most important when business is concerned), and build. Their converstaions would be empty, and l don't care to spend time disussing shoes with such people. But the people who understand the purpose of proper footwear are the type of people l would spend the time to talk with.

But sometimes l will wear a crazy shoe for casual like a double monk because l want to stir people up and divide them in their opinions, but it doesn't mean l want to discuss double monks with anyone. l actually don't want to discuss monks with anyone ever, it's just a shoe l wear in silence and enjoy when the time is right.

The type of shoe l do want to discuss is a plain black oxford shoe because it takes a real connoisseur to appreciate such a shoe and discern the difference between a good one among a sea of very ordinary ones.

Last edited by The_Shooman (2012-08-18 10:20:28)

Good to hear Tim Little get a mention in FNB's shoe armory, they do have some quite fine shoes and amongst my favourites is the Black Sole 10, a plain oxford which is a very decent office shoe on a very comfortable last, the TL14. And I note they are on sale at the moment on the website at GBP 262.50 which is excellent value IMCO.

As for space - try getting married and having kids, it's a battle for every bit of space you get!