Wow! What a bargain. Made in Italy as well. Half price. Is this a further sign that men are no longer buying shoes, even in a loafer style?

Same here Shooey.

Unseen Scene has often referenced todays all pervading casualness and striking a balance between full on Ivy and the real world.

Leather ‘dress’ shoes seem to be a demarcation line now in menswear. Suede seems like a halfway house.

Recently I’ve sold off 10 pairs of leather shoes, including several lace ups by Allen Edmonds, because I haven’t worn them since retiring and I couldn’t see me wearing them again. I kept back a couple of pairs in black and brown for formal suit-wearing occasions. Other than that it’s loafers for smart casual, Paraboots in the winter and canvas sneakers in the summer.…. and trainers which are making more regular appearances on the FlatSix feet.

Still on the Funchal theme there were plenty of 'formal' shoe shops there, mostly mid-range price-wise, like you FSC I've sold off 6/7 pairs of shoes/formal boots since retirement, there was a young-ish guy ( 40's) I noticed in the hotel several times that had the usual tee shirt/polo/shorts rig out but he wore black lace-up formal shoes & black socks with them ! I don't think he was trying to make a ' fashion statement ' just didn't have a clue, hahaha

It’s true, these so called dress sneakers are omnipresent on the feet of London.

I have 2 pairs of long wings (Alden and Bostonians) leather and suede loafers, and my much prized Sportocasin’s for smart/casual though like flatsix find I fall back on Wallabees, Playboys and canvas more and more.

I recently picked up a pair of worn once Engineered Garments x Weejuns for £25 and some YMC x Clarks Edmund (a
Leather penny loafer with a semi wrapped crepe sole for £20 both on eBay which I’m looking forward to wearing in the spring.

My answer for Shooman as follows.

I wear formal shoes constantly, I always have. I am not self conscious in them at all. I have a decent range and am comfortable in pairing right shoes to trousers. I am not commenting on if I was wearing Oxblood colour shoes, which have always been comparatively rare to see. I do not own any trainers at all. Brands I wear are Sanders, C&J, Barker, Berwick, Paraboot, Bass, Solovair, Loake. The shoes are polished in the appropriate way for the type of leather with the shape maintained via shoe trees.

I see people going to offices now in puffer jackets, jeans and trainers as the norm, so seeing someone in formal shoes, tailored jacket, a mac or wool coat over it and so on is becoming much more rare. Even in central London or Manchester this is the case and once you get into small cities and towns, other than old retired blokes, I am often the only person dressed this way.

I now dress down my trousers these days into ironed drill jeans, moleskin, chinos etc most of the time as formal trousers are now only relevant for me if I am leading such as a conference panel or giving a speech. So my formal look is fairly casual compared to decades ago and my extensive knitted tie collection is unused (I have worn a tie twice since Covid era ended).

I genuinely don't think I look an odd ball. My colour combinations are subtle, I avoid garish colour combinations, my short beard is neat and I do not have a hipster type look. As my name here suggests, I want to blend in to get on, with those in the know able to perceive the overall subtle style.

I think the changing conventions make me stand out in a way that twenty years ago the same style was the convention, so was invisible to most. It isn't me generally that gets the stares, it is my shoes.

I think young people are increasingly not used to seeing polished black or brown formal leather shoes at all. They are the shoes of their grandparents not their parents. I am 55 but fit into that upper generation in my dress now it seems. So the shoes are a novelty. Particularly, I think if polished. It is now the puffer jacket and trainers or a hooded sweat top which is invisible.  Even former fellow former Mod-looking types of my generation are dressed down into the puffer jacket, polo top, jeans and trainers look out in pubs.

I am talking about grain or plain derbys/gibsons or apron front/split toe equivalents plus loafers. Nothing garish or odd. Always in a single colour and none of that tweed woven in you see promoted by some manufacturers. I tend to even avoid light tan shoes. Suede shoes do not attract the aame attention when I wear them in warmer weather.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2025-02-23 12:03:50)

AUS said:

"I wear formal shoes constantly, I always have. I am not self conscious in them at all. I have a decent range and am comfortable in pairing right shoes to trousers. I am not commenting on if I was wearing Oxblood colour shoes, which have always been comparatively rare to see. I do not own any trainers at all. Brands I wear are Sanders, C&J, Barker, Berwick, Paraboot, Bass, Solovair, Loake. The shoes are polished in the appropriate way for the type of leather with the shape maintained via shoe trees"

Shoomen says:

I am not surprised, you like many here are into clothing so have been doing it all their lives.
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AUS said:

"I see people going to offices now in puffer jackets, jeans and trainers as the norm, so seeing someone in formal shoes, tailored jacket, a mac or wool coat over it and so on is becoming much more rare. Even in central London or Manchester this is the case and once you get into small cities and towns, other than old retired blokes, I am often the only person dressed this way"


Shooman says:

Yes l see it too. People are too scared to stick out and feel the need to be casual, BUT there are likely many who know no better because they haven't been introduced to stylish attire.

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AUS said:

"I now dress down my trousers these days into ironed drill jeans, moleskin, chinos etc most of the time "


Shooman says:

I never compromise my style. My trousers, shoes and coats are my uniform. Shooman is always in good trousers and shoes every day of the year.

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AUS said:

"It isn't me generally that gets the stares, it is my shoes".


Sooman says:

I wonder why they stare at your shoes. I see people staring at my shoos sometimes too, but l know why, it is because they are AMAZED at the stunning beauty, no kidding. Heck, l am amazed at their stunning beauty too. People don't see shoes like that in my country. I am a shooman so l take it all in my stride, it is part of my signature style,ie, the very finest dress shoes every single day since l was a teenager.

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AUD said:

"I think young people are increasingly not used to seeing polished black or brown formal leather shoes at all. They are the shoes of their grandparents not their parents. I am 55 but fit into that upper generation in my dress now it seems. So the shoes are a novelty. Particularly, I think if polished"


Shooman says:

This is what l find fascinating, people are not used to seeing "polished shoes", it is all about the "polished shoes". No-one has shoes like that anymore. As a kid everyone had them. Yes, at our age we are getting in the older age bracket, and we are a little bit like old farts in our shoes and sportscoats. I say, embrace it. Some of the asian 20 somethings call me uncle now....it is a term of respect for older generation. Obviously we are not young anymore and people see it. If you are over 50, dress like it. Don't try to dress young...dress your age and OWN IT!!!  I also do hats now because l am at the age where l need a protective covering, I wear them and l don't give a stuff. People get used to it.

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AUD said:

"I am talking about grain or plain derbys/gibsons or apron front/split toe equivalents plus loafers. Nothing garish or odd. Always in a single colour and none of that tweed woven in you see promoted by some manufacturers. I tend to even avoid light tan shoes. Suede shoes do not attract the aame attention when I wear them in warmer weather".


Shooman says:

I wear lots of derby's and monks now, but for years l was a real purist and only wore oxfords for the most part. I wear a lot of tan shoes with light trousers and contrasting sportscoat, but also lots of medium brown shoes with grey and navy trousers....always with contrasting sportscoat and never as  suit. I avoid suede, l love polished leather and the natural patina that comes with it.

Last edited by The_Shooman (2025-02-23 13:34:22)

I'm always worried about soggy suede shoes so wear mine in warmer weather, but I see people wearing them all year round.

Some interesting commentary on this thread.

My subtle shift in what I wear is, to me, one of the signifiers that I have reconciled with retirement. So I like a bit of French Ivy mixed in and I like trainers, suede shoes and loafers  in the spring and summer. Paraboots and trainers in the autumn and winter. Unlike AUS, who has to strike a balance at work, I have no such constraints.

Alvey said ‘My issue is what trousers works best with trainers. I think wearing chinos and trainers looks silly on me’ … maybe but take note, you are rapidly heading towards the age where you become largely invisible to 90% of the population. The upside of this is that you can purely dress for your own pleasure and wear what the hell you like.  This realisation came to me in my mid sixties when I could see that the end of my working life was in sight.

If possible, when I’m out and about, I like my outfits to be slightly ‘troubling’ to people. If they look at me and think I look a bit different or out of the ordinary, it’s fine with me. A note of discord or ‘unusualness’ is required. Sometimes that note might be provided by some trainers (classic and not nondescript ones). Wearing trainers with jeans or joggys is now run of the mill usual behaviour for older men, wearing them with a pair of cords or chinos is not. It’s different, but, without tipping you into full eccentricity or golf club wear. I have been stopped in the street by young people commenting on what I wear, not taking the piss, but being genuinely complimentary. I’m an object of curiosity to them I guess.

I’m frequently turned out like the guy on the right in this

http://dickcarroll.com/shop/upper-west-side-print

or this

http://dickcarroll.com/shop/dick-in-stockholm-test-print-

As John Gaul once said; ‘time to throw off the shackles of self consciousness and celebrate your style’.