l've seen some Church's with a very lightly corrected grain in beautiful leather. l've also seen many Church's at Mc Cleods that are very heavily grain corrected (almost plastic) and unappealing. Church's still make very nice shoos, really good models are still sold at Henry Bucks.

What is `fume' leather.

Last edited by The_Shooman (2009-03-03 16:21:29)

I haven't been to Church's since the brand-jacking but God I miss that store. Not so great as a store--I remember a TV being on--but convenient with a great selection and almost always something was on sale.

^ That ever-so-slightly-blunt toe that Church's does is kinda fun, I kinda like it (esp. on the Chetwynd brogue). Sometimes I think that something like a monk shoo should be plain, to keep the style pure, but then sometimes I think why not live a little and mess with it a little. I'm always fighting over that in my head. (That brogued monk reminds me of those amazing ones that Crockett does for Brooks Brother's.)

^ I agree about the shape & proportions. Spectators arent' my thing, and I worry about Leffot becoming completely Japanese in taste, but those would be great in a brown colour. I particularly like the wonderful S-curve leading from beside the laces to the rear. Nothing revolutionary, but just a bit of quiet elegance.

Last edited by The_Shooman (2009-09-15 23:37:28)

The unknown captoe above is called Consul. I have a pair in that dull, blackish brown and like them a lot. Judicious polishing with dark brown cream and lots of elbow grease has imparted a deep, subtle bloom that is very pleasing. They will never be shiny and aren't meant to be, but I think it's an improvement on the out-of-the-box matte appearance.

The Diplomat has gone from five eyelets to six judging form the photos of the first model above. I wonder if that model isn't for export alone, as I have yet to see it in the London shops.

Both the Diplomat and the Consul were formerly linen-lined, but are both now leather throughout. Contrary to widely held belief actually a step backwards in quality terms, but I can live with it. As the names imply these models were made to be worn in hotter climes.

I'm still a fan of Church's and have always preferred their lines to those of near competitors like C&J. The C&J toebox on nearly all models is not to my liking: flat, insipid and maybe too 'modern' if that makes any sense. The Church's lines have a more pleasing profile for me personally, but I realise it's very much in the eye of the beholder.