I bought a dessie boot last year that was made by Mantaray. I paid about £50 for them in the West End. Very comfortable, and well made. Also had a nice shape to them.

Not sure where they were made.

Yes it was a dumb comment you made. Sorry for my sarcastic answer (wink)

Anyway, back on topic. Here's a link to the Mantaray dessies. Now down to £40 in the sales.

Hmmm, maybe I'll buy a few extra pairs and give this eBay site a try?

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_084010280578_-1?breadcrumb=Home%7ESale%7EMen%7EShoes+%26amp%3B+boots

The blokes in the shop (on Cheshire Street) were a hoot.

As soon as i walked in the young one said

"I've got you sussed mate" then to someone else in the shop "Oi, get me another pair of the Steve McQueens.."

The older guy told me about how Sanders used to be a military specialist and we had a chat about all of that and the decline of the shoe industry. A proper place, with proper people.

A friend of mine got the round-toed boots with the (soon to be removed) tag label and the cox style sole. I got the black suede in 8.5. Lovely. Somehow the suede seems to take the pointiness down a touch, something that grieves me a little with the leather versions.

That's great photo, by the way.

Chris ought to be charging royalties on this by now.

So, are Blackmans totally out of stock now? Always stick my head in when I pass, they had some tidy Loake loafer a bit back, but I had just picked up some like new Weejuns from the charity shop?

I like those. Definately got a sharper, 'modier' feel about them, slightly more dressier than a standard desert boot/playboy boot.

I like the colour also. Wouldn't get them myself but could see them looking really good.

Jesus, I've stepped into a den of expertise here. I'm new to this forum. I write an incredibly intermittent blog about Steve McQueen's clothes. I suppose most of this is directed at TheWeejun, who recently commented on one of my posts and was kind enough to expose its inaccuracies! I want to put up another post to atone. I've scanned (hey, I'm slow, it took me ages just to scan) the 25 pages of this thread to try to get my research right, but I still need clarification of the following (this is mainly to ensure I read TheWeejun's comments right):

1. Steve McQueen wore "Hutton Original Play-Boy" ("Hutton Play-Boy"?) boots.
2. The name "Original Playboy" ("Play-Boy"?) is licensed by a Danish company.
3. It was licensed by a Swedish company before this.
4. They're made in Spain (only for export to Scandinavia? Did I read something in this thread that said by George Cox?!).
5. You used to be able to buy them as "Players" in the US and elsewhere. But no more.

Answers to what follows would be extra fucking groovy...

1. Is that Spanish-made boot the closest around today to what Steve McQueen wore? It no, then what?
2. How does it differ from the original? Thicker soul?
3. Can I get hold of it? How, if so? If it's difficult to get hold of it, what's the best alternative? Might it be something as obvious as the lovely Clarks desert boot? Something Goodyear welted?

I ask too much, I know, but take a deep breath and be patient with me.

RAYSON; I HEARD AND ACTUALLY SEEN THOSE PLAYBOYS THAT THEY WERE PUSHING AS PLAYERS.THEY HAD THEM IN NEW YORK IN 97 ON 125ST AND LENOX AVE. THE STORE MOVED A BLOCK AWAY ON THE SAME STREET.I HAVE NOT BEEN THERE IN A FEW YEARS AND DONT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE STORE. CANT SAY IF THEY STILL HAVE THEM,WILL CHECK THEM OUT SOON.