I thought we had a stickied thread of merchants we liked or admired.
I really love the accessories from Van Buck and though the current collections must be found in a variety of retailers both online and off, Van Buck is loosely associated with an online store called www.englandneckwear.com which gives slightly older Van Buck stock at a good price. Tie quality, weight and construction are excellent and make a good UK knot.
Van Buck itself is one of very few remaining English mens' furnishing makers who design and construct in house. Colors and patterns are right and they can refer back to an England of the 1970s and still keep an eye on what's current.
Van Buck have several more traditional lines of ties as well which maintain a superior quality with a more staid neck tie tradition.
Penrose.
Ex-head honcho at Duchamp.
http://www.penrose-london.com/
Jon Snow's quirky tie maker, Victoria Richards:
http://www.victoriarichards.com/category/bespoke-woven-ties
I was going to post Tim Little's take on the Gibson shoe, as they have an absolutely splendid version of this white collar/office staple and essential:
http://www.timlittle.com/
But as you can see, they're off-line, perhaps for good?
^Snap! They were a pretty good shoe and mine went into storage at my parents during their messy divorce, I think they were thrown out, as I couldn't find them when I collected by other gear after being overseas.
I have their two brogues - the dainite and the super thick leather sole - and their version of the Gibson which is a great office work shoe.
When it comes to shoes though, for reliability, delivered with a consistent traditional value of quality - the John Lobb of the common man - you cannot beat Crockett and Jones:
http://www.crockettandjones.com/
I went off them for awhile, but my respect for their shoes is now back with a vengeance.
Last edited by 4F Hepcat (2013-09-06 06:49:59)
They did some weird changes to my favourite shoe with a different last which I had ordered on basis of previous versions - and they where the naffest C&J shoes ever. It's taken me five years to forgive them. The quality was there, but not the aesthetics, at least for me.
ok, so you used their special order service to do this? C&J special order doesn't seem to be as popular as a percentage of business with their customer base compared to lobb (paris) or EG where perhaps the (far) higher nominal prices mean they attract a customer base who don't care if they are charged 30% more for a special order or not.
I like C&J too, for what they do they are excellent, a traditional English shoe maker. However, I would only buy their handgrade models, which limits the range drastically as well as now being £550 which is almost at Lobb / EG price levels. What I like about C&J is their shoes are well made, but not overly prissy as I feel Lobb (paris) can be, the lasts used on the handgrades have a fantastic shape which follows the curves of the foot excellently. Where I sometimes am frustrated is that C&J seem to like many traditional English brands not really experiment and evolve in terms of manufacturing techniques, they use danite soles reluctantly for country shoes, rubber and rubber/leather soles are starting to make an appearance but seems to be with some unease on their part. I don't care what iGents claim if you are on holiday or meeting friends on the weekends and walking around town, walking around with a GY welted leather soled shoe is NOT as comfortable as a rubber soled shoe, they should fill this gap imo.
Last edited by Oldfruit1 (2013-09-06 10:39:55)
Cufflinks:
http://www.longmire.co.uk/cufflink_collections
http://www.linksoflondon.com/gb-en/
Socks:
http://www.corgihosiery.co.uk/
http://www.pantherella.com/
Leathergoods:
http://www.tusting.co.uk/
http://www.equusleather.co.uk/
Back on line now:
http://www.timlittle.com/shop/product.php/22/black_sole_10
The TL14 last is perfect, of course, for my feet!
Hats off in respect for Dashing Tweeds, with their modern updates and quirky urban take of tweed cloth, including keeping with the spirit of outdoor cycling wear and travel of the Edwardian age, when tweed became immensely popular:
http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk/
banana republic trousers .. good value play esp. when buying from one of their almost permanent sales.
Last edited by Goodyear welt (2014-01-12 12:41:21)