Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-02-15 13:29:00)
Have you tried them on, Shooey? These shoes have been sitting in the stores for over 3 years now and it doesn't seem like they sold too well.
I looked at them and found them very nice when they came out, especially the purple and green ones, but they are definitely for someone with an already substatial collection. Even though the aritcle mentions it, there haven't been any follow up models. I guess they are a little too expensive for the averge Paul Smitgh customer.
It's clearly the colour through 1930's colour film stock, particularly the green that is the problem. It's the emerald city in Wizard of Oz. And indeed it is!
Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-02-16 15:03:34)
I've polished my new blue Lobbs and must say they look amazing and fit amazing too. I also found out that Paul Smith has other Lobbs that aren't even advertised such as antiqued calf skin derby Lobbs on the 8,000 last instead of the suede leather. I sized down .5 and found the 8695 and 8,000 last works really well. I am seriously thinking about getting the purple antiqued derby on the 8,000 last because it is completely stunning, and l may also get the purple antiqued oxford on the 8695 so l buy my size out.
Gotta say that the 7,000 and 8,000 lasts are amongst the best out there with only the Anthony Cleverley chisel in the lead as the world's best rtw last IMO. I am simply stunned at the beauty of the Willoughby derby on the 8,000 last, absolutely incredible!!! Shoesnob said it was the best derby he has ever seen, and he is right!
Good buy, have fun with them. Also good price considering what they usually charge for anything special.
For me they have lost quite a bit of their romance. Their current rebranding and their new "designer" haven't really managed to combine the heritage with new ideas, it just seems that they are stuck somewehre in the middle without an idea where to go. It seems like they want to expand their customer base from just classic shoes to a more avantgarde crowd. The new models are similar to what a designer like Rick Owens would do. Same can be said for their lasts, the 7 and 8k are great but also in need of a little upgrade. As you said, EG is THE classic English shoe, now even more than 10 years ago and hardly any competitors in sight. Though I have to confess my dislike for Gaziano & Girling, Foster and Cleverley RTW don't count for me.
You don't rate the Foster Fawley on the 13029 chisel toe last? I am very tempted by this semi-brogue, all the details and aesthetics are just right.
Didn't know that one. It looks very nice, very Churchy, especially the last. Is this the new "homemade" Foster RTW last? I wonder who makes them. The shoes that is, not the lasts.
I should've made myself clearer. Foster and Cleverley are great bespoke makers and have some very nice designs on their RTW shoes but they don't make the shoes themselves and aren't wideley available, same like say Purdey or Holland & Holland. Do you have any experience with them? I remember my last visitt which put me off a little, especially the badmouthing of Lobb at Cleverleys and the impersonal feel at Foster and Sons.
Last edited by Johnny's Lobbster (2016-02-17 13:23:16)
I only have the Henry Maxwell branded full brogue Ranger in black. A good winter shoe. Foster's was Lord Lucan's favourite shoemaker and allegedly was one of the last places he visited before he shot himself and was fed to the tigers/fled to Rhodesia/or jumped into the Channel.
My understanding is that Crockett & Jones make some of the Foster shoes to the specifications and lasts of Foster's of course.
Btw, l wore my navy John Lobb tonight and everyone was looking at them and commenting on them. They are real scene steelers and eye catching beauties. Truly,these shoos look absolutely stunning in person, far better than any photos could ever do justice too. These really grab attention...perhaps too much attention, but all for the right reasons. Think l am also gonna snag a purple pair, but l am really tempted to order a black pair too because that style of English half brogue oxford is one of my favourite designs because of the conservative manhood displayed through the design,
especially in the colour BLACK!
My navy Lobbs looked so amazing that lam going to sit up for 2 - 3 hours an wax them to perfection. I also polished them for about 3 hours last night, and l probably will continue that all throughout the week so they shine like diamonds.
But will the colour last? How is it applied Shooey?
Thanks.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-02-18 04:55:58)
I've just noticed that Crockett & Jones do a blue version of their Westbourne Adelaide. Not seen it in the flesh, or should that be skin, but I need my pair resoling so I may take a ride down to Birmingham to drop the buggers off and take a gander.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2016-02-20 15:24:20)
C&J's also did the Coniston boot in a navy a couple of years back. Looked almost black in the flesh.
What do you think to this guys work Shooey?
https://www.instagram.com/masaruokuyama/