Last edited by stylestudent (2007-12-14 20:59:51)

Horace,

Back to my adopted era of the early '60s (at least for this board), I don't really recall seeing either the shell cordovan tassel loafer (either in the #8 or in black) or the burgundy color tassel.  The brown tassel loafer shade in use back then was the walnut. I now use the dark brown calf shade (661?). The black calf tassel was in general use with gray flannels in either the Oxford or the Cambridge shades. Flusser wrote that the black tassel loafer was equivalent in formality to the navy blazer, and he's right, at least for the'60s. The blazer was almost invariably worn with a white or blue (the latter color being most popular) supima button down and a club or repp tie (never a pocket square). In my case, I also wore the covered buckle alligator belt from Brooks (probably thinner than an inch-$18). "Back then", the most popular Brooks shoe was a rebranded burgundy penny loafer made by Bass (less expensive).

I personally never liked the bulkier Alden lasts and so never really branched out beyond the Aberdeen.

Although I've worn the Alden tassel loafers since 1963 (still my favorite shoe), I own but am not a major fan of shell cordovan. My younger  brother, who has inherited my Alden allegiance and buys almost exclusively from Brooks, won't buy a shoe that isn't shell. I personally would not buy the shell black tassel, as I've always worn the calf, but there's nothing wrong with it, including the sheen. Kidkim2 (Mike), whose posts and tastes I enjoyed on Styleforum , recommended this shoe. So I'd go for it.

Regards,

Steven

Last edited by stylestudent (2007-12-15 05:07:16)

Thanks for the insight Sty.  I just purchased a pair of the black cordo tassels today.  I feel that this is a slightly decadent look, as the calf polished to a high sheen does just a good a job and maybe has a better texture with the ol' flannel and blue blazer look you sketch above, that I recall seeing often enough.  Especially on guys, in school, who wore little else in the way of coat and tie save the occasional suit where necessary.

I couldn't resist though the fact that Brooks was offering the sale at 25% off and then an additional 15% off, plus Santa put my very first new-fangled Brooks gift card in the ol' needlepoint stocking.  So there you go.

TV:  steel eyelets:  I like them.  Of course the Brooks blucher is on a different last then the Alden blucher and there's the storm welt detail as well.  Not a big aesthetic diff. perhaps.  Talking to a guy at Alden, he said that one could also simply add the steel eyelets later, should one choose, and go with the Alden Aldens instead of the Brooks Alden.

... Quibble? Quibble?

Oh how you keep pulling your old uncle's leg, Iggy!

The difference is HUGE!

Hope you had a good Christmas -

D.

^ LOL!

Iggy (May I call you Iggy?) - As one who dressed in American Trad long before you'd ever heard of Andyland Trad what do you make of it all?

I'm with you that the Trad forum is nice & healthy & brings in the newbies very well - Some of whom will dig deeper into the style and get beyond the surface stuff.

Mike too is probably in the same situation as you - From a Trad family background and has discovered that what were 'just clothes' to him have this whole internet following with all sorts of add-ons.

The POV of Real Life American Trads looking at internet Trad interests me no end.

Speaking of an American in Paris:

http://www.styleforum.net/showpost.php?p=948962&postcount=14