One of my favorite pairs of shoes are my PTB’s, Florsheim Imperials in burgundy shell, JFM tried to pinch them but they were too big for him - I took it as high praise. I did have a pair of Imperial Long-wings in the same leather until fairly recently but I’d neglected them and they were unrecoverable, definitely on my list to replace like-for-like though, although this time round I’ll aim to save for either the Macneils or the Alden equivalent. Still got a pair of black Florsheim long-wings. Funny how you guys are starting to wear yours now, I think of them as an autumn and winter shoe, the weight of the shoe matching nicely the much-desired donegal tweed trees, jumbo cord etc etc. This time of year I’m taking advantage of the weather to wear my suede stuff, the couple of pairs of espadrilles I have and waiting for the Alden (for Brooks) LHS I bought to show up. I’ve also taken to wearing my paraboot micheals sockless - perhaps they’re a year round shoe?

I was a big fan of the smooths as a young bloke, the less decoration on a shoe the better! Wingtips used to be something l loathed and thought old fashioned and ugly. Eventually l grew to love all types of brogues, but disliked spectator shoes and tassel loafers. Over time my tastes matured and l grew to love both types of shoes. These days l love all the shoe styles except for the jodphur boot. I don't even mind the ghillies brogue.

Loving and owning most of the styles is liberating....you have the best of all worlds. Shoos is an adventure because you progress in your appreciation of styles as you get older, so your shoo journey is rich and varied.

I fancy I went sockless with the black Paraboot loafers I had back in 2007 or 2008.  What were they called?  Yuma?  I know they had a squeaky sole and that students complained in the examination hall.  I fancied they made me look a little like Mister Chet.
The real drawback with sockless is judging how far you can travel without rubbing and bleeding.  I tried this with loafers and boat shoes on more than one occasion and bled badly.

PTB ‘smooths’ look better with a smart suit than brogues which are a country shoe by origin. But the ornamentation on a nicely polished pair of wingtips stands out and can even be noticed and appreciated by the most shoe un-conscious person.

I really must get some wear out of my wingtips but, apart from loafers in the summer, I rarely wear leather sole shoes now. They’re dangerous in the wet and the idea of falling over appeals less as brittle bones come over the age horizon. There’s also the comfort issue,  diehard calceamentalists will claim that leather soles are more comfortable than rubber, oh really? Well carry on and when winter comes I’ll keep reaching for my Paraboots. I’ve tried Dianite soles and while they look good and grip well, if anything they are more unforgiving than leather.

AFS - ‘The real drawback with sockless is judging how far you can travel without rubbing and bleeding.  I tried this with loafers and boat shoes on more than one occasion and bled badly.’

Have you tried so called invisible socks? You have a pair of socks on but to the onlooker you maintain a sockless pose. The chief problem is them not staying in place and coming off your foot inside the shoe, which is annoying. I’ve experimented with various makers, M&S used to be good but then they changed the design and now they are useless. Uniqlo seem to have the science right at the moment and the ones I’ve got from them stay in place all day and still work when you’ve washed them several times.

https://www.uniqlo.com/eu/en/product/men-low-cut-socks-447693.html

I didn’t get where I am today without being correct Reggie.

You really need secure lacing with heavier shoes. I always the preferred straight lace look but it comes undone too easily. Over under lacing works

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/overunderlacing.htm

This chaps army lacing also works well on boots.