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#1 2008-10-22 23:13:49
- The_Shooman
- A pretty face
- From: AUSTRALIA
- Posts: 13195
Some very interesting shoo views.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2008-10-23 01:24:25)
#2 2008-10-23 06:25:34
- John Rotten
- Member
- Posts: 1051
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
Those are some serious shoe care tips.. I noted the absence of Kiwi in Kielmann's discussions on favored types of polishes/waxes, and was only slightly surprised to see reference to Dr. Martens. Some of the others I had never heard of (Shoeboys, Collonil) so cannot comment. They really do have some gorgeous shoes pictured there. I find the idea of Kielmann himself scouring the countryside looking for top quality hides somewhat quaint, and adds to the whole experience. I remember a couple of years ago a gentleman at AAAC posting some pictures of some very fine looking shoes from another Polish maker, and they were beautiful. Also a discussion of the history of the Polish shoemaking tradition.
Some very good bargains to be had potentially as the USD strengthens against the Euro (just checked and USD to the Polish currency looks to be about 2.55 for each dollar). I have often toyed around with the idea of taking a couple of days vacation for the sole purpose of making a weekend trip to Budapest, Vienna, or Warsaw to indulge my interest in handcrafted shoes. Who knows, maybe this is the year.
Bothering me that I was too lazy to post a link to that AAAC thread, here it is:
http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67703
Last edited by John Rotten (2008-10-23 06:41:34)
#3 2008-10-23 06:38:03
- The_Shooman
- A pretty face
- From: AUSTRALIA
- Posts: 13195
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
On a slight off note....
Why would someone buy high-end English RTW shoos?? G&G and E.G special orders take 7 months to over 1 year, where-as Vass and Kielman take only 3 - 9 weeks to make a completely handmade shoo, not forgetting that the high-end English RTW are machine made (Flussers view that E.G RTW are 70% handmade is complete BULLSHIT!...probably just a ploy so he can sell more of his over-rated E.G shoos. Don't be so gullible guys). E.G and John Lobb are really beautiful shoos, but l reckon they are highly over-rated (group think has sucked people in). Why do the English (God bless those guys, l love them) take sooo long to make a machine made shoo, where-as the European makers make 99.9% handmade shoos in MUCH less time??? Why?
The John Lobb, E.G and G&G RTW sure look lovely, but they seem to be the most over-rated shoos in history. Pricey, so long to get an order, and only machine made. Why oh why do these forum dudes rave over them? Then...there is the crummy/fake looking antiquing (not real shoos) on the E.G/Lobbs (+ not to forget that much of that antiquing will be killed off when the average Joe polished his crust leather shoes). Seriously...people are so deluded on these forums. Compare Williams' (Rigby) Vass to the E.G's and Lobbs: no comparison!!! Who cares about bevelled wastes and close cut uppers....wonderful to look at, but i'd rather a well made shoo over cosmetics anyday! E.G, Lobb and G&G RTW are for suckers with too much money on their hands. Paying those extremely high prices for machine made; pthh. lt's totally insulting what they expect us to pay for a made-in-England name.
KIWI polish kills shoos (all my KIWI is in the bin); whether Lattanzi uses it or not is irrelevant (he is a shoo maker, not an expert in leather preservation). `Collonil' paste is world class, but only the stuff with Lanilin, not the water based polish. l always use Saphir for the occasional wax and Collinil for the paste. lf my shoos are slightly dirty, l use an old wet rag to wipe them off before l apply the paste.
l like how the Kielman guys say that wax sits on top of the shoo. lt's true. Paste penetrates and wax protects and adds a shine.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2008-10-23 20:37:39)
#4 2008-10-23 06:46:19
- John Rotten
- Member
- Posts: 1051
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
I have often wondered that myself. I think Alden special orders are also notoriously slow. I do find EG and Lobb to be very nice shoes, but they do not appeal to me.
#5 2008-10-23 06:55:16
- The_Shooman
- A pretty face
- From: AUSTRALIA
- Posts: 13195
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2008-10-23 07:05:23)
#6 2008-10-23 07:25:34
- The_Shooman
- A pretty face
- From: AUSTRALIA
- Posts: 13195
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
Another reason for going up market is the silly toe puffs used on most RTW. To me, leather toe puffs (toe caps) are everything. Plastic toe puffs on expensive shoos is unacceptable, not to mention uncomfortable.
Why don't these forum dudes just let their shoos antique over 20 years???
Last edited by The_Shooman (2008-10-23 07:29:45)
#9 2008-10-23 15:55:34
- formby
- Member
- From: Wiseacre
- Posts: 8359
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
"Dressing, like painting, should have a residual stability, plus punctuation and surprise." - Richard Merkin
Souvent me Souvient
#10 2008-10-23 17:05:20
- fritzl
- Member
- From: Gmunden, Salzkammergut/Austria
- Posts: 849
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
Shooey, I wanna say thank you, thank you, thank you... The flame has to shine bright.
Last edited by fritzl (2008-10-23 17:08:15)
"I'd give all the Champagne I've ever drunk to be playing alongside him(Eric Cantona) in a big European match at Old Trafford." George Best(1946 -2005)
#11 2008-10-23 20:14:00
- The_Shooman
- A pretty face
- From: AUSTRALIA
- Posts: 13195
Re: Some very interesting shoo views.
Last edited by The_Shooman (2008-10-23 20:15:34)