I was also wondering how these rate. I see many here are shoe fans so maybe you can give some input.
http://www.vass-shoes.com/menu.htm
These are awful. I mean, if you are doing the wardrobe for a remake of Frankenstein, you might put these on the feet of the Transylvanian peasantry storming the castle. Otherwise, these are useless to anyone who wants to be taken seriously. They are in a word, "garmento"
Vass was the shoe salesman at the recent Sartorial Excellence trunk show?
Have you ever tried their shoes on or seen them up close?
I'd wear the u-last boots.
The traditional Vass last is an Austro-Hungarian styled last that is still used by many of the regional makers such as Balint, etc.
The U-last was developed for the Italian makers, Roberto Ugolini for their operations, hence the chisel toe and also hence the name, U-last. It is more a Continental look, if not slightly French.
Last edited by Incroyable (2006-03-26 01:43:03)
The traditional Vass last is appealing in its tradition. And I don't think we can dismiss it as an unrefined non-Western style since it was developed in the Austro-Hungarian empire at the very least. The Hapsburgs weren't the Visigoths
Last edited by Incroyable (2006-03-25 18:17:46)
I don't much care for the Budapest last (too high-toed for me), nor for the U (too fashion-forward), but the Peter and P2 are quite nice. Considering the seemingly endless stream of acolades I've heard about Vass's workmanship, I can only imagine how beautiful and comfortable they are.
Some of the Vass look alittle bulky and unsightly but many models are gorgeous. Really hope to get a pair one day.
Im not crazy about a lot of the shoes on their site. I especially don't like the contemporary ones. I did not know that thye made a variety of lasts not on the site. I would like to hear something more about these as well.
Vass shoes used to be available at Louis Boston and SkyValet in Washington D.C. however the only retail space now carrying the line is apparently Bergdorf Goodman.
I recall Vass at Bergdorf Goodman was somewhere at $1200 or similar.
Of course, if you go to Budapest it's only $500 or so. Actually SkyValet is having a sort of liquidation sale of their remaining Vass stock so perhaps that could be an option.
It isn't so much a matter of "finishing" as it is preference. I actually prefer the feel of a half sock liner or, even, none at all. Vass's own book goes over these options.