Alright, who cleans 'em and who leaves 'em dirty?
I'm a sucker for shoe stuff and regularly harass my shoe-repair guy (his fault for putting his shop at my subway station). When I picked up my Clarks' dessies a few years ago, I made sure to buy an eraser right off the bat. I've since bought replacement erasers and a brush (looks like a nail brush). I've even been thinking about getting one of those really nasty ones w/ brass bristles (see pic on the left http://www.emocs.com/conditioners/suedebrushes.jpg).
However, I've seen that others like their boots more worn in. Where do you stand? Does your preference for colour plays in? I'm a tan dessie guy.
I've always been a Dirty Buck man, never a White one. Ditto my Saddles & Dessies. I take a bit of care of them, but not much.
I'm a dirty boy.
I like mine (sand coloured) cleanish I must admit. Worn-in patina yes, out and out grubby no. A quick brush between wearings seems to revive them quite well.
Who uses what?
Mine get an old clothes brush over them at best.
When I was in the States, I dropped by a DSW. Anyway, it's a like a big soul-sucking shoe warehouse shop (think a lot girls wearing a lot of eye-liner trying to decide on groddy f'me boots).
However, an ivy could do worse on entry-level stuff. Florsheim, Johnston and Murphy and Bass penny loafers. Florsheim and Bass bucs, dirty or white. Entry-level for sure, but not everything needs to be the best. If one wants to support such an organization is another and worthwhile question too, considering the bleakness of the place.
Last edited by Decline & Fall (2009-02-17 08:52:45)
i like my white keds a bit scruffier, as with my hunter wellies and the desert boots i use for activities (they came in useful during the snow a few weeks back!).
i couldn't bare to ruin my aquascutum boots though - i damn near cried when it rained whilsti was wearing them last week.
How did desert boots come into being (their history), and what is there primary function? Why are desert boots always make with a crepe sole?
Are they really a British army item in origin (a story I was told)? Kit for desert campaigns? Dunno.
Last edited by Staceyboy (2009-02-23 02:58:44)
Last edited by Moose Maclennan (2009-02-23 03:37:30)
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"WPG introduces its own brand of desert boots. Based on original examples, this style has a higher top than the standard "brothel creeper" to better keep out sand, scorpions, etc. Buttery soft suede leather upper and sturdy rubber sole to withstand camel thorns."
My points:
1) I've never crept through a brothel in my life, I walk proudly through them with head held high!
2) What sort of brothel has sand, scorpions and camel thorns in it? Sounds downright kinky to me.
3) Thats a damn ugly boot!
For those looking for Japanese-language instruction on keeping their saddle-shoes/bucks insanely clean, please consult:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kousuke427sc/archive/2008/06/28
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kousuke427sc/archive/2008/12/17
I have to admit that I'm really curious as to what he's spraying on his shoes here. I have my doubts whether it can be all that good for 'em.
Last edited by Decline & Fall (2009-02-25 08:35:09)
^ The George Cox website used to show pics of their very plain and pared down styled thick crepe soled chukka boots and shoes.(These were coloured blue, as i recall).
I believe that the George Cox company referred to these very classic, pared down (Playboy-ish) styles as `pop boys`.So the term pop boy has certainly been used to describe these styles by George Cox to in the U.K.
I may be wrong but i also seem to recall reading a brief online history of George Cox which seem`d to refer to George Cox`s iconic `pop boy sole` footwear.I believe that the term pop boy may have been an original and earliest name -coined by George Cox to describe their then innovative and new invention of the uniquely thick crepe soled footwear.
I believe George Cox have made their very plain styled thick crepe soled suede (aswell as leather) footwear since 1949(?).I believe and imagine that throughout their history they have made all manner and all sorts of Playboy-ish styled footwear -with subtle and not so subtle diferences and/or modifications- for different labels and indeed for different footwear brands.
I`ve read online that the early `brothel creepers` made by George Cox were based on the style of the suede crepe soled ww2 desert boots.If this is the case i would imagine that the earliest brothel creepers would actually have been very plain styled (except for those thicker crepe soles) and that these very plain styles would actually have pre-dated the more outlandish, brogued, brightly coloured, buckled and metal d -ringed brothel creepers that would likely have followed and which we usually think of when we think of brothel creepers today.
History of early (George Cox manufactured) Playboy Original label footwear.
http://playboy-shoes.com/
Last edited by jesmond (2009-02-28 02:12:56)
I bought these from Rocket Originals a few years ago and they fell apart in a very short time. Supposedly made by George Cox but rebranded as Rocket originals, much thinner sole than the other GC's I own and an apparent decline in quality. Very poor indeed.
Dirty, too. Rarely polish anything nowadays. Dessies are stained and scuffed. Love cordovan wingtips because you just buff 'em with a cloth, and I simply dust off weejuns and slip 'em on. First time I laid eyes on John Simons he was wearing some dead grubby once-white Sebago boat shoes; mine are getting that way.
Last edited by TheWeejun (2009-03-04 15:06:12)