Help Locating Shoes From My Past

[john z]

Two different pairs in particular, one pair English & one pair American.

First the older pair which were English & dated from 72/73. Worn by the suedeheads at the time & were the successor in fashion to the tassled loafer but less common. The were a black lace-up, squarish toed, aproned gibson. The apron was rimmed with a heavy piping that was saw-tooth cut around the side of the shoe. The apron was interlaced. We refered to them as 'plaited' or 'criss-cross' gibsons due to the plaited interlacing on the aprons.

Second were a pair of American Bass Weejuns in the style of their classic tassled loafers but were a lace-up version in an oxblood/burgundy colour. The tassles were on the end of the laces. I bought my pair from a London shoe shop in the King's Road that specialised in American footwear back in 78/79.

Extensive searching of the web has failed me. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers either of these styles, has pics & in particular can help me find replacements.

Thanks
John

 

[Salv]

Around my way those plaited gibsons were called box-tops. The nearest thing I could find to the shoes I wore are these

They're not plain black, but they're cheap enough that you could buy a pair and take some black dye to them (if they ship to the UK of course...)

I can't help with the loafers though. You could try asking in J. Simons in Covent Garden. John Simons has been selling American shoes since the 60s, most famously at the Ivy Shop in Richmond, and if anyone in England can tell you where to find the shoes you're after it will be John or one of the guys in the shop.

 

[cookie]

Two different pairs in particular, one pair English & one pair American.

First the older pair which were English & dated from 72/73. Worn by the suedeheads at the time & were the successor in fashion to the tassled loafer but less common. The were a black lace-up, squarish toed, aproned gibson. The apron was rimmed with a heavy piping that was saw-tooth cut around the side of the shoe. The apron was interlaced. We refered to them as 'plaited' or 'criss-cross' gibsons due to the plaited interlacing on the aprons.

Second were a pair of American Bass Weejuns in the style of their classic tassled loafers but were a lace-up version in an oxblood/burgundy colour. The tassles were on the end of the laces. I bought my pair from a London shoe shop in the King's Road that specialised in American footwear back in 78/79.

Extensive searching of the web has failed me. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers either of these styles, has pics & in particular can help me find replacements.

Thanks
John

I may be wrong but the Weejuns sound like the Loake Weejuns I have seen in Sydney which are supposed to be the copy of the Carnaby street era shoes.

 

[john z]

Salv: Interesting to know the gibsons were known by yet another name in your area. The ones in your post though are not what I'm after, they're just not right. I wish I could find a pic of them.

Thanks for the heads up on J. Simons. Will definately give them a ring regarding both styles. BTW I see they sell Harringtons which I'm interested in. Money I wasn't planning on spending you're gonna be responsible for me spending lol

Cookie: Any pics of those Loakes?

Thanks both
John

 

[cookie]

At Josephs Sydney

http://www.josephshoes.com.au/index...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

 

[john z]

Thanks Cookie but that's a slip-on. I'm looking for a lace-up version of this:
http://www.menshoenet.com/88046_Bass_Weejun_Leavitt_Penny.html

 

[Salv]

Salv: Interesting to know the gibsons were known by yet another name in your area. The ones in your post though are not what I'm after, they're just not right. I wish I could find a pic of them.

Thanks for the heads up on J. Simons. Will definately give them a ring regarding both styles. BTW I see they sell Harringtons which I'm interested in. Money I wasn't planning on spending you're gonna be responsible for me spending lol

Cookie: Any pics of those Loakes?

Thanks both
John

John - I didn't think they'd be right, but they were the closest I could find. The pair I had in the early 70s were chunkier, and the weave wasn't on the diagonal. I haven't seen anything like them since then.

Fascinating Trivia Time: the Harrington jackets that John Simons sells are the original, and authentic, Baracuta G-9s, and he started selling them in the Ivy Shop in Richmond in the 60s. He came up with the name "Harrington", naming them after Ryan O'Neal's character, Rodney Harrington, who wore one in the TV series Peyton Place.

And I just point 'em out - I can't accept responsibility if you find something you'd like to buy

 

[Anthony Jordan]

Speaking as a total novice relating to this kind of thing (it's a bit too recent for me!), I found Robert Elms' book "The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads" a fascinating read:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-We-Wore...4241207?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192017043&sr=8-1

ETA: you may also find it worthwhile asking your second question on the Ask Andy About Clothes Trad forum. They seem like a very knowledgeable crew over there (I stick to the main forum, myself.)

A.

 

[john z]

Salv: I'm now sure the shoes you had are the same as those I wore. I never stopped yearning for another pair as I thought they were the damn best shoes at the time & still do. I actually had two pairs back then. I felt good good in a many a pair of shoes since but to me they had something special that I've never found since. The closest are the other American pair of shoes by Bass I'm on the lookout for.

I know they weren't that common as the brogues & tassled loafers as they came into fashion in the dying days of the Suedehead cult so many were moving over to different fashions. Mine were all leather, Northants made and numerous pairs must have been made & sold. So there must be others out there who remeber them, had them & even still do perhaps. Certainly there must be some shoe company that has the patterns in some dusty cupboard somewhere. If I could find some decent pictures I have someone who is willing to custom make them at a very reasonable price.

The Harrington & its history I know very well. I have four, at the moment! J. Simons shop I didn't but since your tip I have read up on it & the Ivy shop in Richmond. Fascinating stuff & I'm very grateful to you for pointing it out to me. And your right, any money I now spend there is my responsibility of course lol

Best of all though has been finding someone who remebers & wore the shoes I'm searching for.

BTW I still have my original Dunn & Co porkpie hat from the late 60s, early 70s. Did you ever wear one? Something else from the period I still treasure but can't bring myself to wear it out of the house now.

Anthony: Thanks for the heads up on both the book & the forum. I'll be sure to check them out.