RM Williams boots for Aero cordovan jacket

[Lear]

Cross-posted to Style Forum

Just arrived: RM Williams Comfort Craftsman (size 12 H) in claret. Picked up from the Bond Street, London store yesterday.

They've been coated in Saphir Medaille D’Or Rénovateur. Have yet to be polished. Think I'll walk them in for a few days first. The claret Medaille D’Or cream will be arriving soon.

The last two pics are with the claret boot centre, flanked by EXACTLY the same boot in black and whiskey (for colour comparison).

I got them to go with my cordovan Aero "Veste de Rallye" - Heavy Front Quarter Horsehide jacket. The whiskey just didn't look right.

Once I get to four pairs of RMW's , that'll be enough. Any more would be obscene :blush:

 

[Lefty]

You've convinced me. I'm ordering this week, but I'm not sure about the color. I like the whiskey, but I'm not sure if it's too bright. Yours look much more brilliant (because of the polish?) than the examples on the site. What do you wear them with?

 

[Lear]

You've convinced me. I'm ordering this week, but I'm not sure about the color. I like the whiskey, but I'm not sure if it's too bright. Yours look much more brilliant (because of the polish?) than the examples on the site. What do you wear them with?

The whiskey RMW is most definitely a boot that will get positive comments wherever you go. I cannot step foot outside the front door without people staring at them. I walk into a shop (any shop), and the first thing the salesman wants to talk about is the RMW's. They are great with blue denim jeans. Just didn't seem to go with the cordovan Aero jacket. Possibly more of a summer boot.

Yep, even the salesman at RM Williams said he'd never seen a pair as shiny. I use Saphir Medaille D’Or, Jaune Cire (Wax Yellow), with the occasional layer of medium brown. I'm always striving for the ultimate mirror shine.

The claret is perfect with the Aero cordovan jacket. It's probably more versatile. The ones pictured have no polish yet.

Bear in mind that both of the above had to be ordered from Australia and took around 5 weeks to come through. Also, both are RMW's, Comfort Craftsman in yearling leather.

But enough of that... BACK TO THE GYM LEFTY... LOAD UP THOSE PLATES

 

[dr greg]

one more pair since this thread, you can never have too many pairs

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=28105&highlight=ghost

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I picked up a pair in a charity shop for 20GBP. Really great boots, even though they're 0.5 size too big. Chunky socks!

bk

 

[Lefty]

But enough of that... BACK TO THE GYM LEFTY... LOAD UP THOSE PLATES

These look like the chisel toe. Is that correct?
I think I've narrowed my choice down to a mto yearling Craftsman in whiskey, with the chisel toe, and screwed leather sole. (Edit: somewhere, around page 42, I've found that the leather soles are soft, wear out quickly, can only be resoled by RMW, and are indistinguishable from the comfort sole when viewed from above. Maybe I'll go with the comfort craftsman, despite the beauty of the brass screws.) I know I'll like the boots, but I really hope that I get the size right. I've read and re-read Sator's post, but I'll worry until they're on my feet.

The only AE's I own are McClains in a 13D. Based on that, I'm dropping down one size and one (Australian) width to a 12F. Does that sound right?

As to the gym, the lefty on SF must be the Superman to my Clark Kent, as I'm 6'1" and about 170lbs of pure bean-pole. lol

 

[Creeping Past]

Surely any halfway decent repairer can repair any item brought to them?

Many bootmakers suggest sending boots back to them for repair. It's good to have that service on offer, but it's not mandatory.

 

[Lefty]

I'm not trusting anyone local with a sole that looks like this, and postage to Australia is a bit high.

 

[Creeping Past]

Problem with the image in your post, I think.

If there's a technical difficulty with that sole, I can understand your wanting to avoid it.

 

[Lefty]

Sorry. Here's the link. Scroll down a bit.

 

[Creeping Past]

Shows how much I know! I retract and regret everything!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

A good cobbler can resole those shoes. RMW just wants more business, at its vastly inflated prices.

bk

 

[Lear]

These look like the chisel toe. Is that correct?
I think I've narrowed my choice down to a mto yearling Craftsman in whiskey, with the chisel toe, and screwed leather sole. (Edit: somewhere, around page 42, I've found that the leather soles are soft, wear out quickly, can only be resoled by RMW, and are indistinguishable from the comfort sole when viewed from above. Maybe I'll go with the comfort craftsman, despite the beauty of the brass screws.) I know I'll like the boots, but I really hope that I get the size right. I've read and re-read Sator's post, but I'll worry until they're on my feet.

The only AE's I own are McClains in a 13D. Based on that, I'm dropping down one size and one (Australian) width to a 12F. Does that sound right?

As to the gym, the lefty on SF must be the Superman to my Clark Kent, as I'm 6'1" and about 170lbs of pure bean-pole. lol

I apologize for that Lefty . Yes, there is another Lefty on SF. Forgiveness is begged.

I've heard exactly the same thing regarding the leather soles. The comfort soles are very... err... comfortable. Still look pretty sleek to my mind.

I'm no expert on RMW sizing. I've always been able to try them on at the Bond Street, London store. I use heel inserts in all of mine; lifting the foot closer to the 'roof' of the boot and giving a snugger fit over the top. I've tried on EVERY size and 12H fits better than anything else. I'm just wandering how satisfied you could be, without trying on a selection of sizes first. Well, a lot of folk do order them over the Internet and are happy with their purchases.

Also, although all three of my CC's are EXACTLY the same model and size, there is a minute variation (roominess over the top) between each pair. Could be because the whiskey and claret were MTO. The black ones are definitely sleeker though.

Whiskey is a beautiful colour. Post pics if you decide to get them.

Lear

 

[Lear]

Coincidence?

I'm not trusting anyone local with a sole that looks like this, and postage to Australia is a bit high.

Coincidence? A SF poster called 'sammy',has today posted pics of a MTO whiskey craftsman, with nailed leather sole. Just in case you change your mind.

Lear

 

[Lefty]

I apologize for that Lefty . Yes, there is another Lefty on SF. Forgiveness is begged.

Granted.

I've heard exactly the same thing regarding the leather soles. The comfort soles are very... err... comfortable. Still look pretty sleek to my mind.

I agree, but as someone who doesn't have anything more elegant than AE McClains, the brass screws have quite an appeal. From what I've read, however, the difference in comfortability is huge.

Well, a lot of folk do order them over the Internet and are happy with their purchases.

Though I visit friends in NY now and then, I have no plans to go soon, and I have noticed that while a lot of folk are happy with their web purchases, plenty of others wind up selling theirs in the classifieds.

Also, although all three of my CC's are EXACTLY the same model and size, there is a minute variation (roominess over the top) between each pair. Could be because the whiskey and claret were MTO. The black ones are definitely sleeker though.

It seems that the butterfly effect applies to RMW. Change from mto to standard and the fit changes. Change leathers, soles, etc., and the fit changes. Maybe a Christmas visit to NY is in order.

Whiskey is a beautiful colour. Post pics if you decide to get them.

It almost makes me weep. I will post pics - of the shoes, not the weeping.

Coincidence? A SF poster called 'sammy',has today posted pics of a MTO whiskey craftsman, with nailed leather sole. Just in case you change your mind.

That's just cruel. The thinner welt in those photos is clear. Maybe the screwed soles with insoles...

Captain Indecisive

 

[Lear]

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=28105&highlight=ghost

Wow, those look like they've seen a few miles!

I picked up a pair in a charity shop for 20GBP. Really great boots, even though they're 0.5 size too big. Chunky socks!

bk

£20

These look like the chisel toe. Is that correct?

Oops! Forgot to answer your initial question. The RMW shop seems to push a standard round toe & a standard chisel toe. Mine are the chisel toe. I can't tell you exactly what it's called. However, looking at the MTO whiskey box, it says:

Comfort Craftsman, Whiskey, Yearling, 12H, B543Y.97FHCP12

Hope that helps.

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Interesting link Lefty.

I am impressed by the one piece construction. In the link it mentions that the crease in the top of the shoe will come out with wear but mine has not. This does not worry me as it’s a reminder of the special construction.


I have had my local cobbler resole them and it seems he stitched the new soles on and used nails in the arch of the sole.


He sells Loakes which I like the look of and I will try next. Are they any good?

James

 

[Baron Kurtz]

£20

Just checking through DrGreg's thread, i find my memory was defective. They actually only cost me £14.

They are great boots, same colour as the central pair of your group image.

bk

 

[Creeping Past]

Loakes are not the finest quality leather, James, but they're good and although you'll notice the cost they probably won't cripple you.

I've been wearing my pair of Loake brogue derby boots for about 4 years now and they've almost had it. But that's with almost constant, daily wear. I wear shoes and boots hard and this is the longest-lasting pair I've ever had.

If you want great quality leather, try Alfred Sargent's veldtschoen boots/shoes or, if you want to buy Aero for your feet, go for Tricker's.

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Thanks for the advice.

Will try some Loakes first and maybe those double soled Burford Trickers!!