Show us your SHOES !!!

[Short Balding Guy]

Many years ago, in my late teens, I used to wear black wingtip brogues for best. These days I don't have any in black in shoe form - though a couple of pairs of high-top, black brogue boot versions. These look great. I find them such a wonderful casual shoe - I really should look at getting another pair. I love wearing a decent pair of leather shoes just in this casual way the way I once would have worn trainers.

Edward; I can wear a pair of black leather, grained, short wing or long wing black shoes and feel comfortable pairing them with casual or even jeans. The black shoe does not put me in the mindset of formal, work or somber occasion (wedding/funeral). Black toe cap or black wholecuts are different for me - they are formal. Below is an incomplete example of some of my black shoes.

My easist worn pairs are either the longwings (plain or grained) or the split toe black cromexcel shoes. If I was fored to choose the absolutely easiest I would choice the Alden Longwing Alpine grained. Man they can "rule and belnd" in most casual situations. I do love the visual interest when I glance down at my shoes peaking out from my slacks(wool, kahki, cord or denim). The cordovan I do just adore, but the grain tops them for just ease of care and wear.

As far as mixing casual longwings with dress - yes I do it.

I imagine that the folks on the Style Forum might hardily disagree, but it works for me and my public situations.

I find this topic interesting and will tune in to others input and contributions. I really have to find more moments to wea my leather shoes. Since 2020 I have not worn them enough, IMO.

Cheers, Eric -

 

[Edward]

Edward; I can wear a pair of black leather, grained, short wing or long wing black shoes and feel comfortable pairing them with casual or even jeans. The black shoe does not put me in the mindset of formal, work or somber occasion (wedding/funeral). Black toe cap or black wholecuts are different for me - they are formal. Below is an incomplete example of some of my black shoes.

My easist worn pairs are either the longwings (plain or grained) or the split toe black cromexcel shoes. If I was fored to choose the absolutely easiest I would choice the Alden Longwing Alpine grained. Man they can "rule and belnd" in most casual situations. I do love the visual interest when I glance down at my shoes peaking out from my slacks(wool, kahki, cord or denim). The cordovan I do just adore, but the grain tops them for just ease of care and wear.

As far as mixing casual longwings with dress - yes I do it.

I imagine that the folks on the Style Forum might hardily disagree, but it works for me and my public situations.

I find this topic interesting and will tune in to others input and contributions. I really have to find more moments to wea my leather shoes. Since 2020 I have not worn them enough, IMO.

Cheers, Eric -

Great collection. I have one pair of plimsolls (Vans slip ons, plain black all over - cast-offs from the wife after she lost a lot of weight and went down a size). Everything else I have is a leather shoe or boot, and like yourself I wear them with everything. We seem to be outliers nowadays with so many people wearing trainers all the time: Kiwi shoe polish, it was recently announced, is being phased out in the UK because of lower demand than ever. Part of the whole deal for me is that a decent pair of leather shoes well looked after can be resoled and kept going for many years.... which seems so much better a use of resources....

 

[Edward]

Shame on me Edward, I do keep a pair of sombre black shoes in my wardrobe. At my age it's the date that the grim reaper keeps in his diary. Two tone shoes at a funeral is about as akin to wearing a zoot suit, so protocol being what it is, the sombre shoes are dusted off every time that said grim reaper puts in an appearance and my missus and I, attend yet another funeral, that's not our's.

I hear you on that. Though that said, I did go to a funeral about eight years ago in a pair of B&W co-respondents. Tom was a friend on the Chap scene who died very suddenly and unexpectedly; he'd been a goth for many years as well as doing the Chap / vintage thing, so it felt only right. His folks appreciated it. Oddly, he died within hours of Christopher Lee, which he'd probably have been amused by.

Good question posed? I am curious what attire parings do you consider excellent when wearing the blue and white specs?

Blue and white is a hard combo for me to wear. I have worn my Edward Meir spectators in blue and cream more often with khaki or jeans than dress slacks.

Eric -

Certainly for me, black and white is a little more flexible. I do have a pair of penny loafers in navy and white; they can go ok with black trousers if there are blue accents elsewhere, but they definitely shine much better with tan, silver grey, or especially navy slacks. Got a pair of oxblood and white Bass Weejuns tucked away to join my herd this Summer. Still have my eye on the green and white ones as well, though waiting for them to come on a good sale as they are harder to justify given they're match with less... I have a few pairs of lace-up co-respondents as well; my favourite look for those is as yours, with the darker colour on toe and heel only, and that glorious, all-white vamp.

 

[GHT]

Very very nice, Robert! How many blue and white spectators do actually you have? That's one color I do not have.

These are the first pair that I bought many years ago. You can see the creases from wear and age in the white leather, but the were well made and have stood the test of time.


The couple in the photo are Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. & Mary Pickford. Hollywood royalty of the early 20th century. Mine are navy and white, the white is not leather it's a kind of canvas. So difficult to keep clean.
They are on the website of former Lounger SimonC https://www.cathcartlondon.com/collections/footwear

These are called "Gibsons," and early 1950's style. I have tried to find an original 1950's advert, like a newspaper advert, but it was a fruitless search.

These were just a lucky, right place, right time purchase from: https://www.colinjohnsonshoes.com/ Colin has made most of my shoes. These were a cancelled order, Colin had taken them along to a festival but the original customer didn't want them, couldn't afford them or whatever. They now grace the shoe rack in my wardrobe. So there you go, my blue heaven.

 

[GHT]

Good question posed? I am curious what attire parings do you consider excellent when wearing the blue and white specs?

Blue and white is a hard combo for me to wear. I have worn my Edward Meir spectators in blue and cream more often with khaki or jeans than dress slacks.

Eric -

Well Eric, here's a few ways to mix and match blue and white. The first photo is that of Tina & I at an Hawaiian themed wedding about three, maybe four years, before the lockdown. Look at the top of the trousers, the fabric is pure linen, my tailor pleaded with me to use a linen synthetic mix. How I should have listened, that suit hardly ever sees the light of day. We live and learn.

The next photo is a casual way of wearing blue and white. Remember blue comes in many hues, this navy and white Aloha shirt that Tina made contrasts well with the royal blue trousers that she also made.



The next two photos show how you can wear a casual sports blazer, yet still have a more formal look. It's all about how you mix and match. The blazers are actually different. The first has a green pencil stripe running through the white stripe, the second is a lighter blue and has a yellow pencil stripe running through the white stripe.


Here's two opposite ways of blue and white, actually I think that the white might be a pale cream. The first is more of Tina's handiwork, both shirt and trousers, the second is my Zoot suit, the stripe being wide, is known as a chalk stripe, the shirt is pale lemon.


Finally a teaser, there's a new blazer in the pipeline, I was just going to show you the fabric, but as my tailor had a previous client's photo I can let you into a sneak preview.



And finally another example of both casual and formal. I hope that I have inspired you.

 

[Dlaniger]

View attachment 483967
These are the first pair that I bought many years ago. You can see the creases from wear and age in the white leather, but the were well made and have stood the test of time.

View attachment 483969 View attachment 483968
The couple in the photo are Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. & Mary Pickford. Hollywood royalty of the early 20th century. Mine are navy and white, the white is not leather it's a kind of canvas. So difficult to keep clean.
They are on the website of former Lounger SimonC https://www.cathcartlondon.com/collections/footwear
View attachment 483970
These are called "Gibsons," and early 1950's style. I have tried to find an original 1950's advert, like a newspaper advert, but it was a fruitless search.
View attachment 483971
These were just a lucky, right place, right time purchase from: https://www.colinjohnsonshoes.com/ Colin has made most of my shoes. These were a cancelled order, Colin had taken them along to a festival but the original customer didn't want them, couldn't afford them or whatever. They now grace the shoe rack in my wardrobe. So there you go, my blue heaven.

I knew it! I knew you had a grand collection of blue and white spectators. I love them all, but those Gibsons are out of sight. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Dlaniger]

Well Eric, here's a few ways to mix and match blue and white. The first photo is that of Tina & I at an Hawaiian themed wedding about three, maybe four years, before the lockdown. Look at the top of the trousers, the fabric is pure linen, my tailor pleaded with me to use a linen synthetic mix. How I should have listened, that suit hardly ever sees the light of day. We live and learn.
View attachment 483982
The next photo is a casual way of wearing blue and white. Remember blue comes in many hues, this navy and white Aloha shirt that Tina made contrasts well with the royal blue trousers that she also made.

View attachment 483983

The next two photos show how you can wear a casual sports blazer, yet still have a more formal look. It's all about how you mix and match. The blazers are actually different. The first has a green pencil stripe running through the white stripe, the second is a lighter blue and has a yellow pencil stripe running through the white stripe.

View attachment 483986 View attachment 483989
Here's two opposite ways of blue and white, actually I think that the white might be a pale cream. The first is more of Tina's handiwork, both shirt and trousers, the second is my Zoot suit, the stripe being wide, is known as a chalk stripe, the shirt is pale lemon.
View attachment 483990 View attachment 483992

Finally a teaser, there's a new blazer in the pipeline, I was just going to show you the fabric, but as my tailor had a previous client's photo I can let you into a sneak preview.
View attachment 483994 View attachment 483993

View attachment 483995 View attachment 483996
And finally another example of both casual and formal. I hope that I have inspired you.

Now there you go Eric a perfect catalog of blue and white sartorial bliss to stimulate your wardrobe decisions. I have to admit outfitting blue and white spectators at least for me appears to be challenging, yet it looks like a whole lot of fun to try.

 

[Harris HTM]

I entered the world of hand-welted shoes:

 

[GHT]

I knew it! I knew you had a grand collection of blue and white spectators. I love them all, but those Gibsons are out of sight. Thank you for sharing.

When you are putting an outfit together, just think about colours. Then add accoutrements, a skillful, talented wife helps, but I'm teasing. She not only made the trousers and the shirt in this outfit, she saw the blazer on a trader's stall at a festival that we were at.

 

[The Shooman]

When you are putting an outfit together, just think about colours. Then add accoutrements, a skillful, talented wife helps, but I'm teasing. She not only made the trousers and the shirt in this outfit, she saw the blazer on a trader's stall at a festival that we were at.
View attachment 484128

Love the trousers. How wide is the bottom of the trousers?

 

[The Shooman]

I entered the world of hand-welted shoes:
View attachment 484104 View attachment 484105 View attachment 484106 View attachment 484107 View attachment 484108

So, how does it feel to have entered this world. Please share your thoughts about it. Does it provide a superior shoe wearing experience?

For me there is no other game in town, hand welted with hand stitched soles wins hands down. The Vass deliver a fantastic wearing experience few shoes can equal.

Welcome to the world of hand welted Harris.

 

[Harris HTM]

So, how does it feel to have entered this world. Please share your thoughts about it. Does it provide a superior shoe wearing experience?

For me there is no other game in town, hand welted with hand stitched soles wins hands down. The Vass deliver a fantastic wearing experience few shoes can equal.

Welcome to the world of hand welted Harris.

I'm waiting for my cobbler to get some lulu steel plates in stock, I always have them installed when I get a new pair of shoes. SO far I've worn the Vass's only at home for that reason. Up to now I've been wearing goodyear welted shoes (Alden, Crockett & Jones, Carmina, Cheaney, Trickers, etc). From what I've seen so far the Vass seem to require less breaking-in period, I will let you know how they evolve!

 

[The Shooman]

I'm waiting for my cobbler to get some lulu steel plates in stock, I always have them installed when I get a new pair of shoes. SO far I've worn the Vass's only at home for that reason. Up to now I've been wearing goodyear welted shoes (Alden, Crockett & Jones, Carmina, Cheaney, Trickers, etc). From what I've seen so far the Vass seem to require less breaking-in period, I will let you know how they evolve!

Please keep us all updated. I think you are in for a treat.

 

[The Shooman]

Silvano Lattanzi family shot.

Have found my perfect shoes, not interested in wearing anything else.

 

[GHT]

Love the trousers. How wide is the bottom of the trousers?

So sorry, I missed your post. The hems are twenty-two inches. Looking at your lovely shoe collection, and you say: "Have found my perfect shoes, not interested in wearing anything else." Don't rule out others, you might just find something like art-deco design attractive.

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

So sorry, I missed your post. The hems are twenty-two inches. Looking at your lovely shoe collection, and you say: "Have found my perfect shoes, not interested in wearing anything else." Don't rule out others, you might just find something like art-deco design attractive.
View attachment 487396

Wow, these are great, Sir! Where to buy them?

 

[The Shooman]

So sorry, I missed your post. The hems are twenty-two inches.

22 inches, wow that is so wide, but l like it. . I like a wide leg too, but usually 10 -11 inches.

Looking at your lovely shoe collection, and you say: "Have found my perfect shoes, not interested in wearing anything else." Don't rule out others, you might just find something like art-deco design attractive.

Very true. Shoes are an adventure and you'll never know what you'll find and like next.

 

[Cck80]

Heinrich Dinkelacker Buda in tabacco
View attachment 20230225_154437.jpg View attachment 20230225_154430.jpg

 

[GHT]

I have to admit outfitting blue and white spectators at least for me appears to be challenging, yet it looks like a whole lot of fun to try.

For you Sir, the lover of blue & white, a new blazer by John Parrett of Fox Tailoring. https://www.foxtailoring.co.uk/ Colin Johnson made a superb pair of shoes to wear with that blazer. Tina, my wife, is in the process of making a pair of Oxford Baggy trousers, the colour will be ivory, about the same as the lighter coloured piano keys. There is also a Panama hat on order but I do have a rather good, bespoke felt fedora that will compliment the outfit, perfectly.

In keeping with the blue & white theme, this lovely ascot cravat.

 

[Dlaniger]

For you Sir, the lover of blue & white, a new blazer by John Parrett of Fox Tailoring. https://www.foxtailoring.co.uk/ Colin Johnson made a superb pair of shoes to wear with that blazer. Tina, my wife, is in the process of making a pair of Oxford Baggy trousers, the colour will be ivory, about the same as the lighter coloured piano keys. There is also a Panama hat on order but I do have a rather good, bespoke felt fedora that will compliment the outfit, perfectly.
View attachment 497749 View attachment 497750 View attachment 497756
In keeping with the blue & white theme, this lovely ascot cravat.

I have been away for awhile, so I am just seeing this. Wonderful! The shoes and jacket are perfect. . I can’t wait to see you model the entire ensemble.