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I don’t know much about this, but wow
I don’t know much about this, but wow View attachment 112182
I find it a bit excessive and the sharp corners of the sole a distraction and unattractive. The spade soles that I've found attractive aren't angular but more contoured. The shoe leather looks nice with the stitching reminiscent of the stitched shaft of cowboy boots. The shoe itself appears to have no waist and very little contour until narrowing toward the toe.
I have a number of pair of custom made cowboy boots that the sole appears to be of the "spade" variety but I doubt that was the intention of the maker, at least I've never heard one of the makers refer to them as spade soles. The sole is just following the contour of the foot.
Jay Griffith of Griffith-Blucher cowboy boots said, "the foot of a cowboy boot should resemble the shape of a woman's body." I've always felt the same about a high end shoe. For what those Prada shoes probably sell for, with the addition of a few more dollars one could commission a pair to be made.
I don’t know much about this, but wow View attachment 112182
I immediately recognized the picture...Vintage Shoe Addict. The guy is like Timothiescloset, except he actually knows what he's selling. Fantastic shoes, that man has.View attachment 112307
These are a great example of "form" in spade soles that certainly look to have some influence on western boots...note the shape of the heel and general lines of the toe box area. (NOTE: If these shoes were a larger size, they would be in our closet here if I could have afforded to buy them)!
These are on eBay now, owned by Vintage Shoe Addict, whom is a expert on vintage shoes and boots.
Actually Vintage Shoe Addict sells his high end classic Vintage shoes for a very reasonable price for what they are. To find a pair of shoes made by a modern shoe maker, in the same level of quality is near impossible, but a close to the quality shoe would cost more than $600.00 and even then some modern shoes would just be a name you afre paying for and not the real quality.I immediately recognized the picture...Vintage Shoe Addict. The guy is like Timothiescloset, except he actually knows what he's selling. Fantastic shoes, that man has.
I immediately recognized the picture...Vintage Shoe Addict. The guy is like Timothiescloset, except he actually knows what he's selling. Fantastic shoes, that man has.
I know the american shoe industry hasn't been good since the 1960s, but surely there are modern shoes that are below the horrific $950 example presented that are of decent quality? In comparison to vintage, probably not but decent?View attachment 112342
Barker Black...Spectators at starting price.....they will make them custom ordered and colors if you want to spend more then the almost grand these cost.....so now you can see you got a steal on the vintage shoes you recently purchased as your shoes are way up there in quality.....
You raise a good point. Yes there are some decent made shoes with quality. The heavier gunboats made by Alden. Most shoes made in England or Australia are of high quality. And of course you have some shoes made in Italy that are very elegant and of quality. BUT...lets look at your vintage shoes....you would have to spend a lot of money for a "modern" shoe that is close to your shoes in quality. This is why what shoes are on eBay being offered by Vintage Shoe Addict are not so high priced after all. Everyone can like one high end shoe maker over another, the prices are up there when you start looking at them all. St. Crispin shoes are nice looking, but the choice of most is Vass as to overall quality and how they will hold up when worn often. That is why I wanted to post the advertised Barker Black shoe that is a spectator....it is of good quality and hand made, but look at that price tag!?! The Prada shoes Scottrace showcased are most likely very good quality as well. Not sure how much they would cost...but would bet more than $500.00I know the american shoe industry hasn't been good since the 1960s, but surely there are modern shoes that are below the horrific $950 example presented that are of decent quality? In comparison to vintage, probably not but decent?
You raise a good point. Yes there are some decent made shoes with quality. The heavier gunboats made by Alden. Most shoes made in England or Australia are of high quality. And of course you have some shoes made in Italy that are very elegant and of quality. BUT...lets look at your vintage shoes....you would have to spend a lot of money for a "modern" shoe that is close to your shoes in quality. This is why what shoes are on eBay being offered by Vintage Shoe Addict are not so high priced after all. Everyone can like one high end shoe maker over another, the prices are up there when you start looking at them all. St. Crispin shoes are nice looking, but the choice of most is Vass as to overall quality and how they will hold up when worn often. That is why I wanted to post the advertised Barker Black shoe that is a spectator....it is of good quality and hand made, but look at that price tag!?! The Prada shoes Scottrace showcased are most likely very good quality as well. Not sure how much they would cost...but would bet more than $500.00
Amazingly, I had never heard of Prada until this thread. From a quick Google search, yes, the exemplar presented by Scottrace would be over $500, for sure. I definitely see your point being made here. As with my recently purchased spectators, the difference is definitely there when compared to a pair of modern wingtip oxfords I previously owned. I have never doubted that our clothing used to be made with much more resilient construction, but this raises questions from me. Why the decline in clothing quality (more especially footwear) in the last 40-50 years? Is it due to the globalization of the industry, and we have to use cheaper fibers and leathers for our shoes to accommodate a much larger, worldwide clientele? Are manufacturers opting out of using these excellent materials that were once used to their best for cost-effectiveness? Has the government enacted restrictions on obtaining, for instance, better leathers?
Not that I'm trying to challenge your ideas--as you know an exponential amount about vintage shoes. But WHY do my 1940's Nunn-Bush's triumph over my very recent Aldens?
I have looked at several 1930's-40's shoe catalogs, and most shoes I'm seeing are marked $6-15, which means they were USUALLY much less than $200 adjusted for inflation. These are from popular American makers like Roblee, Nunn-Bush, Thom McAn, Bally, etc.It's the other way around; a tiny fraction of modern U.S. consumers are willing to pay for quality. Prices in old catalogs may seem low, but when adjusted for inflation they are not.
I have looked at several 1930's-40's shoe catalogs, and most shoes I'm seeing are marked $6-15, which means they were USUALLY much less than $200 adjusted for inflation. These are from popular American makers like Roblee, Nunn-Bush, Thom McAn, Bally, etc.
Amazingly, I had never heard of Prada until this thread. From a quick Google search, yes, the exemplar presented by Scottrace would be over $500, for sure. I definitely see your point being made here. As with my recently purchased spectators, the difference is definitely there when compared to a pair of modern wingtip oxfords I previously owned. I have never doubted that our clothing used to be made with much more resilient construction, but this raises questions from me. Why the decline in clothing quality (more especially footwear) in the last 40-50 years? Is it due to the globalization of the industry, and we have to use cheaper fibers and leathers for our shoes to accommodate a much larger, worldwide clientele? Are manufacturers opting out of using these excellent materials that were once used to their best for cost-effectiveness? Has the government enacted restrictions on obtaining, for instance, better leathers?
Not that I'm trying to challenge your ideas--as you know an exponential amount about vintage shoes. But WHY do my 1940's Nunn-Bush's triumph over my very recent Aldens?
You are so right, it does add to what has happened in the Shoe Industry in general. However one things has been happening in the last 10 or 20 years time, that being some of the high end shoes are now in some demand, and you can see an awareness of this taking place within shoe makers that are non mass production shoes that are made to order or custom fitted shoes.It's the other way around; a tiny fraction of modern U.S. consumers are willing to pay for quality. Prices in old catalogs may seem low, but when adjusted for inflation they are not.
I sure do wish they would do some spade soles as I would buy a pair or two for my Husband.I rather like that, actually....
SJC has threatened to develop a spade sole, though it'd be a big investment. Be interesting if there was a market.
You are so right, it does add to what has happened in the Shoe Industry in general. However one things has been happening in the last 10 or 20 years time, that being some of the high end shoes are now in some demand, and you can see an awareness of this taking place within shoe makers that are non mass production shoes that are made to order or custom fitted shoes.