Spectator Shoes

[cookie]

21 C Specs ...NOT!

cookie, i'm confused. are you saying you like the examples you've posted or not ?

Joke Joyce...

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Here's another website...anyone know anything about these?

http://www.otabo.com/custom-made-shoes-shop/dresscasual-spectatorwingtip.asp

The question came up about whether these used polished cobbler (grain corrected) leather. I emailed and asked, and here's their answer:

Our "High Performance" Leathers are soft lightweight leathers that are tanned for strength, breathability and water resistance.

We do not use “grain corrected” (a.k.a. corrected leather). Tanneries make corrected leather from lower grade hides (scratched or scarred with tick bites and the like), in a process that “snuffs” the surface of the leather to hide the blemishes and then embosses the surface and covers it over with a heavy finish. Corrected leather is generally stiffer and less supple than good full grain leather. Because they have “reduced” some of the full grain (the strength of the leather) they need to add body back to the leather ? with fillers and the like in tanning. While corrected leathher generally finished to a high sheen, we don’t especially care for the feel or the look.

I hope I have answered your questions fully. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Ashleigh DeGothseir
Otabo Customer Care Team
888.236.9888
www.otabo.com

 

[Fletch]

What defines a co-respondent as opposed to a spectator?

Too bad the captoe style didn't get picked up when specs began coming back in the 80s. It wasn't popular in business shoes at the time either.

 

[cookie]

Co-respondent shoes

It seems (from observing examples on the 'Bay) that the difference is in the simplicity of the co-respondent with no frills such as wing tip/brogueing detailing....like pinking etc

 

[AlanC]

Here are some owned by a friend of mine:

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Dunno if we hit this one already...

Brook Brothers has black-and-white captoe spectators in their Clearance section:

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=494&pcount=&Product_Id=974848&Parent_Id=305

 

[Jerekson]

JEREKSON_LOVES_THIS_THREAD

 

[cookie]

Gator aid

Should I have bid more ???? Hey its sleepy time time Down Under!!!![huh]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...MEDW:IT&viewitem=&item=180111751670&rd=1&rd=1

 

[Undertow]

I recently purchased a pair of the Botany 500 Spectators (brown/white) and I must say, out of the box, they're okay. Of course, you get what you pay for and I wouldn't say these are the finest quality leather. They seem a little stiff and they don't shine well after a polish.

They don't seem to be wearing out too fast, but I've only had them a month and I've worn them two or three times.

If you're looking for some kick-arounds, something for a one night ordeal, or perhaps you're like me and you're on a tight budget, these shoes will do you justice.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Spectators: worn how often?

.

For the gents around here who own a pair of spectator shoes, some nosey questions:


-- What colors are they?
-- How often do you wear them?
-- Where do you wear them?
-- What types of clothing do you wear them with?
-- Do you wear them at night, as well as in the daytime?
-- Do you wear them only on summery/warm days, or also on wintery/cool days?

Thanks!

.

 

[TraderRic]

I've only had my specs for a few months, but here it goes.

- Brown & white (but I plan on getting a black & white pair soon).
- I've worn them to church twice, to the Blue Plate Diner and to visit friends.
- I wear them with a suit, jacket and slacks, and with shirt, tie and vest sweater. mainly dress clothes.
- Day and night.
- I've only had mine since Easter, but I think I'll reserve them for spring to early fall. I'm moving to Virginia next month, so that may well be until November.

Hope that helps!

Eric

 

[Duck]

Today!

.

For the gents around here who own a pair of spectator shoes, some nosey questions:


-- What colors are they?
-- How often do you wear them?
-- Where do you wear them?
-- What types of clothing do you wear them with?
-- Do you wear them at night, as well as in the daytime?
-- Do you wear them only on summery/warm days, or also on wintery/cool days?

Thanks!

.

Brown & Tan
Not often
To work
Polo shirt & khakis
Daytime only, so far.
Summer shoe

 

[iammatt]

I have two pairs. One is a twill and brown leather wingtip style and the other is a derby style that is white buck and brown leather. The second is new and pictured on AAAC right now.

I wear them with linen pants or sometimes a summer suit to whatever establishment is unlucky enough to have me. I generally wear them in the day, but would not be opposed to doing so at night.

 

[cookie]

My Specs

I have a pair of brown and off white Broadstreets yet to be worn and a pair of oxblood and white buck 1940s specs I wore to a wedding at our place to great acclaim. The B'streets will be accompanying my flax coloured Irish linen suit next summer. The others will await a night "on the tiles".

 

[Orgetorix]

My only spectators are brown leather and natural-colored linen, so they're pretty much exclusively warm-weather shoes. I wear them with everything from suits to linen trousers and chinos to, occasionally, jeans. I wear them everywhere--work, church, recreation, walks around the neighborhood, etc.

 

[shindeco]

Brown nubuck with oxblood leather saddles.

Worn fairly frequenly in warm weather and when on holiday.

Worn with "casual" clothes (by my standards, not the rest of the world's ). They're also my shoes of choice with shorts.

I'll wear them at night if I'm wearing casual clothes.

 

[FedoraGent]

How often I wear my specs...

.

For the gents around here who own a pair of spectator shoes, some nosey questions:


-- What colors are they?
-- How often do you wear them?
-- Where do you wear them?
-- What types of clothing do you wear them with?
-- Do you wear them at night, as well as in the daytime?
-- Do you wear them only on summery/warm days, or also on wintery/cool days?

Thanks!

.

- Off White with Burgundy Leather
- Once a week
- To work and to social occasions
- Why a Single Breasted Suit with Waistcoat and Tie, hat and such of course...
- Yes, both Night and Daytime.
- I will wear them during any weather, provided it goes with my outfit layout for that given day.

FG.

 

[Quigley Brown]

I have a vintage b/w pair...a Goodwill find in fairly good shape. I wear them occasionally and casually, but get plenty of comments like, 'nice golf shoes...'

 

[Anthony Jordan]

.

For the gents around here who own a pair of spectator shoes, some nosey questions:


-- What colors are they?
-- How often do you wear them?
-- Where do you wear them?
-- What types of clothing do you wear them with?
-- Do you wear them at night, as well as in the daytime?
-- Do you wear them only on summery/warm days, or also on wintery/cool days?

Thanks!

.

Black & white
four-six times a year
parties mainly
linen suits
day only
summery/warm

 

[Will]

Mine are chestnut leather and pearl reversed kid. I wear them on summer weekends in the country with linen trousers, perhaps four times each season. For me they are a polo match, horse race and car show kind of shoe. I wouldn't wear them at night.