tony blair's brogues

[MrBern]

Australian report on his shoes

"cheap shoes are a false economy."-PrimeMinisterTonyBlair

Story on TonyBlair wearing the same pair of handmade shoes to Parliament Q&A sessions for the last 10 years.

"I know it's ridiculous, but I've worn them for every PMQs (Prime Minister's Questions), I've actually had them for 18 years," Blair told The Times

 

[Riposte3]

Australian report on his shoes

"cheap shoes are a false economy."-PrimeMinisterTonyBlair

Story on TonyBlair wearing the same pair of handmade shoes to Parliament Q&A sessions for the last 10 years.

"I know it's ridiculous, but I've worn them for every PMQs (Prime Minister's Questions), I've actually had them for 18 years," Blair told The Times

He's right. If he'd been buying cheap shoes, he probably would have had to buy a new pair every 2 years or so, at around $60 each time. He would have spent more money over the same time already, and that pair of shoes will probably last another 20 years, easy.

-Jake

 

[jamespowers]

I think I it might be a tough sell to my wife.
"Babe, can I have $700 for a pair of shoes?" :eusa_doh: I don't think it will happen. Cheap is one thing but Thurston Howell III level is a little high for me.

regards,

J

 

[Dagwood]

My Church's Shoes look almost as good today as they did when I bought them about 8 years ago. They are a solid shoe maker.

 

[jamespowers]

My Church's Shoes look almost as good today as they did when I bought them about 8 years ago. They are a solid shoe maker.

Did they come in a solid gold box?

 

[Dagwood]

Did they come in a solid gold box?

I never took them out of the box!!

 

[Anthony Jordan]

I have a pair of Tricker's derby brogues in acorn/beechnut. I bought them as seconds for about sixty-five pounds ten years ago (they now go for about two hundred and fifteen pounds), with one re-soling since, and I would be disappointed if they did not last at least another five. Incidentally, I think the Church's shoes referred to would be about USD575-600. The key with buying shoes these days (I think) is to find a good, competitive vendor, to buy the best you can afford and then look after them. Shoes International offer excellent service (http://www.shoesinternational.com/products.cfm?manid=18&rangeid=71) whilst Herring Shoes are also extremely good and offer the bonus of good deals on slight seconds and end-of-lines in both Church's and Loake (http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/).

 

[Marty M.]

Atta' Boy Tony.

I've always admired the way the Prime Minister dressed. Just goes to show that you get what you paid for.
Marty Mathis

 

[PADDY]

Church Shoes (brogues).

I had a pair for sale here (see Classifieds), but now going on the Bay.[huh]

 

[Jovan]

Tony Blair's definitely someone to look up to when it comes to dressing professionally and effortlessly. I unfortunately don't think he's ever gone for a pocket square. He really could have, being in office and gaining the public's trust for so long.

I imagine those shoes are cordovan if they've held up so long. Brilliant.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

I imagine those shoes are cordovan if they've held up so long. Brilliant.

Could be, although they are almost entirely unknown over here; in fact, I think Crockett and Jones are the only British makers who use Cordovan. I think it most likely that they are simply a good quality calf. If he's not wearing them more than once a week (PMQs are weekly) and taking care of them between times, calf should be able to last that long.

 

[Teacher]

Tony Blair's definitely someone to look up to when it comes to dressing professionally and effortlessly. I unfortunately don't think he's ever gone for a pocket square. He really could have, being in office and gaining the public's trust for so long.

Hey, he's a politician...I'll forgive the lack of the pocket square! In the world of politics, he is certainly a shining star, no matter what country you're considering, even Italy. A lot of people give American politicians guff for boring if neat dress, but it really is an international phenomenon, mostly because it's safe.

I imagine those shoes are cordovan if they've held up so long. Brilliant.

I doubt that. In Europe, only the Germans and (I think) the Spaniards purchase shell in any quantity. The British don't seem to care for it. On a side note, that's kind of a shame considering the wet weather there, but hey....

 

[jgilbert]

Posts on shoe quality appear quite often here. And while I do not have a pair of custom shoes I do have two pair of AE's loafers that I wear weekly. Actually almost twice a week. One day on and a day to rest. One pair is now 10 yrs old and the other is 8. And with some simple daily shoe care they both might last another 5 or so.

As to the Prime Minister's shoes, how much is due to their quality and that of the care they recieve from a staff memeber?

 

[Edward]

I'm sure them only being worn once or twice a week has helped the longevity, plus them being taken good care of. Even so, that's still good value. I do agree that with shoes it is worth spending monery on a good pair, though I don't know that I could bring myself to spend £300 on one pair - that's a month's mortgage payment!! I guess if I had Tony's money... but as it is, that's a big outlay. I am giving consideration now though to spending out about £150 on a pair of Indiana Jones type boots... if I got ten years out of those that'd be fine....

Best bargain I ever had on a pair of shoes was a pair of modern British Army SI boots, paid £70 in 1996, they finally died in 2002 - six years, not bad bearing in mind they were worn pretty much daily for most of that time. If only I could find an equivalent in period style! Actually, I'm eyeing up the ww2 era boots on At The Front - just a shame they don't do them also in black (I know, I know!)


I also have a pair of Clarks brogues which I think, sadly, are coming near the end of their life - they've been resoled I think twice, just starting to get a little worn round the inside and one small crack at the top side opening on one of them. They were bought new in January 1999 - Dad bought them for me when I moved to London to work. They've never been worn daily, but they do get very regular wear with a suit, and they've lasted well. They would have been £60, but we got then in the sale for half price.....

 

[Anthony Jordan]

I read elsewhere that the shoes in question are Church's "Chetwynd" brogues: http://www.solelyshoes.com/acatalog/chetwynd_black.htm - quite a handsome shoe, although some say that a black brogue is something of a mongrel. They seem to retail for just under three hundred pounds.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I unfortunately don't think he's ever gone for a pocket square. He really could have, being in office and gaining the public's trust for so long.

Nope, he couldn't. The press and other MPs would not accept such foppish display in their PM. It was bad enough when he dared to wear a suit of "daring" colour (plum coloured). He was destroyed by the press. No politician with power can afford to be mocked too often for their dress sense. It's sad, but there you have it.

gaining the public trust? He's been losing it in torrential proportions for the last 4 years, at least.

bk

 

[Teacher]

Nope, he couldn't. The press and other MPs would not accept such foppish display in their PM. It was bad enough when he dared to wear a suit of "daring" colour (plum coloured). He was destroyed by the press. No politician with power can afford to be mocked too often for their dress sense. It's sad, but there you have it.

bk

Extremely true. As I said in my earlier post, conservative is safe, as nobody really notices it, which means they won't make fun of it.