Holy shit. There but for the grace of God ...
The close cut waist of the Gaziano & Girling still doesn't look near as good as the bespoke waists due to the nature of the rtw last. See how there is still a gap and the shape is very flat above the close cut waist. I notice these things, it will never quite have the bespoke shape.
Kirby needs to be cautioned then. He is misleading those who might go for the Optimum. Prince Charles visited G&G. Perhaps we could find a way of getting him to stop pestering Johnny Lobb to patch his footwear and find some time to get on to G&G and tell them that Kirby is shilling their shoes but spreading misinformation.
The boots LelandJ liked.I really like this pair, unfortunately sold out in my size:
this is something that shooman would like.
Sammy Ambrose
, you are very lucky. Have you taken any blokes under your wing and taught them the ways of shoomen?
I like that facing shape, pretty unusual.
It is. As far as I know, it's only Loake who do that shape. The 'swing' is more pronounced when viewed from above than from the angle I provided.
Very nice, Enrile.
After a while a Topy or Vibram sole guard loses its rough surface and the soles become as slippery as leather on marble or polished ceramic and either need to be roughened again or replaced.
I’ve got a few Loakes, and I think Herrings (did they make some for Herring?) on the 026 last. It’s one of the best fits for me.
Yes. The Loake Exeter brogues became Herring Richmond. Herring also did an ankle boot called Stratford on the 026 last. Don't know if that was just rebadging or only made for Herring.
The Loake 026 last is a comfortable last for me and my foot fits acceptably . But a last which is equally comfy but is as close to bespoke for me as I need to become is the Sargent 109 which is waisted ideally for me. Here are shoes made on both lasts.
The original Woolies stick-ons were sold pre-cut by size. No cutting necessary. Also included small rasp to rough up shoe leather and tube of glue.
I have the Loake Kempton chukka on an 026 last.
Does anyone know how shoe makers come to a decision about last shapes? Do they study human feet?
I’d buy 10 and burn 9 just to create the scarcity it deserves
I have two pairs of Stratford, one black one brown, had them for years. Super comfortable. Give me great ankle support which I need.
Yeah I have that in dark brown suede.
I bought a black and a brown Stratford in 2014. At one time I would routinely buy a black and a brown of a shoe, but that's a habit I've luckily broken now. With the Stratfords they were on sale at half price.
Really grainy leather apparent in photo above. Look at those deep creases.
I have the Kempton in tan grain on a leather sole. A case of a shoe looking better in advertisements than in the real world.
