mikecch

For the outer, some of the leather types that are popular & easily accessed at the moment are:

* Shell cordovan

* English bridle from Sedgwick/Clayton/Baker

* Natural vegetable tanned leather

* CXL from Horween

My preference would be for a high quality natural veg tan. None of the other leathers will age with as much grace or character, IMO, compared with a simple but good quality veg tan. Anything from Wickett & Craig carving leather to Buttero or Minerva Liscio would be a nice introduction to leather!

Shell is popular, but I think it is somewhat of a 'superficial' material - not nearly as magical as grained leathers; best used on footwear.

CXL can work well, though it dirties easily, and takes a while in terms of patina development before it looks good.

English bridle lends class, though in my own experience they don't age with the some grace as a less processed or raw veg tan...IMO, more for people who want things to look new, rather than for folks who want a bit of aesthetically pleasing wear & tear.

For more 'elegance', you could try a finer leather, though I don't think they will suit the bifold you have in mind:

* Chevre goat

* Baranil/Barenia calf

* Exotics

^ What size and style of wallet? What kind of look are you going for? 

Tricker's monkey boots in Haas calf leather

Review here.

Otherwise here are photos:

The Haas calf is really responsive, similar to but finer than CXL.

2 hours ago, PeterParker said:

QC issues like this are just one of the reasons why I no longer buy Alden.

Sad to hear things have not changed for the better over the past few years.

I have not purchased Alden's since 2011, though I am hoping at some point there may be more merit to consider another purchase

^ Hey, it is a custom/prototype piece. I'm sure John can replicate it in various leathers if you like!

Just placed a pre-order for the 15 oz Xinjiang cotton Charles Atlas jeans

I have two different Xinjiang denims in my collection at the moment, and they are some of the nicest fabrics I've come across.

^ Sounds like you sized them well - and they will stretch - congratz! 

^ From Superdenim? Then it is

Tricker's monkey boots made with French calf from Haas Tannery (the Barenia dudes):

^ That's awesome! I really like the one on your feet in the last photo. 

^ Hey, I don't remember the first one very well (it's been a few years) but this second edition reads very similar.

On 1/6/2017 at 1:14 AM, Big_Hoss_Butt_Floss said:

Picked up the Superior Labor and Koromo socks I'd been eyeing. Koromo ones feel like the thickest and nicest of all the Japanese brands I own (Kapital, Sup Labor, Chups). Not as heavy as Sock and Trotter alpacas, but much better breathability for all season wear. 

The Koromo one looks great! Very tempted to get a few...

^ Alfred Sargent Hannover boots. 

Mike thanks. I'm a USA brannock 9D. Slightly in the narrow side. Dot have an opportunity to try on.

Seems to be no consensus whether to go TTS which would be a U.K. 8. Or drop only to a U.K. 8.5.

Also how do you find the heel. Worried a bit about slippage on that last which I hear runs closer to a USA e then d

I am between US 9 d and US 9 e.

Think you should be OK with UK 8. Yes, the last is a little wider than average.

I think Mikkech is the first person I have heard/read about sizing up in the Stow boot!

Maybe I have strange feet...or strange socks.

^ UK/Aus sizing, at regular width it is true to Brannock's if wearing thin to medium socks. Size up half or even one if you like wearing thicker socks.

E.g. I can wear the Stow from UK size 8 to 9 depending on socks.

With White's/Wesco/Nick's I wear US size 8.5 to 9.

This is an Indonesian brand I think, which partly explains the lower price vs the usual suspects.

I want to get more socks, but the thing is that I can't bring myself to pay much over £10 for a pair. 

 

and Mikkech I know you made this thread so you could show off the pics of you hiking up your jeans to show off socks in true instagram picture style

Yeah, it's easier to find value in socks if, say like in Japan, people go around in just socks a bit more.

Here in Australia no one will ever see your socks unless you cuff high.

I did think about starting a pants-pulling thread...or a What'sOnMyFeet thread.

The heavier Kapital wovens are a cut above the Chups, which feel thin and light by comparison.  I wouldn't buy thin Kapital socks in the future - in fact I didn't buy these ones, I got them in a Fukubukuro box - as they are all style and no substance. 

 

I want to get some from The Superior Labor and Koromo to continue trying out Japanese brands though.  Both of them look excellent.

I really want to try Chup's boot socks (defender?) too, but they're hard to come by here. 

Saw some The Superior Labor x Denham socks once, they looked great. Again, local Denham people couldn't get them in...

Also Mikkech, how are the Stevensons socks?

 

I think UK has a big sock scene at the moment, quite a few good quality brands and growing, but the pattern fashion all seems to be stripes and argyle, and that's not my taste.

Stevenson's ones are true tube construct and very sturdy. Actually needs a bit of breaking in.

I quite like them.

Corlection did them for two pairs for $50 AUD at one point, which I felt was a good price.

Gotta hand it to Chup and Anonymousism though, no one does patterns quite like they do.

I picked up a bunch of chup socks recently on sale from j crew. The patterns are awesome and the fabric feels great, but they are a bitch to get on. They seem to stretch enough when they aren't on but pulling them over my heel is a real chore.

Yeah, I also do find the Chup more difficult to put on compared with others. They are a little tighter around the ankles and heel, which I like - definitely not for diabetics.

i've got about 10 pairs of anonymous ism and they work well for me.

 

~$20 a pair, and i prefer the cotton to the wool.

Same here, I only buy their cotton ones now.

For wool socks nobody does them quite like Australians and New Zealanders

I'm going to have to see photos of your socks

^ Great price on the Rats shirts! Grabbed a couple myself.

What are the denim chinos on the bottom right?

I'm pretty sure they're Red Cloud.

Saw some of the Red Cloud pants at Godspeed a few weeks ago - just gorgeous. It's one of the best looking stores around, as well as carrying some really interesting stuff. And nice people. 

Yeah, best space out of the major denim stores in Melbourne.

Next year will be super cool. Introduced Marty to one of my fav leathercrafters - hopefully some high end leathers will be stocked next year.

Better photos. RR1 at one month:

^ Feed with oil and dub the surface with wax when you feel like it

^ Thanks for the info!

Oh, haha, didn't realize they were American flag socks until I took a photo of them, I just really liked the red stripes!

I'm in Taiwan for a couple of days, but no time to go shopping   Maybe next time.

^ They are pretty good, stay up easily, but require a little bit of breaking in - the first couple of times they left little ridges on my skin at the end of the day 

Corlection also has Studio D'Artisan socks in similar heather patterns, but I think Stevenson's socks are better quality having compared them side by side.

@iron_horse Those Samurai socks look nice, is there a convenient web retailer? Where do you get the Pherrow's socks?

I have heaps of Anonymousism and Chup because some web retailers tend to sell them for quite cheap (like ~$15) during sale times. I really want to try Tender and Kapital though!

Here're a couple more old photos:

Beam+, nothing fancy, but thick & good value:

Chup, nice quality medium weight socks with very defined knit textures compared with Anonymousim. I like their patterns the best.

Up to US 9, buy medium size. Above US 9 you must go with large size.

Anonymousism, mostly pretty nice quality medium weight socks, interesting patterns, really easy to buy on the web and often go on sale. If your feet are any smaller than US9, Anonymousism socks will be too big for you.

White Mountaineering, medium weight socks that are IMO better than Anonymousism or Chup, but way too expensive when not on sale.

Merry Christmas!

I like the field shirts.