Shoes that look better with age...

[Megatron1505]

Thanks man, I'm just looking for something lower cut for summer. I work in my Wolverines and Abingtons, and wear my SD's and my SJ's all the rest of the time. None of those are really suited for summer.

[Maynard Friedman]

Mega, if you want boots for the summer, get some desert boots, there are plenty of options out there.

[Megatron1505]

thanks man, but I don't really like desert boots. I am aware that there are plenty of options, and these are the two which I favour (hence the question).

[CrashTestBrummie]

they looked like a pair... i guess i didn't think to check they matched, as you don't expect it do you?

i suppose the carboot stall owner i bought them from probably still has two right shoes in the back of her car...

Feasible to make a trip back to see if she's a regular? Could end up with an extra pair for your troubles!

Got pics of the ones you bought?

[killer b]

they're in my desk drawer at work - i'll snap 'em for you tomorrow. the bootmarket is on again tomorrow, so i'll have a look - she wasn't a regular face though, i don't think...

[Eyeq8402]

So crashtest Veldtschoen are rarely found in a us 12? No wonder over the past year and a half the biggest size I've come across is a uk 10. Yeah I've never seen a pair up for sale here in the states, they always pop up over in the uk somewhere. Been hunting them for awhile. I know the hunt is half the fun, but at points it gets frustrating

[CrashTestBrummie]

good luck then, mate...look forward to the snaps.

[CrashTestBrummie]

So crashtest Veldtschoen are rarely found in a us 12? No wonder over the past year and a half the biggest size I've come across is a uk 10. Yeah I've never seen a pair up for sale here in the states, they always pop up over in the uk somewhere. Been hunting them for awhile. I know the hunt is half the fun, but at points it gets frustrating

they were made up to a uk 12, as per that pic above. the boots crop up so rarely though, and most of them seem to be in the size 7-8 range. the shoes can be found in all sizes.

lotus shoes were sold in the states as a number of their old adverts from back in the day mention this. but they seem to have been more of an english thing - i think, in part, due to their association with the british army...

[Denim Phenom]

Turn that story into a best seller then, but please don't repost a tatty old pair of trainers in here.

Wait, didn't you just repost them?

[Seul]

Thanks to crashtestbrummie!.. Lotus Veldtschoen:

[CrashTestBrummie]

my pleasure...now get some dubbin on them and start wearing them

[fre-co]

I still don't get the fascination with those....

[killer b]

that's a fine looking pair too - not much wear on 'em.

these are... less unblemished. and there's two left shoes.

details are identical as far as I can tell to my lotus. the only lettering you can make out in the insoles is 'guaranteed waterproof' in a box - did only lotus have this guarantee?

edit: no joy back at the bootmarket today - she might be there next tuesday though, the tues/thurs markets do have some different stallholders...

Edited February 16, 2012 by killer b

[CrashTestBrummie]

unlucky not to find the seller...hope she makes a return trip at some point.

i know that lotus were the ones who started the whole 'guaranteed waterproof' thing but others picked up on it. there's a beautiful pair in an 8.5 on ebay at the moment which are tagged as such. not sure who made them (the seller says they were made by w & j martin, but they were actually the makers of the zug grain leather). fantastic shoes...and unworn.

I still don't get the fascination with those....

not at all?

fair dos, i don't get the fascination with the white's that are so popular on here, and wouldn't look twice at many pairs of aldens etc. just personal preference, obviously enough.

[fre-co]

Some look nice enough (maybe the older ones that you have?) but those up there, the leather doesn't look like it has any character, the colour looks completely flat.

How much are people spending on these? It seems sufu must have pushed the price up?

[Maynard Friedman]

I still don't get the fascination with those....

I have to agree with this. The boots are ok but the shoes look like something that you see old men wearing in conjunction with beige elasticated-waist trousers.

[CrashTestBrummie]

the leather on a lot of the 'new old stock looks similar' - it only shows its character after a fair amount of wearing.

not sure if sufu has pushed the price up, as there seems to have been interest in these for some time from groups as diverse as war re-enactors to bikers to vintage collectors. i've found listings for lotus boots and shoes that have been sold at 'real' auction houses, due to the historical context of the footwear.

[fre-co]

In a way they put me in mind of those harris tweed jackets that were being mass produced until the 80's at least and are now 'vintage' and 'rare'.

Now I am a fan of harris tweed as much as the next man but only when it is is made into a beautiful item by a proper tailor and fits well, I'll leave the rest to charity shops.

To a certain extent then it seems these lotus shoes are being bought because as you say the historical context, not because they are a particularly beautiful example of english shoemaking. If that is what is important to you then fair enough. That is probably why they don't do much for me.

[Maynard Friedman]

Sounds very much like a mid-80s redline 501 analogy.

[CrashTestBrummie]

i think with these, their function defines their form and that has a beauty in its own right - which probably explains the appeal of white's etc to others on here. plus, they're extremely fit for purpose as winter shoes and boots and, no doubt, for general country wear.

amen, too, to using a proper tailor although i'd take flannel over harris tweed anyday!

[TheBlackGoat]

my whites in #8 Chromexcel, about a week of wear

[devilish]

I like all three, Veldt shoes, Harris Tweed and 80's redlines. I guess I'm just completely unhip, oh well.

[denimjunky]

Some darn nice Sds lately. Keep em coming!

[SLAB]

Julian made RRL engineers

IMG_3298 by SLAB13, on Flickr

IMG_3299 by SLAB13, on Flickr

IMG_3295 by SLAB13, on Flickr

IMG_3302 by SLAB13, on Flickr

IMG_3301 by SLAB13, on Flickr

IMG_3303 by SLAB13, on Flickr

[TheBlackGoat]

Slab, you pick those up on eBay? I almost pulled the trigger on those!

[SLAB]

yeah; i did

[rubyblue]

yeah; i did

nice one sir!

[big truck]

Great boots slab, I'll be sporting a pair of those boots very soon hopefully.

[slide13]

really like those #8 CXL semi-dress....the perfed toe cap looks great on there.

[coleslawyum]

Not too much variety at inspiration but here are some pics:

htc

julian boots

brass mto

knapp for abercrombie and fitch

Edited February 17, 2012 by coleslawyum