Shoes that look better with age...

[GregNYC]

Any suggestions for a pair of White's Semi-Dress?

I'm no all that easy to fit. So since the transaction is via mail and telephone, I bit the bullet and did the whole foot-measuring thing. But they fit great!

[barwag]

I guess this is what ppl call vintage. Size 4.

[dunkin deeznuts]

nice

itd be better if you had the pictures going vertically instead of horizontally.......

[barwag]

nice

itd be better if you had the pictures going vertically instead of horizontally.......

i see. i dont know how to do that, but until next time im sure i will have figured out.

i have these exact shoes in 9.5 aswell, with very little wear, that i found in another thrift store a while later. i think these are wonderful shoes, and if i had them in my size i would probarly wear them until they looked like the one on the pictures.

[Chicken]

Alden 405 on Trubalance last-7D, roomy, but not too big.

Alden Cordovan Chukka on Barrie last- 6.5D, snug, but no pinching, a good solid fit.

Any suggestions for a pair of White's Semi-Dress?

unless you have some strange shaped feet, a 6.5D semi dress should work for you. i have a 8.5D indy that's roomy length-wise, but my 8D semi dress fits me nice and snug. but i don't own a chukka, fyi.

[tmadd]

unless you have some strange shaped feet, a 6.5D semi dress should work for you. i have a 8.5D indy that's roomy length-wise, but my 8D semi dress fits me nice and snug. but i don't own a chukka, fyi.

Cool. I was guessing 6.5, and thats what Bill recommended, but I wanted to make sure. Now, if only figuring out what color leather, hardware, and style soles I wanted were this easy.

[GregNYC]

Shoe update -

My Cat's Paw Indies are way more comfortable than when I bought them. The double leather sole and the rubber seems to insulate and cushion them and make them seem less flat on the ground.

My cigar shell cordovans (more pics this weekend) are on my feet today. They're *very* comfortable too, in a roomy way. I have Mephisto Runoff insoles in them and the feeling is sweeet!

So these two Aldens are hits with me!

[flex0r]

if redwing sold those GT with gregs cats paws... that'd be an one hell of a boot!

i'm thinking cats paws on mine when they need it...need to hunt down a local dealer.

i have a question for those that use various insoles: i've heard they can be added for when someone needs to take up room, but what if they fit fine but i want a little more cushion? any recommendations?

[Chicken]

i don't really know a whole lot because i just started using them myself, but with spencos, for example, there seem to be various models. some of them take up little space, where others seem to take up more.

am i wrong? all i know is the one i'm using right now changed the comfort level completely without taking up too much space. and there are even slimmer ones.

[aubrgene]

[percy]

ive got a pair of these altama desert boots, similar to what greg showed a couple of days ago. the problem is they seem to have a toe box or something to keep the shape and when you bend your foot the edge of the box digs in right across the crease. will this subside as they loosen and are there any good ways to speed up this process?

[Biff15]

...my indys are gonna need to be resoled pretty soon...

anyone know a good cobbler in the LA area?

[wild style]

Man, I really want those Redwing GTs.

[Chicken]

...my indys are gonna need to be resoled pretty soon...

anyone know a good cobbler in the LA area?

greg got his indys done at eddie's right here in LA.

[GregNYC]

greg got his indys done at eddie's right here in LA.

Hah! And Chicken discovered them....

[Biff15]

greg got his indys done at eddie's right here in LA.

...right on... will check this out...

thanks...

[Bill2]

Hah! And Chicken discovered them....

They've done work for me too. Top knotch

[flex0r]

i don't really know a whole lot because i just started using them myself, but with spencos, for example, there seem to be various models. some of them take up little space, where others seem to take up more.

am i wrong? all i know is the one i'm using right now changed the comfort level completely without taking up too much space. and there are even slimmer ones.

thanks, i think i'll try some of those out. stairs + redwing kills me.

[yamakazi18]

dunkin deeznuts - AMAZING boots. just to clarify - sizing down ONE WHOLE SIZE is the correct thing to do?

[Calden]

^ I went 1/2 size down in the GTs and they fit perfect.

[Denim Phenom]

ive got a pair of these altama desert boots, similar to what greg showed a couple of days ago. the problem is they seem to have a toe box or something to keep the shape and when you bend your foot the edge of the box digs in right across the crease. will this subside as they loosen and are there any good ways to speed up this process?

Personally, i've found that desert boots are the only boots you don't need to break in. Of all the pairs i've had i've never really experienced what you are talking about. The ones i'm wearing now have always fit really well and the only thing I suggest to you is just to wear them and eventually the problem will subside.

Mine are the same boot as those but with a Vibram sole.

God bless suede and it's not need of polishing.

[mlproject]

Greg ... can you recommend somewhere to resole some 875's in Manhattan? I'm going with the white crepe sole again.

I think you mentioned a spot a few pages back, but I can't find it.

My 2nd pair of Red Wings aren't breaking in nearly as fast as the first.. and I feel like I've been wearing them way more over the past year. New jeans have been turning the tops of these blue like crazy this week.

[enojy]

got these in the mail today

red wing gentleman travelers

had to have them after I saw them on greg's feet

one of the most comfortable shoes i've worn in a while...right out of the box onto my feet today

sizing is crazy though...

those are incredible... i've been a sneaker person since pretty much forever but seeing those is really tempting.

[GregNYC]

Greg ... can you recommend somewhere to resole some 875's in Manhattan? I'm going with the white crepe sole again.

There's an authorized Vibram dealer underneath the Chrysler Bldg. The easiest way to get there is to enter the Duane Reade at 42nd and Lex. Go downstairs in the Duane Reade, then out the exit as though going into the subway. Right across the corridor is that shoe repair place. Or if Jim's is closer (59th betw. Park + Mad) then they can do it. Or if downtown, go to Minas, Miz's guy. There are some other crepe sole brands that look maybe too rounded on the edges. So ask for Vibrams - it is Vibram that makes Red Wings' crepe anyway. You can always send them to RW for a resoling as well. They charge like $46.50.

Funny - but right close to that shoe repair is another one with these great old Cat's Paw ads in their windows. A year ago they had some Cat's Paws left. Now they are out of the soles, just a few heels left. But last time I checked, the ads were still up!

ive got a pair of these altama desert boots, similar to what greg showed a couple of days ago. the problem is they seem to have a toe box or something to keep the shape and when you bend your foot the edge of the box digs in right across the crease. will this subside as they loosen and are there any good ways to speed up this process?

You can massage that toe box, squeezing it front and back and sideways and up and down. That will soften that leading edge that hits your toes.

[indigo_junkie]

I was in the city the other week and picked up a copy of the new RM Williams catalogue. It's a pretty thick tome with everything in their S/S 2008.

I've just taken photos of the boot section, since most of everyone on this thread would only be interested in that. RM Williams has a pretty extensive MTO section as well, in case you don't like anything in the catalogue. I own two pairs of Henley's myself. Black and chestnut. I've added links to the pics, since resizing them to fit on this thread prevents you from seeing the boots in any details. Enjoy!

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc02.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc03.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc04.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc05.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc06.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc07.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc08.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc09.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc10.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc11.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z116/sixquid/rmc12.jpg

Oh, and before anyone asks, I don't go into Sydney all that often. The last time I was in was about 3 months ago. So no pickups on the catalogue (it was free, so maybe RMW might mail them out, not sure). I'm sure there are other aussie forum members that could help out.

[Guest mattes]

There's an authorized Vibram dealer underneath the Chrysler Bldg. The easiest way to get there is to enter the Duane Reade at 42nd and Lex. Go downstairs in the Duane Reade, then out the exit as though going into the subway. Right across the corridor is that shoe repair place. Or if Jim's is closer (59th betw. Park + Mad) then they can do it. Or if downtown, go to Minas, Miz's guy. There are some other crepe sole brands that look maybe too rounded on the edges. So ask for Vibrams - it is Vibram that makes Red Wings' crepe anyway. You can always send them to RW for a resoling as well. They charge like $46.50.

Funny - but right close to that shoe repair is another one with these great old Cat's Paw ads in their windows. A year ago they had some Cat's Paws left. Now they are out of the soles, just a few heels left. But last time I checked, the ads were still up!

You can massage that toe box, squeezing it front and back and sideways and up and down. That will soften that leading edge that hits your toes.

There is another place in chelsea on 7th ave betw. 20 + 21th street., don't remember the name. They did great job with my chippewa boots and they charge $45 and also they resole my boot shoes and it looks like new after that. I did at Jim's too for RW few years ago and this place is more expensive.

[dunkin deeznuts]

dunkin deeznuts - AMAZING boots. just to clarify - sizing down ONE WHOLE SIZE is the correct thing to do?

I sized down a full size from my normal "shoe" wear..i.e most Aldens and my Redwing 1906s are all 10s. The Redwing GTs I bought are a size 9 and they fit great. Hope that helps some.

[GregNYC]

I was in the city the other week and picked up a copy of the new RM Williams catalogue. It's a pretty thick tome with everything in their S/S 2008.

I might try to pick one up - they are right next to Jim's shoe repair here in NYC, and Jim's has my White's! I'd like that catalogue to see the blow-up section on boot construction and anatomy. I must say, the RMW shoes I have are among the best-fitting shoes I've ever worn. I rotated between 2 pairs of Craftsman boots for about 6 years before becoming seriously interested in a wider variety of footwear.

[ang_kangkong]

Anybody with size 12 feet wanna get a pair of Claptons Classics?

Not my size

[Happy Hooligan]

Anybody with size 12 feet wanna get a pair of Claptons Classics?

Not my size

I just sold my pair in 11.5. I love the way they look, but they didn't fit me correctly...