Shoes that look better with age...

[coleslawyum]

^^Hey, I can't argue with $5… Enjoy!

[amlai]

I'm going to guess that they're made by Cheaney, which is a sister company to Church's and is now owned by Prada. They make different qualities, but they're supposed to be pretty good value... and at $5, amazingly good value.

[grouse_allergy]

Thanks, Cool to know.

[rodeo bill]

they look nice^^

I'm sure Amlai's guess of Cheaney is good. Coul you take a photo of the 'BENCH MADE IN ENGLAND'? I've noticed that an easy way to check the maker is by this stamp. Even if they put a private label inside, the made in england stamp is normally the same typeface for most things made by the same factory

[rodeo bill]

These arrived in the mail yesterday:)

with 2 year-old Yamane Deluxe:

sorry the pictures aren't great- it's not very bright outside this morning

[rodeo bill]

and here are some pics of my old Comme des Garçons Homme Plus (made in Japan) suede brogues. I really love the way they've faded like jeans at the crease point:)

they were originally crepe-soled, but it wore through and I swapped it for uncoloured leather and a thin heel

[rodeo bill]

and while I've got the camera out;)

Made in Japan repro US ARMY roughout boots

Yamane Deluxe bowling shoes/CDG suede brogues

Foster Oxford boots/Poulsen Skone at Dunhil Chelsea boots

Alden #8 cordovan AF53/Alden black Cordovan Wingtip

[Mich]

These arrived in the mail yesterday:)

with 2 year-old Yamane Deluxe:

sorry the pictures aren't great- it's not very bright outside this morning

Those wingtips look great, and your Yamane's do too, great vintage fit.

Any chance of some more detailed shots of the jeans?

[Mich]

These arrived in the mail yesterday:)

with 2 year-old Yamane Deluxe:

sorry the pictures aren't great- it's not very bright outside this morning

Those wingtips look great, and your Yamane's do too, great vintage fit.

Any chance of some more detailed shots of the jeans?

The Japanese cigar shell Aldens also make me drool, why is the most lovely stuff always only available in Japan

[fattybfat]

beautiful rodeo bill!!

i like the suede CDG but the heel are too too thin for my preference and the new addition of the Alden are absolutely fantastic!

[rodeo bill]

thanks a lot Mich^^

here's some quick closeups of the jeans, icluding the back of the care label signed by Yamane:) I met him at his shop opening in Hong Kong, and I asked if he'd sign the jeans I was wearing:rolleyes:

now I really have to go to work!

[rodeo bill]

beautiful rodeo bill!!

i like the suede CDG but the heel are too too thin for my preference and the new addition of the Alden are absolutely fantastic!

thanks again fattybfat:)

I actually like the heel being that low- on the origianl crepe sole it was just a slight step in the crepe, and very low like that. I wouldn;t want it on everything, but i think it suits these shoes, which are quite soft and unstructured. With the minimal heel it almost feels like being barefoot

[Mich]

^ Thanks for posting Bill, the fading looks very natural and vintage like.

Very cool to have them signed by the Boss himself!

[Akilae]

So I finally settled on 7.5E for my Alden Indies. The folks at the Alden shop on Madison were kind enough to let me try on every pair of 7, 7.5, and 8 Indies they had without looking too annoyed. After talking to them about the fit and being informed of the wait period of ordering something they didn't have (16 weeks!!!), the 7.5Es didn't seem bad. I also figured the general "tightness" I felt might have had something to do with me not wearing anything that offered real foot support for the better part of four years. Indeed, after walking around in them for the better part of the afternoon, they were already pretty comfortable.

I'm sure once the leather stretches out the Indies will fit like a glove. I've dual-coated the Indies with a liberal application of Obenauf's... hopefully they'll last a good while.

[superchunk]

I've searched everywhere for information about the Alden Military Last, but I cannot find anything. Does anyone know how it fits? Thanks!

[Akilae]

I've searched everywhere for information about the Alden Military Last, but I cannot find anything. Does anyone know how it fits? Thanks!

Someone (GregNYC maybe?) mentioned the Barrie last was used for Alden's military shoes/boots back in the day, and that it seems to fit similar to the Footbalance Last. You'll have to go back through the thread.

[rodeo bill]

I don't know if everyone will be interested in this, but I found this unbelievable shop in London yesterday. I've seen the sign before, but they're upstairs in an office building, and they don;t open normal shop hours, so i've never been in before.

http://www.schniederboots.com/

these are hard-core riding boots, with a royal warrant from the queen, and they shoe for the olympics (for the last 100 years!). I had a brief chat with the owner, Rudolf Schieder, whose grandfather opened the shop- he says he has his own factory in Northhampton- I don;t know how true this is, but these were next-level amazing quality. Stunningly beautiful inside and out- I've only seen this type of making on bespoke boots/shoes before.

they only have 3 'normal' (non specifically riding) styles of boot:

I really don't think these pictures do them justice- the paddock boot (left) was lovely, but very similar to the Fox's boots I already have. The jodhpur boot comes elastic sided (what I'd call a Chelsea boot), and strapped. I am very very very tempted by the strapped jodhpur boot in black with a silver buckle... When I tried on a jodhpur boot in C&J it was nice, but the front part gaped open a bit at the sides, and the whole thing just didn;t seem quite right. The Schnieder version fit so sleekly, and the leather and workmanship added up to so much more than the sum of it parts. I think I'm in love:D. The down side is they;re very expensive- 430pounds, which is a great deal of money, and I only just got my Alden wingtips (which I am really enjoying). A good place to know about though!

[superchunk]

Someone (GregNYC maybe?) mentioned the Barrie last was used for Alden's military shoes/boots back in the day, and that it seems to fit similar to the Footbalance Last. You'll have to go back through the thread.

Thank you Akilae. Will do...

[Ispy]

PSA: Gilt has Tricker's / Ted baker brogues on at the moment for $278. Just in case anyone's interested.

http://www.gilt.com/

Edit: shit, sorry - didn't realize you couldn't view the page if you were not a "member"> This'll get you the basic idea:

[Atzec]

is this sth to worry about or just normal ageing for an almost ne redwing???

only on one side, though...

[lenn]

that's normal! mine have it too

[YIKES]

Here's my Banana Republic desert boots... hardly aged, but they mark very quickly.

[dave023]

that's normal! mine have it too

Yep, mine too.

[gimmegimme]

I joined the Redwing club.

[concealed]

whats the model # gimme gimme?

[gimmegimme]

whats the model # gimme gimme?

In NA, 9014. I believe in Japan it's 1914, aka The Beckman Boot. They're not listed on the US Redwing site I don't believe.

My god are they stiff...ouch.

[concealed]

i am gonna cop with swiftness!

[gimmegimme]

i am gonna cop with swiftness!

I found them online at a place in Washington (I think) that sells them for $210 with free shipping. I ended up going true-to-size (I bought them in person). They really need an insole, because the sole is sorta hard without one.

[dunkin deeznuts]

look just like GTs

[the_state]

yeah i thought it was the GT on first glance. i really want to pick up a pair of those before the apple gets cold.