Shoes that look better with age...

[Aries]

^^^^ Graduate of George Bush's America spotted. God forbid people go a bit deeper into why they're so invested in these clothes that we all spend hours a week posting about.

 

I'll be brief as to not offend the sensibilities of those who simply want to stare at boot porn and not think.

 

To address tmadd and Jake in a nutshell: yes I broadly agree with the Modernist aesthetic you both advocate: form and function should live in harmony, or at least some kind of balance.

 

Postmodernism throws function out of the window, thus you have people wearing glasses with no lenses: fashion becomes pure affectation, and on a political level it bothers me.

 

To come full circle back to tmadd's lovely rant which I think began this (very interesting) digression, it's a rant against simulacra.

 

Simulacra are the endpoint of Postmodernism: they are pure illusion, things that pretend at being something they are not. Think of "American" diners in China, or "Irish" pubs everywhere but in Ireland.

They take a one-dimensional view of a very complex thing, sanitise it, idealise it, and sell it.

 

So the moccasins tmadd raged against, rightly in my opinion, are boots that simulate moccasins. Through very superficial nods, they pretend to have a relationship to real moccasins.

 

Basically, they are lying about being moccasins, and it rubs me (and quite obviously tmadd!) the wrong way.

[Maynard Friedman]

Quite right Aries, they have simply become MOCKasins!

[hollowsleather]

^^^^ Graduate of George Bush's America spotted. 

 

Oh come on...the fact some of us find the argument tedious is not evidence of your intellectual superiority over the rest of us with our dull, unexamined lives.

 

99% of the shit on these forums isn't simulacra vs. authenticity, it's simulacra you like vs. simulacra you dislike.

 

Educate yourself before making purchases, support the people that you feel should keep doing what they're doing.  That's all there is to it.   If someone can't disagree with your taste in boots, you're an asshole.

[superfuzz]

Weird that you couldn't find. Google gave the result quickly.

http://supertalk.superfuture.com/index.php/topic/140583-shoes-that-look-better-with-age-2012/?p=2922009

 

Thanks, I just tried the Sufu search function which didn't come up with anything. Those are some of the nicest engineers I've seen. How have they evolved? Much wear? Post some updated pics when you get a chance. This thread needs it!

[Aries]

Haha well played Maynard.

 

Hollows, my point is this isn't some zero-sum game where if people are posting discussion they are stopping people posting images too.

 

What's the problem with people posting discussion? You can just not read it, god forbid.

 

For those interested in the discussion, why do people feel the need to tell them to shut up?

 

People can disagree and offer their opinions, that's great, but just to chime up and say, basically, "oh god BORING", it's not productive at all, just needlessly antagonistic.

 

When I receive my Lone Wolf boots (thanks again Indigo), I'll be posting up a bunch of images rest assured.

[hollowsleather]

I was content to wait out the derailment quietly until you leveled that pretentious comment at Devilish for trying to get the thread back on track.

 

By all means, discuss:

 

http://supertalk.superfuture.com/index.php/topic/106816-fashion-philosophy/

 

I'll probably even read it, but this thread is for pictures of footwear.

[Aries]

No, Devillish invalidated a bunch of people. So yes, I responded in kind.

 

It's an asshole move on my part, but it riles me whenever anyone wades in just to bullishly try to make others feel small.

 

What's so important about this thread's track? Are we in a business meeting? Are we trying to solve world hunger?

 

No, we're a bunch of guys wasting our spare time posting pictures of boots. What's so wrong about discussing the broader implications, i.e. our obsession with boots in the first place?

 

That philosophy thread hasn't been active in 4 years, not that I need point it out.

[devilish]

Thanks for the defense Hollows. Funny thing is Aries, I'm not even American and was educated to quite a high level in a much better education system. I just find all this posturing over who's taste or opinion is the most valid boring and very arbitrary. Who decides who's subjective preference is the correct one? The internet gives people an inflated sense of importance and SuFu can get a little  bloated with it all sometimes. 

Educated opinions and clear discussion is fine and to be encouraged but I'm not sure the majority of this counts. It just comes off as bickering. 

Anyways, carry on. My opinion is just another in the crowd and can as easily be ignored. I'll bow out and apologize for my bluntness. 

Edited August 30, 2014 by devilish

[Aries]

That's reasonable devilish, and for my part I apologise too for my response. Your contributions in other threads, from my memory, are filled with knowledge on denim I always enjoy reading.

But I don't see the last page as posturing, or some kind of search for an ultimate decision on who's preference is correct.

Instead, I found tmadd, zack, sugar, ocean and other's contributions (and welcome witty quips on Maynard's part) as engaging and insightful, simply offering why they think these preferences form.

Judging by up votes, a few other people found it interesting too.

Of course, if people have great photos of boots to post, please do! But if anyone wants to talk anything remotely related, I don't see it as my place to tell them their voice doesn't matter, and that was really my only point of contention.

Edit: also, to add some direct boot content, the guy who runs EastWest Apparel is selling some Vibergs for good prices over at Ironheart, really wish my feet were smaller... http://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6493.new#new

Edited August 30, 2014 by Aries

[indigoeagle]

Thanks, I just tried the Sufu search function which didn't come up with anything. Those are some of the nicest engineers I've seen. How have they evolved? Much wear? Post some updated pics when you get a chance. This thread needs it!

Yeah, I've had that experience, too, a few times and thus prefer to use google with "site:...".

 

 

I haven't been wearing them too much yet so not much evolution. 

Yes, they're really nice, great leather, meticulous handicraft. The only thing that is a bit unusual is that they're not as high as normal engineer boots. They're more the height of roper boots. But I don't mind that.

You can sometimes find very reasonable offers on yahoo auctions in Japan. 

These were worn for one and a half years everyday.

 

 

No info on the wear of these

 

 

The different colours. Here you can nicely see the toe profile.

[Paul T]

For those who care about such things - and I hope there are still some here - Cheaney have launched a new Veldtschoen design, as well as introducing a much more rugged and attractive country grain on their existing models.

 

 

 

 

 

More info at loomstate. I also dropped in to Tricker's for some laces. Might be the Saturday staff, but they really were a bunch of casual assholes.

[garden gnomes in space]

The stitching alone looks fantastic

[CrashTestBrummie]

For those who care about such things - and I hope there are still some here - Cheaney have launched a new Veldtschoen design, as well as introducing a much more rugged and attractive country grain on their existing models.

 

Cheaney's Mallory boot, which I think is now discontinued (very limited stock remaining on cheaney.co.uk), is one of my two remaining go-to pairs, the other being the rough-out Snowdon that I had C&J make for me. Fantastic veldt boots, both pairs.

 

Bit surprised that the Cheaney pair are only a 270 degree stitch-down so not sure what they've be like when actually standing in water. For those kind of conditions I'd go to my indestructible WW2 Lotus boots though, which don't look like they've even had a couple of years' wear on them...

 

Also, the shearling-lined Irvine brogue boot from Cheaney is something of a rugged thing of beauty, and I was a vaguely miffed that last winter was so mild as they didn't get the wear that they deserved...

[Maynard Friedman]

Only 2 'go to' pairs these days? Have you had a bit of a boot clear-out CTB? I think we all miss your posts around these parts.

[Paul T]

Bit surprised that the Cheaney pair are only a 270 degree stitch-down so not sure what they've be like when actually standing in water. For those kind of conditions I'd go to my indestructible WW2 Lotus boots though, which don't look like they've even had a couple of years' wear on them...

Ah, good observation - so there's no veldt stitching where, around the heel?

[aho]

If I were to custom build a pair of Wesco's, this would be it:

[Quoise1203]

Didn't you just build a custom pair of Wescos?

[aho]

^Those were a custom build, but not designed to my own specs...They were a score off of Wesco's Factory Seconds page and Giles over at Iron Heart actually has the same pair! 

Edited August 31, 2014 by aho

[CrashTestBrummie]

Only 2 'go to' pairs these days? Have you had a bit of a boot clear-out CTB? I think we all miss your posts around these parts.

 

A pretty big one as quite a few pairs were starting to make up the numbers and only getting worn every few months...also my whole kind of 'style' (and I'm not gonna go all deep on you) has moved very much back towards where it was before I came on here, with the difference that my denim will forever be top quality and when I'm not wearing trainers, I'll be wearing the very best in English-made shoes and boots, naturally!

 

Sometimes you need to be wearing what works for you, and not what you think should work for you, if that makes sense.

 

Also, the discussion here is very much American-centric at the moment, which isn't my bag at all...

 

Ah, good observation - so there's no veldt stitching where, around the heel?

 

Correct, mate. Think the Fiennes boot might be the same, although not certain but it would appear so here as you can see a slight change in texture towards the top of the midsole towards the heel. The Pennine certainly used to be a 360 stitch-down and I'm assuming nothing has changed there.

 

Thing I like about Cheaney's newer boot designs is that they've managed to give some of them a more contemporary feel in line with modern British casual urban wear without losing the original methods of making them. Kind of like what Tricker's might have done if they didn't get involved in every single collaboration under the sun.

 

Top makers of British kit, Private White VC, stock Cheaney which speaks volumes for how well-regarded they are by some who are in the know.

[Crat]

Prolly too dressy for most peoples tastes over here but I polished my Corthays today : ) (From 2010)

 

[garden gnomes in space]

you could do a swan dive right into the toe of those

[aho]

Lined up a few pairs

 

The White's

 

And the Wescos...

[Aries]

Who'd you rate higher in terms of construction quality aho, White's or Wescos?

[aho]

Aries, really depends on what you're looking for and preference...I'd say feel wise, White's feel like an old school pair of boots that may not be the cleanest but feel how work boots should; rugged and durable. Wesco's are definitely cleaner construction wise but feel "newer" than the "old world" feel you get with White's. So overall construction; Wesco all the way (talk about quality control), but for personal preference I'm a White's guy mainly due to the fit and feel (arch ease is incomparable for me).

[Max Power]

Awesome lineup. What size are these and how do the White's compare to Wesco (or Viberg)?

[edmond]

ahos that was my exact conparo a couple of years ago between the two!

[SLAB]

aho

great lineup; I especially like the higher shaft dimensions; most people stick with 5-6" unless engineers.

They still look pristine; either you keep them perfectly maintained or they have not seen too much wear yet?

[JohnM]

Aries, really depends on what you're looking for and preference...I'd say feel wise, White's feel like an old school pair of boots that may not be the cleanest but feel how work boots should; rugged and durable. Wesco's are definitely cleaner construction wise but feel "newer" than the "old world" feel you get with White's. So overall construction; Wesco all the way (talk about quality control), but for personal preference I'm a White's guy mainly due to the fit and feel (arch ease is incomparable for me).

 

aho, by "arch ease" do you mean that White's are flatter on the inside bottom, with less arch support than Wesco?

[aho]

@Max Power, I take the same size in White's and Wesco, however the Wesco's are a tad tighter due to the inserts. Not sure if I'll take the out or try to find ultra thin inserts but I plan to break these in first before deciding.

 

@Slab, The Plain Toe White's and the Wesco's I just got in last week. The Lace to toe SJ White's I picked up earlier in the year but don't wear often due to the weight of the lug sole. I haven't taken off my British Tan Farmer Ranchers for the past year however (not pictured), which is really the main reason...

 

@JohnM, opposite actually; White's have a higher arch which help me greatly as I have flat feet. Took a good week or two of hard wear (miles of walking, 7-10 hour days) to train my feet but after all that, they are the hands down most comfortable thing I've ever put on. A good pair of White's should feel like your heels are sucked in, lining up the arch to your foot perfectly; toes will have freedom of movement and weight distribution is even (they should feel like this from the start; the "pain" I felt was the muscles in my arch readjusting). They are a god send. Wesco's on the other hand are flatter throughout and I don't get the same magic feeling. All preference of course but it's clear I lean towards White's.

[fre-co]

Aho you got a great score with those wesco's from the seconds store. I find myself edging closer to buying a pair of boots each time you post pictures. Would love a pair of wesco's that fit me.