Shoes that look better with age...

[julian-wolf]

That makes sense. For what it’s worth, as you say, there are a lot of very good options without stacked heels (unless you mean you just don’t like raised heels in general). The White’s hikers and my incoming JK boots are both on single-piece sole + heels without any stacks. Makes a big difference towards saving weight where you can.

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Boot weather is coming back!

[Toegun]

Talking of boots, trying out a Gustin purchase. Very soft Italian leather. And a great fit from the get go. See how they turn out after at the end of spring. 

[tod]

My Chippewas, with about six years of very regular wear.

 

[Broark]

Received my Lofgren USN shoes, just in time for the wedding! Only two weeks to go...
The color seems to vary quite a bit depending on the lighting, overall I'm happy with them. Lofgren's lasts just seem to fit my feet perfectly.






Quick fit pics (paired with FW 661ZXX), ignore the white socks. 

[smoothsailor]

Very nice broark I like the contrasting laces . What type of pants are you going to wear them with to the wedding?

[Broark]

Thanks @smoothsailor, I'm wearing a FW jackson suit so I'll be wearing the Jackson trousers.
I just looked and my tie actually matches up perfectly with the laces on the shoes. Funny how those things work out.
I'll get some photos up from the wedding after once we get them back.

[MJF9]

Agree with Smooth… the tone of the contrasting laces against that leather looks very nice indeed

Stag do / bachelor party safely navigated then?

All the very best for the big day mate! Looking forward to the pics <thumbs up emoji>

[Broark]

@MJF9 thanks for the kind words! Bachelor party went off without a hitch, although I forgot to take many photos. I either forgot or I was a little too drunk the entire time…you decide. 

[Broark]

I feel like Oak Street has been shunned in the past for something or another (can't remember why), well now they're completely knocking off Aurora Shoe Co.'s design.
Not sure how rooted in history this design is to begin with, but talk about an exact knockoff / copy. Sure the soles / buckles are different, but it's basically a mirror image.
Aurora's Middle English:


Oak Street's Country Loafer:

[Duke Mantee]

Pretty sure Rolling Dub Trio made these or very similar a good while back - I think they had a ‘Birkenstock’ type sole unit - probably issued under the Tokyo Sandal brand

[Broark]

You're correct Duke, there were a few variations to the Tokyo Sandal version.
Mainly the backstay which was folded over. Very similar nonetheless.

[youngofthesoonest]

it wasn't until you mentioned that oakstreet were shunned that I realized that I also kind of viewed them in a negative light but I no longer remember why....was there an actual thing that happened? I remember seeing their boots everywhere for a bit during the great American Made Heritage years of the 2010s. 

Edited October 11, 2022 by youngofthesoonest

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

AFAIK they had some significant QC issues in the early days. My trench boots I posted some time ago are still the best boots I’ve owned, no complaints. But I’m a sneakers or birks dude most days so I’m not the best ref on that. I’m a homer for chicago stuff tho so oak street using horween basically sold itself to me. 

[Broark]

I honestly can't remember what it was, but something they did pissed people off if I recall correctly.
Were they doing some pseudo-GYW stuff back in the day perhaps? And marketing it as true GYW? Just spitballing here...

[mlwdp]

Grant Stone is shunned here as well, except on Reddit.

[Duke Mantee]

Is any manufacturer actually shunned or is it more that folk are just voicing their preferences?

There’s a fair few makers I wouldn’t bother myself over for one reason or another and I’ll express that, but I hope that’s just taken as a valid opinion and not a call to arms. 

[Maynard Friedman]

I’m looking forward to someone posting a Gustin/Mastersons/White Horse Ranch/Oak Street WAYWYT! 

[Duke Mantee]

1 hour ago, Maynard Friedman said:

I’m looking forward to someone posting a Gustin/Mastersons/White Horse Ranch/Oak Street WAYWYT! 

Maybe you could do that fit pic?

[Maynard Friedman]

If I owned anything by any of those brands (never mind all of them) I would…

[MJF9]

@Maynard Friedman right that's too good an opportunity to miss mate...

DM me your address cos I've got a pair of Gustin socks lined up for you!  Looking forward to the fit pics!!!

 

[tod]

On 10/11/2022 at 4:50 PM, youngofthesoonest said:

it wasn't until you mentioned that oakstreet were shunned that I realized that I also kind of viewed them in a negative light but I no longer remember why....was there an actual thing that happened? I remember seeing their boots everywhere for a bit during the great American Made Heritage years of the 2010s. 

 

On 10/11/2022 at 5:24 PM, AlientoyWorkmachine said:

AFAIK they had some significant QC issues in the early days. My trench boots I posted some time ago are still the best boots I’ve owned, no complaints. But I’m a sneakers or birks dude most days so I’m not the best ref on that. I’m a homer for chicago stuff tho so oak street using horween basically sold itself to me. 

 

On 10/11/2022 at 7:02 PM, Broark said:

I honestly can't remember what it was, but something they did pissed people off if I recall correctly.
Were they doing some pseudo-GYW stuff back in the day perhaps? And marketing it as true GYW? Just spitballing here...

They had their own dealer thread on another board and it became a place to nitpick QC as I recall. Mostly unfairly in my view. It was sort of the height of “work” boots coming in to fashion wear, which also meant the height of boot buyers wanting every stitch to be perfect.  That combined with the fact that all their boots at the time were natural CXL, which picks up every nick, sort of became a wave of complaints. They finally just abandoned the thread.

[eeejayaich]

Looky, looky. It’s a good day at my house. 

[julian-wolf]

[beautiful_FrEaK]

[sensy]

Attractions 444
 

 

[diggers]

Viberg x Iron Heart

 

[Broark]

If I recall correctly Fracap was mentioned here at some point (maybe Julian got a pair?), they recently did a collaboration with Knickerbocker that looks nice.
Particularly like these low cut suede ones, but here's a link to the four different varieties: https://knickerbocker.nyc/collections/fracap-knickerbocker

[julian-wolf]

Yeah I have a pair of Fracap boots. They're pretty disappointing. The construction seems very clean, but the materials haven't held up well at all. I doubt I wore them for more than a couple dozen days, total, and the leather upper and rubber outsole are both cracking significantly. They also started off pretty stiff, and didn't really break in as much as I'd hoped (or at least they hadn't yet). I think they're decidedly more on the fashion end of things than the functionality end of things, whether or not that's clear from how the company presents itself.

They seem to go on discount for ~$200 pretty regularly, which is maybe an okay deal if they fit a niche you're looking to fill…but I definitely wouldn't recommend paying MSRP for them like I did.

[Broark]

Good info to have, thanks Julian! That sounds pretty disappointing overall. Think I’ll pass, especially at full retail.