Handmade Shoes
Author
Discussion

superkartracer

Original Poster:

8,959 posts

252 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Where to go for some decent expensive shoes? brands/price etc

Normally buy, Firetrap/Fly etc but been told nice ladies like and *checkout* expensive man shoes, i thought £60-£80 was expensive ha

SO THEN

What to buy

SKR

chris_w666

22,655 posts

229 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
There is another thread on here.

My personal choice are shoes by Jeffrey West.

ETA Link. http://www.jeffery-west.co.uk/jefferywest/collecti...

Oh and women do check them out, I wore a pair a few months back when I went to a shoe shop to find a pair of trainers. 2 of the shop assistants (both female) picked them up and commented on them as I was trying the trainers on.

Sadly I got to bone neither so maybe a ferrari would be a better investment.

Edited by chris_w666 on Wednesday 22 October 13:10

superkartracer

Original Poster:

8,959 posts

252 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all

johnfm

13,751 posts

280 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Go to Northants - get some decent Loakes, or Churches or Green or other. £200~ish from the factory stores and proper, British hand made shoes.

CooperS

4,580 posts

249 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
I dont know whether you class them as expensive but i've just got a pair of Barkers from John Lewis around £160 been wearing them for 5 weeks but feel like they've been there forever.

Nice shoes and i wouldnt want to wear fashion shoes to work again (been wearing plymsole/trainer type Paul Smiths, look nice and feel like trainers but dont have the visual impact of a nice handmade pair of shoes.

Lots of options out there just go and find a pair which are within your budget and fit just right who cares what brand they are? ( i know that wasnt what you were asking for just a comment about not being hung up by names)

toastboy

8,405 posts

250 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
John Lobb do a nice range starting from £1700

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/main.htm

The Curn

917 posts

242 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Church's Shoes are about as good as it gets without going bespoke.

Other notable makes include

Grenson
Crockett & Jones
Trickers

Loake, in my opinion, have lost their way.

All have factory shops in Northants that are worth visiting. Big discounts with great service.

John Lobb make nice bespoke shoes but you pay for it.

And you are right. Shoes are VERY important.

CrashTD

1,788 posts

234 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Generally speaking the first pair is expensive and then subsequent shoes are cheaper.

The Curn

917 posts

242 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Just to add;

NEVER EVER EVER wear a nice pair of shoes two days in a row and keep them polished.

Get home and while they are still warm put in the shoe trees and leave them for a a couple of days.

Worn like this they will give you years of service. £330 (Church's) doesn't sound so bad divided over ten years!

Cheeky Jim

1,276 posts

310 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Lobb's make a wooden mould of your foot - hence the first pair being so expensive... as they have to pay the carpenter man to get it right!!

Loakes are ok for day to day work shoes - don't pay full wack for them (anywhere under £80 and you should be ok).

Churches are good as well.

I must admit - I like the look of those Jeffrey West shoes - don't rate his shirts much though...


ceebmoj

1,899 posts

291 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
I like Loakes I find them very comfortable, maybe its because they have leathers souls and hence my feat can breath. Note of caution however if you are venturing out at tis time of year and as it gets colder in a shew with a leather sole for the first time there is much less grip. If you have a Slaters near you you can also pick up a pair of Loakes for £40 witch makes them worth a try in my book. I also find that if you have two pairs of work shoes and you where them on alternate days they last much longer than if you had the same two pairs one after the other.

If you get a pare of half resnoble leather shoes also find on ebay or smailer a set of old uk army issue (I beleave) boot brushes and some polish. They will keep the shoes in tip top condition if used now and again and you look after the shoes for many years

ceebmoj


CooperS

4,580 posts

249 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
I dont know whether you class them as expensive but i've just got a pair of Barkers from John Lewis around £160 been wearing them for 5 weeks but feel like they've been there forever.

Nice shoes and i wouldnt want to wear fashion shoes to work again (been wearing plymsole/trainer type Paul Smiths, look nice and feel like trainers but dont have the visual impact of a nice handmade pair of shoes.

Lots of options out there just go and find a pair which are within your budget and fit just right who cares what brand they are? ( i know that wasnt what you were asking for just a comment about not being hung up by names)

Matt172

12,415 posts

274 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
johnfm said:
Go to Northants - get some decent Loakes, or Churches or Green or other. £200~ish from the factory stores and proper, British hand made shoes.
yes I bought a pair of Church's shoes from the factory shop in Northampton for my wedding last year, most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever worn

Edited by Matt172 on Wednesday 22 October 14:11

superkartracer

Original Poster:

8,959 posts

252 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Point being £80 shoes last 6 months.. so looking at this it's indeed more expensive.

So what do you get for £200-300 ish notes? pair that will last a few years?

I'd spend 1.5k on a watch BUT shoes!!!!!

SKR

Edited by superkartracer on Wednesday 22 October 14:14

Stu R

21,648 posts

245 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Churches are ace, most I've spent on a pair of shoes at around 250 and they still look brand new after 2 years of service.

Digga

48,217 posts

313 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
superkartracer said:
Point being £80 shoes last 6 months.. so looking at this it's indeed more expensive.

So what do you get for £200-300 ish notes? pair that will last a few years?

I'd spent 1.5k on a watch BUT shoes!!!!!

SKR
Until you;ve tried a pair, it's difficult to explain the benefit, but it's a bit like the difference between an off-the-peg suit and one that's tailored.

The quality of finish of a decent pair of shoes and the 'build quality' are tangible, the way they make you feel is not.

You can get discounted Church's online from here Herring's Shoes

SimonMaidenhead

2,654 posts

233 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
ceebmoj said:
I like Loakes I find them very comfortable, maybe its because they have leathers souls and hence my feat can breath. Note of caution however if you are venturing out at tis time of year and as it gets colder in a shew with a leather sole for the first time there is much less grip. If you have a Slaters near you you can also pick up a pair of Loakes for £40 witch makes them worth a try in my book. I also find that if you have two pairs of work shoes and you where them on alternate days they last much longer than if you had the same two pairs one after the other.

If you get a pare of half resnoble leather shoes also find on ebay or smailer a set of old uk army issue (I beleave) boot brushes and some polish. They will keep the shoes in tip top condition if used now and again and you look after the shoes for many years

ceebmoj
quoted for some quite superb spelling cock ups


superkartracer

Original Poster:

8,959 posts

252 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
go away

5pen

2,194 posts

236 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
Digga said:
Until you;ve tried a pair, it's difficult to explain the benefit, but it's a bit like the difference between an off-the-peg suit and one that's tailored.

The quality of finish of a decent pair of shoes and the 'build quality' are tangible, the way they make you feel is not.

You can get discounted Church's online from here Herring's Shoes
Thanks for that. They appear to have a pair of Church's shoes I've been after for a while that even Church's own shops don't seem to stock. A good price too, though buying shoes online could be a bit of a gamble sizing-wise?

Have you bought from them?

superkartracer

Original Poster:

8,959 posts

252 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
5pen said:
Digga said:
Until you;ve tried a pair, it's difficult to explain the benefit, but it's a bit like the difference between an off-the-peg suit and one that's tailored.

The quality of finish of a decent pair of shoes and the 'build quality' are tangible, the way they make you feel is not.

You can get discounted Church's online from here Herring's Shoes
Thanks for that. They appear to have a pair of Church's shoes I've been after for a while that even Church's own shops don't seem to stock. A good price too, though buying shoes online could be a bit of a gamble sizing-wise?

Have you bought from them?
Can you not pop to *Herrings* and try these? i'd want too before parting with £300!