Good quality men's shoes

[Porkie]

craigjm said:

Those of you that spend on quality shoes, what brands would you recommend? I have been looking at Jeffrey West shoes, anyone got any experience?

http://www.jeffery-west.co.uk

What is your care routine for good quality shoes? I really dont want to spend heavy on good shoes and use liquid polish

Good shoes. They last forever. I have a few pairs. Some are over 5 years old!

Marks and Spencers do some shoes designed and branded by Jeffery West. They are good value and look ok... they dont last anywhere near as long as the real thing. But for £60 odd you cant really go wrong. Got loads of pairs of these.

For loafers... go for Tods.

Edited by Porkie on Tuesday 23 October 10:16

[jshell]

EJH said:

laminad123 said:

I've had 3 pairs of Oliver Sweeney, I'd recommend going to one of their Branches, rather than going through Harvey Nicks/Selfridges as they seem to have a bit more time and understanding of what they are selling.

I've had one pair for 3 years, wearing maybe once a week and they still look great after a bit of polish

I have had about 8 pairs of Oliver Sweeney over the years. The first ones were very, very good...and I bought mirror pair of one of them a year or so ago. I have worn the mirrored pair a few times and they are of massively lower quality to the first pair of the shoes I got and all other Sweeneys I bought before.

As such, I shall not be buying more and Jeffery West are out as they stop (or at least did when I last looked) at an 11 or a 12.

For work, I always bought Loake / Jones Oxfords until last year when I bought a couple of pairs of Churches (Oxford and Brogue). The price of them is horrific (but can be very mitigated by buying from Herring on sale, as I did) and the quality is outstanding. I caveat this as a couple of friends are of the "Church's aren't hat they used to be," thought but I am very pleased with mine thus far.

Agreed. I am right off of Sweeneys now due to poor service and a huge drop in quality over the years!

[Serendipity72]

Some care tips. These shoes cost 100s of pounds a pair so it is worth looking after your investment.

1) Never, ever wear the same pair of shoes on successive days. They need a rest.
2) When they are not on your feet they should have a shoe tree in them.
3) Dry out very slowly if they get wet.
4) To clean remove dirt, use shoe cream to nourish leather then shoe polish to get shine.
5) Re heel and re sole sooner rather than later, otherwise permanent damage is possible.
6) Don't drive in them a lot. Use driving shoes.

[mel]

bulldong said:

The top end John Lewis shoes are VERY good quality and half the price of equivalent Loakes etc.

You often see these in the Cheaney factory shop, so I guess that tells you who makes them for JL.

[jogon]

jshell said:

EJH said:

laminad123 said:

I've had 3 pairs of Oliver Sweeney, I'd recommend going to one of their Branches, rather than going through Harvey Nicks/Selfridges as they seem to have a bit more time and understanding of what they are selling.

I've had one pair for 3 years, wearing maybe once a week and they still look great after a bit of polish

I have had about 8 pairs of Oliver Sweeney over the years. The first ones were very, very good...and I bought mirror pair of one of them a year or so ago. I have worn the mirrored pair a few times and they are of massively lower quality to the first pair of the shoes I got and all other Sweeneys I bought before.

As such, I shall not be buying more and Jeffery West are out as they stop (or at least did when I last looked) at an 11 or a 12.

For work, I always bought Loake / Jones Oxfords until last year when I bought a couple of pairs of Churches (Oxford and Brogue). The price of them is horrific (but can be very mitigated by buying from Herring on sale, as I did) and the quality is outstanding. I caveat this as a couple of friends are of the "Church's aren't hat they used to be," thought but I am very pleased with mine thus far.

Agreed. I am right off of Sweeneys now due to poor service and a huge drop in quality over the years!

They were bought out by a private equity firm a few years ago. This seems to coincide with when the quality of their shoes dropped significantly.

Price has remained high though..

Paul Smith suits and shirts seemed to have suffered similarly over the years imo.

[TooLateForAName]

Crocket and Jones used to sell from the factory on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings - in theory seconds, but in reality miniscule flaws.

If they still do then worth dropping in if you're going past. (I used to do a lot of work for Barclaycard when they were over the bus station).

Also bought John Lobb off the peg from Greens factory.

[DJRC]

HurryUpAndWait said:

I think, even though I own a pair of Churches, they're a bit toppy, paying in part for the label (they're owned by Prada IIRC). I'm now looking at alternative Goodyear welted quality English shoes, and like the look of Loakes, but will I be disappointed? Are Cheaney or Barker noticeably more affordable than Church?

Ta.

Similar price. Much more comfortable to wear. Currently have a pair of black Cheaneys on today. I tend to alternative the brown and black pair.

Edited by DJRC on Tuesday 23 October 13:57

[NorthernBoy]

jogon said:

Colleague at work picked up some nice looking JW's the other week from TK Maxx - £99, he seem quite pleased with them.

Im a Church's fan myself - you pay £89.99 for them be re-built, takes 8 weeks and come back looking like new. Im sure the other brands offer a similar service at a similar price.

I always wore Church's until a couple of years back. I decided that Jones fit just as well, look pretty much the same, and I could throw them away after a year and replace them if needed, and still be quite a lot better off than when I wore Chhurch's. I bought a load of them in the sales, and now just bring a pair out of storage when one starts to look past its best.

It was the wait that got to me, I think, 8-12 weeks turnaround time seemed a bit ridiculous, plus the effort of packaging and sending them.

[NorthernBoy]

sjg said:

So what do you do when you stay overnight in a hotel? Always carry a second pair and your shoe trees with you?

I'll acceot that I'm going to wear them twice, but yes, I do take some shoe trees when I travel. I don't uuse the solid wood ones, but rather have a travel set.

[oddman]

jogon said:

jshell said:

EJH said:

laminad123 said:

I've had 3 pairs of Oliver Sweeney, I'd recommend going to one of their Branches, rather than going through Harvey Nicks/Selfridges as they seem to have a bit more time and understanding of what they are selling.

I've had one pair for 3 years, wearing maybe once a week and they still look great after a bit of polish

I have had about 8 pairs of Oliver Sweeney over the years. The first ones were very, very good...and I bought mirror pair of one of them a year or so ago. I have worn the mirrored pair a few times and they are of massively lower quality to the first pair of the shoes I got and all other Sweeneys I bought before.

Agreed. I am right off of Sweeneys now due to poor service and a huge drop in quality over the years!

They were bought out by a private equity firm a few years ago. This seems to coincide with when the quality of their shoes dropped significantly.

I bought a few pairs of Oliver Sweeney shoes in the late '90s and they're still going strong I wish I'd bought 2 pairs at a time. I was a real fan. Can't bring myself to look at them now - poor quality pimp footwear

No connection etc. but I can recommend http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/ I'm not concerned about mail ordering shoes. When you know what size you are in a standard English shoe last you can order with confidence.

[jonny70]

Ferragamo shoes are great , buy them online from their boutique during the sales , they reduce a lot of shoes by 50%., which makes them excellent value for money.I also recommend Churchs , probably the best shoes i have owned.

[Serendipity72]

jonny70 said:

Ferragamo shoes are great , buy them online from their boutique during the sales , they reduce a lot of shoes by 50%., which makes them excellent value for money.I also recommend Churchs , probably the best shoes i have owned.

I have a couple of pairs of their boots. Thanks for the reminder, this is ideal weather for them.

Very nice styling.
But for build I prefer Lobb.

[EJH]

oddman said:

No connection etc. but I can recommend http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/ I'm not concerned about mail ordering shoes. When you know what size you are in a standard English shoe last you can order with confidence.

Another recommendation for Herring. Great service (I live in Jersey - they get the shipping and ex-VAT right which so many don't / can't) and their prices on sale stock are, frankly, wonderful!*

• I hope I haven't recommended them to anyone else that is a 13G as my enjoyment of the excellent sale availability might have just gone down somewhat, if so!

[projectgt]

Jeffery West
Barker
Oliver Sweeney

I like all three brands and have been buying shoes from these three for years...Saying that, the last few years I have not had any Oliver Sweeney so was unaware of the change of hands and reduced quality in their current range.

[Mobsta]

Earnest, Bones and Whittaker, nothing else seems to come close by today's deteriorating standards.

They will never wear out, either. Mainly because they are imaginary shoes. But with the right mindset you can fly in them, levitate and wade in lava up to your neck

CW7 is actually a wizard on my inflatable deerskin skis making course, he will conjour up a pair for you, for the right money.

[ChasMill]

I used to always wear Church's shoes until one pair completely fell apart after the Church's refurbishment. The shop refused to refund or replace so they have not had a penny from me since. I now wear Gucci loafers which have lasted me for plenty of years because, as other posters have said, I never wear the same paid two days running (I have five pairs) and always use shoe trees. Some things your Dad teaches you are useful in the long run! I have not had to buy a new pair for ten years.

Buy cheap, buy twice is pretty much standard for shoes (escept for my experience with Church's).

[hungry_hog]

Church is now owned by Prada, so not really surprised at the above

Edited by hungry_hog on Wednesday 31st October 23:00

[Tonberry]

http://www.barker-shoes.co.uk/ShowLargeImage.aspx?...

I'm in love.

[craigjm]

I purchased a couple of pairs of Jeffery West shoes and have been very pleased with them so far. Due to this I have been given a pair for Christmas but I am wondering what to wear them with. The shoes are a dark aubergine colour and look really nice in the light but what colour suits / trousers would you wear them with? The shoes are -

http://www.jeffery-west.co.uk/jefferywest/product....

refusal to wear them will result in withdrawal of privileges and that is not an option I want to take

[theironduke]

Got several pairs of Loake Chelsea boots (live in them) and they have always been goo. I'm OCD on looking after them but it's worth it. My favourite suede boots are about 8 years old and the uppers are like new still (on their second soles)