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Hi team,
I tried to buy a pair of shoes the other day and found two things. One, men’s shoes are either embarrassingly nasty and cheap, or much too expensive for what they are. Two, I couldn’t find a high quality British-made pair for under £150.
Could I ask the older members of the forum (i.e. anyone who remembers the days when stuff was kept rather than thrown away), a couple of questions?
1) What is the longest you’ve ever had a pair of regularly worn "going out" shoes?
2) Is it worth me forking out for a pair of these shoes on the basis that I will never have to buy another "going out" pair again?
Cheers in advance.
I have several pairs of "Loakes" shoes – one pair of brogues is over 30 years old.
It is well worth spending the extra money even, if you wear them on daily basis as you can always get them "re-soled and heeled". Also, make sure you polish them every time you wear them. If you are only going to use them occasionally then, wrap them in tissue paper and keep them in the box supplied to keep them in pristine condition.
A well made shoe is much better for your "feet" because of the higher quality materials used in making them.
Finally, they will make you feel much better as you stride out!
Regards – Matron
and you can take them to The Beeston Cobbler in Station Road for their yearly m.o.t. thereby helping to keep open the cutest little old fashioned cobblers shop in business! methinks it’s time for a revolution [a sort of regressive one]
I only buy welted-leather shoes made in Northamptonshire, and I too have a pair over 30 years old: Tricker’s Veldtschoen burnished a deep brown by repeated polishing and currently on their third set of soles and heels. Like all quality shoes they get ever-more comfortable. Also have several pairs of brogues (Grenson, Tricker’s), a pair of Chelsea Boots (Loake), a pair of Dealer Boots (Sargeant), several pairs of black ‘city shoes’ (Loake) and a pair of Loafers (Jones the Bootmaker)
Can’t afford Church’s or Barker’s
Suffice to say I will never need another pair should I make it to four-score. Though having something of the Imelda in me will probably be tempted again.
Well worth the outlay; they look good, feel good (after a period of judicious breaking-in) and are good for your feet and leg joints.
Those unhealthy and ugly things ‘trainers’ are hardly cheap are they? And rank bad value in comparison
Ideally all shoes should not be worn two days running – ‘a pair for each day of the week’
Go on treat yourself Max. They aren’t really a treat over the long-term, more a ‘value’ investment
I got a pair of trainers from JJB sports the other day .. £20. I will throw them out after 6 months or so.
For going out, I had a pair of snake skin shoes for the past 14 years. Expensive but worth it.
Loakes all the way.
Had two pairs, one black and one brown and have had both re-soled twice.
They cost just over £100 a pair but are the best value and most comfy 1’s and 2’s I have ever owned.
Appart from my golf shoes. Why dont Footjoy make "going out shoes"?
I’m a bird when it comes to shoes.
Grensons , Paul Smith (both classic and comfortable) or Church (hurt like **** for a couple of months) when it comes to work, Tom Ford or if the money is flowing Olga Berluti for dress but the 8 week wait can make you forget you even ordered them
Lee
I can get a good five years’ worth of use out of a pair of Doc Martens with a bit of luck, although I do find the quality has become a bit more variable in recent years – the penultimate pair fell apart after 15 months.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
I’m a bird when it comes to shoes.
Me too, the ratio of my shoes to the missus’ is approx. 4:1
(And I bought another pair yesterday…)
Me too, the ratio of my shoes to the missus’ is approx. 4:1
make that 14:1 here!
I get most of my shoes from M + S these days. Their shoes always fit me well and I get good wear out of them. The pair of boots I got about 7 years ago from the ‘American Leather Collection’ are going strong and will see service at Musselburgh today.
Rob
I bought a new pair of formal shoes to go racing in last year from a shop in Wigan.
Having looked around at the various styles i tried a shoe on which seemed to fit and was very comfy on the foot so decided to purchase and made my way to the counter.
Having given the shoe to the man behind the desk he then said to me
"Would you like the other one aswell?"
To which i replied
"Well…..yes, obviously?"
WTF did he expect
Had a pair of timberland boots for years, wore them nearly every day too, and the sole on them was almost like new, then left them behind when I moved out and my brother had taken them to the building sites and wrecked them in about a month. Quality footwear never the less.
I’m terrible for not buying shoes as so seldom see ones that I actually like. Had a load of pairs of nike air "rift" sandal gutties and they were brilliant but because you were them without socks they tend to reek after a bit so dont bother with them any more.
I have to live in nike air because, as my chiropodist says I have ‘mutant’ feet……I have cupboards full of shoes which I can’t wear but keep in the hope that my feet will morph into something better….when I did have normal feet I bought some shoes from an Italian market that lasted me for years and years..the sad thing about having to wear said trainers is that I just love cleaning leather shoes.
ECCO in India, ecco on the golf course, ecco at the races! 2nd to none!
Footjoy are pretty good too mind!Many years ago, too many to recall, I purchased a pair of Barker shoes and it was amazing how many people passed favourable comments about them. They were a great ego boost and well worth the outlay. True class and quaility, even in shoes, shines through.
If you’ve got the dosh to spare, invest in a decent brand of shoe. Far better return than from the banks and you’ll feel an immediate benefit. Always use shoe horns though and when not worn, keep the shape by using shoe irons.
Nowadays, for comfort, I’m quite happy wearing leather moccassin-type lace-ups, for general wear.
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