Shoe appreciation thread

[ivanswk]

i also prefer american shoe now, i think they can take the beating 

[Kennypane]

I just went shoe shopping at P Lal Store Jalan Gasing earlier. Bought 2 pairs of Loake. I was looking at slip ons or loafers cos lazy to tie shoe lace. My working life I only wore first pair of shoe lace tying shoes. The rest are loafers.

Nothing branded. Casual shoes were also loafers then. College days was Fifth Avenue moccasins. And also Hi Tec hiking shoes then bought from Pertama Complex. Also wore Nike sports shoes. I have a pair of Timberland in the cupboard now bought 8 years ago and still wearable. Now I wear crocs everyday.

Current working shoe is an Aldo. 2 years of being worn every working day. So I thought after seeing this thread and also sooner later I need to buy shoes, I went to P Lal. Hehe. One is a loafer the other with lace. The lace one is made in UK. Loafer made in India. But both Goodyear welted.

[Kennypane]

My humble Loake shoes

[takashi78]

Nice!
I was eyeing that Loake loafer as well.
Ada brown?

[ivanswk]

Wow loake is nice 
How much is the price for Plal?

[Kennypane]

Nice!
I was eyeing that Loake loafer as well.
Ada brown?

Brown I think got. Not sure cos they displayed black and I asked for black one :p I think in Loake website they do offer brown one too. The thing is P Lal import theirs shoes once a year so what they have there, is what's available.

U go there u will like cos they have all these English brands there. I wanted to leave until the old P Lal uncle must be related to the family asked me, if I like shoe with laces. Asked me to try, and damn he was right, it was comfortable and fits well. So I thought, why not. So bought the Cagney Oxford.

[Kennypane]

Wow loake is nice 
How much is the price for Plal?

I can only say that the price at P Lal is as per listed in Loake official website. Affordable. Initially I thought there will be lots of mark ups but no, very reasonable. They have a wide range. The old uncle told me P Lal is the largest Loake distributor in SEA. I think tourists go there to buy too.

[lanatir]

There's a nice pair of brown Loake tassel loafers at PLAL that I almost bought until I got sidetracked by something else.

Anyway, what was on today...

[Kennypane]

Hi Kelvin, nice shades of blue. I would love to wear those blue shoes but my casual wear really casual. A pair of jeans and sandals. Or cargo shorts with sandals. The most, maybe my Timberlands. Problem is I am not dressy on weekends. Even at the malls. I love your shoes though. And also Ivan's good taste in his leathers. And another fashionable chap, Terence.

May i ask if your colourful shoes or your blue linen pants are part of your working wardrobe or usual attire in your working days? I cannot be wearing blue leather shoes in my profession. Too fashionable. LOL. I have a pair of NB sneakers. Is that fashionable? I lean towards the more conservative part when it comes to attire.

I have taken great interest in leather shoes recently. Especially those where handmade or great efforts used in their production. Are you usually this dressed up, even on a Sunday?

[ivanswk]

There's a nice pair of brown Loake tassel loafers at PLAL that I almost bought until I got sidetracked by something else.

Anyway, what was on today...

nice 
is it a sutor mantellassi ?

[lanatir]

May i ask if your colourful shoes or your blue linen pants are part of your working wardrobe or usual attire in your working days? I cannot be wearing blue leather shoes in my profession. Too fashionable. LOL. I have a pair of NB sneakers. Is that fashionable? I lean towards the more conservative part when it comes to attire.

I have taken great interest in leather shoes recently. Especially those where handmade or great efforts used in their production. Are you usually this dressed up, even on a Sunday?

Kenny, those are my blue cotton khakis (not linen) and they are part of my casual wear attire. Though I wear all my shoes at work anyway (I have flexibility).

NB? I used to have quite a few 574s but for sneakers, I'm more of an OT person. As for being dressed up on Sundays, occasionally, when I go kaikai, I do like to look neat, smart and at least, try to be stylish 

Ivan, nope... not Mantellasis. Those are actually a pair of Cheaneys 

[lanatir]

Something comfy and soft soled for today (recovering from tendinitis)...

[takashi78]

Now those are nice!
What brand are those?

Is it the angle of the soles very thin?

[lanatir]

Now those are nice!
What brand are those?

Is it the angle of the soles very thin?

sounds like u hate dressy shoes hahaha 

those are non Goodyear welted, non English ROCKPORTs... with adiprene inner sole it's actually quite comfy. i've added a layer of scholls inner soles to add to the protection.

[takashi78]

How did you come up with that conclusion? 

More like 99% of the time my day to day and even work i dont have much chance wearing them.

My formal dress shoe is just a Camper loafer hahaha

[lanatir]

How did you come up with that conclusion?

"Now those are nice!" hahaha j/k

[takashi78]

LOL !

[takashi78]

Are John Lobb really that well made?

Anyone here handled a pair and can comment on the construction and leathers used?

[lanatir]

Are John Lobb really that well made?

Anyone here handled a pair and can comment on the construction and leathers used?

u itching to buy ah? 

[takashi78]

Seen a few online and read bout the name.
Gonna be in Taipei next month which has a boutique.

Thought to check it out.

Online search it cost 3x-5x more for the loafer (Lopez)

Thinking is it "worth it".

My current pair of Bally loafers i had them for well over 10yrs, still running strong.
Only thing is its not wide enough hence cant wear them for long hrs.
Also the logo patch has came off, Bally wanted rm600 to replace them which is ridiculous!

Its on a rubber molded sole. So can assume not welted right?

Bought the pair when the Bally boutique closed down in San Francisco for real cheap, mayb i didnt pay too much attention to the width then. Should have gone with E/EE instead of D.

So Kelvin,

What say you on the JL?
The quality of the leather and craftsmanship commands its price?

This would be my lifetime loafer if i do get it. 

[lanatir]

Seen a few online and read bout the name.
Gonna be in Taipei next month which has a boutique.

Thought to check it out.

Online search it cost 3x-5x more for the loafer (Lopez)

Thinking is it "worth it".

My current pair of Bally loafers i had them for well over 10yrs, still running strong.
Only thing is its not wide enough hence cant wear them for long hrs.
Also the logo patch has came off, Bally wanted rm600 to replace them which is ridiculous!

Its on a rubber molded sole. So can assume not welted right?

Bought the pair when the Bally boutique closed down in San Francisco for real cheap, mayb i didnt pay too much attention to the width then. Should have gone with E/EE instead of D.

So Kelvin,

What say you on the JL?
The quality of the leather and craftsmanship commands its price?

This would be my lifetime loafer if i do get it. 

for english RTW, i think no other brand commands higher respect than JL or Edward Green. both are quite impeccable and have beautiful last shapes. that said, other than stylistic and design elements, you will find some (though not much) improvements over a pair of shoes of a similar RTW grade from the other top English shoemakers e.g. C&J, Sargent, etc. these 'improvements' may not justify the premium in price. so the style and design is going to be the deciding factor here.

personally, if the price is right and if you REALLY like it, then go for it. you'd hardly regret it. but pls take care of it well (shoe horn, shoe tree, polish, pls dont wear everyday etc). get a wholecut at least lah even if it's just a loafer.

[takashi78]

From the website it looks like the Lopez is the only model which is whole cut?

Thats the style i like actually. Not too "pointy".

What are the merits of whole cut?

[lanatir]

From the website it looks like the Lopez is the only model which is whole cut?

Thats the style i like actually. Not too "pointy".

What are the merits of whole cut?

it won't make u walk better... just to show off the skill of the shoemaker and also ensuring that they have to use a nice bigger piece of unblemished leather for your shoes.

btw i don't see why u say the Lopez is a wholecut. it's not.

example of a wholecut pair of loafers (whole upper is one piece of leather stitched together at the heel or sometimes even without any stitching at the heel from some very high end options).

[lanatir]

my Cheaney wholecut oxfords

[takashi78]

Ah...now i see what you mean.
Looking at JL loafers i dun think any is whole cut.

I saw the description as " crafted from a section of leather that is cut in one piece. " for the Lopez so i thought it was whole cut.

Well i guess would have to see the models in person to decide.
Hope have time and around the boutique area.