Dress shoes

[kotmj]

Wow. Much nicer than what my customer wore.

[thphang]

For Carmina shoes, it costs slightly higher than the online order from Skoa (all in + shipping, gst etc), but you can touch and feel the shoes, not to mention the try-out for the correct sizing. I think we should try to support local stores and WJ&Co definitely offers some interesting stuffs to those who loves fine clothing/shoes.

[deriku]

^I support that. Sounds like an interesting store. May drop by on my next trip back.

[zjchen]

i also happened to pop by WJ&Co and lucky (or unlucky), they didn't have a pair of penny loafers in black or brown (only in blue suede)..if not i would have been rm1880 poorer...

[riggy]

John lobb penny loafer was there..but u didnt want to be rm4880 poorer didnt you?

[zjchen]

i think its way too premature to be looking at john lobb, although the pair of museum calf oxfords was calling out to me towards the end...that was 6k if im not mistaken..

[NoName]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1833418877/m-a-d-e-tech-x-bespoke

[JW True North]

Robinson's Shoemakers is having 15‰ sales on everything until 2nd May. Free worldwide delivery for order above £150. Hurry. Promotional code: BANK15

[JW True North]

After 15% discount, my Barker Flynn (Made in England) only cost around RM770. What a steal!

[Hurmm]

Well this will probably come off as an insincere first post (it probably is in some ways), but I have a pair of J. Fitzpatrick (aka the shoe snob) dark brown museum calf oxfords 7.5uk for sale. I have worn them only once to a dinner function (so no tarmac or rough terrain). Reason I'm selling is that my office dress policy is now casual when it used to be semi-formal, so I don't think I would be wearing this pair often. Might get another more casual pair instead.

 

PM me if anyone is interested. I can send you pics. Price is RM 1,350 (a new pair including shipping/taxes will cost RM 1,800+).

 

http://www.jfitzpatrickfootwear.com/collections/oxford/products/magnolia-dark-brown-museum-calf

 

I have actually been a lurker here for the past few months, and believe it or not I've gone through every page of this thread. Well most of the links and images from the earlier posts are no longer working but I've gleaned some useful info off here. I seem to recall someone here recommending A Fine Pair of Shoes site for buying Saphir stuff... but I also found a buyer off eBay that is probably slightly cheaper (http://www.ebay.com/usr/shoe-shine-shop). Does anyone have a better suggestion now? I was at WJ & co. and the Renovateur there is RM 120, which is expensive (twice the price). I did get a pair of Carminas there though, which are still priced more expensive but only slightly (around 10% a few months ago... now around 20% higher given the ringgit appreciation). Still a nice little shop that you can look, feel, and try on before you buy. The owner Wen is friendly.

[riggy]

Keep the shoes. I dont see anything wrong with wearing them on casual days.

[Hurmm]

Keep the shoes. I dont see anything wrong with wearing them on casual days.

I wear jeans on most days though. A dark brown captoe Oxford seems a little too formal with jeans, no?

[riggy]

Youre already wearing jeans..putting on a pair if captoes will not make it any more or less formal as you are already informal.

[Hurmm]

Youre already wearing jeans..putting on a pair if captoes will not make it any more or less formal as you are already informal.

What I mean is that a pair of captoe oxfords are regarded as formal shoes, and hence pairing them with jeans may be inappropriate. Is there no truth in this?

[Dr Chong]

Every gentleman should make an effort in his life time hopefully before 35 to own a pair of JM Weston's. It's like a S class mercedes or a Patek Philippe once you're behind the wheel. Then Toyota is Toyota as Loake, Meermin and other such Mickey Mouse can only be as such. Pls take my advice I mean well and I have been around.

[Dr Chong]

Once u kids hit the $10 mil mark (which incidentally sounds like loose change these days considering the sum donated!). You realize, one is very forgiving of shirts. Pants. Even watches.....because all these things after a while grows on a man. For example I only tailor my trousers in Osaka, Japan. Highest quality. No compromise. Buy once must last forever that kinda thing with concealed pockets. Even when they are baggy like they are. Every effort must be made to bring them back to acceptable style limits. But when it comes to shoes...these are non negotiable accessories that speak of heritage, breeding and lineage. As very often you can tell a man's mental orientation by his shoe preferences, not referring to style per se. Rather the patinage, how he fusses over them etc etc. can't do that with trousers, shirts, ties, cuff links etc etc. But with shoes very often you can use it as a reliable gauge to determine how far this fellow can go in life...so pay attention there. Remember I mean well. I give respect to all. It's not everyday I share words of wisdom.

[riggy]

What I mean is that a pair of captoe oxfords are regarded as formal shoes, and hence pairing them with jeans may be inappropriate. Is there no truth in this?

There is no truth in that whatsoever. The most formal pair of shoe is the pump. Which is actually a black patent leather slipper with a bow. The second most formal shoe is a black patent leather plain toe balmoral. The third is a black cap toe. The fourth is a black whole cut. The level of formality that any brown shoe has is way after any sort of balmoral or oxford shoe that is black. Even some derbies in black could be considered more formal. 

 

If you want to go by inappropriate based on the old rules, then 'No brown in town' applies. So any brown shoe looks appropriate in most clothing.

 

Just wear it with anything you want. In fact, you'd feel better wearing such shoes to the casual office knowing that you are wearing something special.

 

Regards

[riggy]

Every gentleman should make an effort in his life time hopefully before 35 to own a pair of JM Weston's. It's like a S class mercedes or a Patek Philippe once you're behind the wheel. Then Toyota is Toyota as Loake, Meermin and other such Mickey Mouse can only be as such. Pls take my advice I mean well and I have been around.

JM Weston  Nothing spectacular  when I think about them vis a vis Berluti, Corthay, John Lobb, Gaziano & Girling, Cleverley and the other better shoes... especially since I also rate Santoni (FAM series), Sutor Mantellassi, Edward Green, Stefano Branchini, Bontoni and a few others to be above  the Westons also..

 

They may have their own tannery and their triple sole hunting shoe is something I'd like to have but in terms of finish, I have seen and worn better. 

[Dr Chong]

You have just demonstrated to every forumer here that you know as much about shoes as probably an Eskimo about home maintenance of an air con unit. FYI Weston's have 16 gradations of fit ranging from off the shelve to custom last fitting. When I refer to the best, I don't mean the kacang puteh genre where you just walk into a shop and negotiate over half sizes. I am referring to the custom last. You tell me whether you have a private last somewhere in the catacombs of Paris. I do. Like I said, I give respect to all. Only don't talk to me with a shoe in your mouth. As for those brands you mentioned, they look good, but they don't wear good. As for owning a tannery, what's the big deal. Does Mercedes own their own steel mill in Stuttgart? If they own it, it means their choice is limited and they don't nearly have such a thing as a free creative rein to source the best hides from all over the world to construct a shoe. Don't confuse shoemakers for General Motors or Boeing aeroplane group, they are craftsmen, artisans, folk who work with their hands. We are not talking about manufacturing toasters here...like I said, don't talk with a shoe in mouth,..you will end up babbling and destroying your chops.

[Dr Chong]

Santoni. OK. That meets my cognoscenti standards. As since my left foot is infinitesimally smaller than my right, I have no choice but to go bespoke or settle for wearing two pair of socks on my left feet while trying to negotiate off the shelve knock off's. My point is as far as shoes are concerned, it doesn't pay to be cavalier and pump up gibberish like so and so is nonsense etc etc. Have you know, I worked as an shoe patinage artist to put myself thru university. Most people in Malaysia and Singapore don't even know what that trade entails or that a well heeled Parisian gentleman would only buy light leather shoes and send it for antiquing before ever wearing it. Hence a certain degree of reverence and respect should be accorded to these shoemakers and their garçons. As it's closer to an art than science and much of the beauty and craftsmanship is hidden somewhere between the welt and sole. Having said that I've also have last in India as well where I custom make full wing brogues which are really quite decent and reasonably priced. In every case it's the métier of the shoe craftsman that makes a decent pair of walkabouts.

[riggy]

You have just demonstrated to every forumer here that you know as much about shoes as probably an Eskimo about home maintenance of an air con unit. FYI Weston's have 16 gradations of fit ranging from off the shelve to custom last fitting. When I refer to the best, I don't mean the kacang puteh genre where you just walk into a shop and negotiate over half sizes. I am referring to the custom last. You tell me whether you have a private last somewhere in the catacombs of Paris. I do. Like I said, I give respect to all. Only don't talk to me with a shoe in your mouth. As for those brands you mentioned, they look good, but they don't wear good. As for owning a tannery, what's the big deal. Does Mercedes own their own steel mill in Stuttgart? If they own it, it means their choice is limited and they don't nearly have such a thing as a free creative rein to source the best hides from all over the world to construct a shoe. Don't confuse shoemakers for General Motors or Boeing aeroplane group, they are craftsmen, artisans, folk who work with their hands. We are not talking about manufacturing toasters here...like I said, don't talk with a shoe in mouth,..you will end up babbling and destroying your chops. 

 

 

Santoni. OK. That meets my cognoscenti standards. As since my left foot is infinitesimally smaller than my right, I have no choice but to go bespoke or settle for wearing two pair of socks on my left feet while trying to negotiate off the shelve knock off's. My point is as far as shoes are concerned, it doesn't pay to be cavalier and pump up gibberish like so and so is nonsense etc etc. Have you know, I worked as an shoe patinage artist to put myself thru university. Most people in Malaysia and Singapore don't even know what that trade entails or that a well heeled Parisian gentleman would only buy light leather shoes and send it for antiquing before ever wearing it. Hence a certain degree of reverence and respect should be accorded to these shoemakers and their garçons. As it's closer to an art than science and much of the beauty and craftsmanship is hidden somewhere between the welt and sole. Having said that I've also have last in India as well where I custom make full wing brogues which are really quite decent and reasonably priced. In every case it's the métier of the shoe craftsman that makes a decent pair of walkabouts.

Ah...you must have mistaken me for someone who has not entered a JM Weston boutique before or met patina artists or actually have done patina myself. Or met shoemakers. I have met a few in my time. I do not tell people who are beneath me that I know more than them or try to rub it in. You were the one who mentioned JM Weston. I mentioned that They have a tannery. They only make one shoe that I like nowadays. You mention a French shoemaker that is more familiar for RTW and then you talk about their custom or MTO services. If I wanted French MTO or bespoke I'd go for Corthay personally. 

 

But I also am lucky that RTW fits me fine so no problems with a RTW Corthay for me. Most I mentioned wear good to me as I do not have unequal feet. I have tried custom shoes. MTO and more. 

 

The thing about bespoke is fine tuning. One item per tailor, shoemaker or whatever will not get things right. 

 

On the other thread you asked where should you get your trousers altered. I suggest Osaka. They have plenty good tailors there according to you in this thread.

[Dr Chong]

As far as I know. I am the only Malaysian who knows anything about antiquing shoes. Even renovated the Sultan of Brunei's shoes. It's an arcanum. A secret trade like cutting and setting diamonds. People talk as if tailoring is the black arts of the sartorial nirvana, they haven't seen a shoes being antiqued by an artist before. Most Malaysians and especially Singaporeans don't even have the slightest inkling that such an art even exist. Hence they know no better than to wear characterless shoes which exude as much sophistication as emulsion paint. I can cure leather the right way. No harsh chemicals like nail polish remover and all that crap. Renovate and prep it the chasseurine 17th century way with lye. Apply the tanning solution in steady gradations and strokes, bull the toe caps to a mirror finish. If you people are nice to me, I may consider rendering my services here. Remember you all need me more I need you to migrate up the sartorial ladder. Only please don't talk gibberish, leave that for the Sacoor bros crowd. They will be suitably impressed by what you have to say about shoes...but not me.

[riggy]

We have ourselves another MOP. 

[Dr Chong]

Well I see the logic here now, it took a while, but a pattern is staring to emerge. Anyone who is challenges your shallow knowledge concerning shoes is automatically a MOP. Frankly that is not the way for emotionally secure and smart folk to grow their knowledge nor hone their keenest on their objects of interest.

 

I asked a simple question, can someone please recommend a tailor to alter my trousers. Perfectly reasonable and polite question that should solicit an equally reasonable and polite response in most civilized quarters. And you ask me to go back to Osaka! And with that attitude my friend - you know what 9 out of 10 people here will think of you? You have totally lost the plot man....they may not say this to you. But trust me, think that they will of you.

[kotmj]

I'm more disillusioned with the Meermin crowd, actually. At least the Sacoor guys know they are Sacoor. The Meermin guys think they are really wearing Carminas.