Show us your new shoes (Vol 2)
Discussion
nigelpugh7 said:
Regarding my new Oliver Sweeney Chelsea boots posted above.
Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
I may be misinterpreting this but does ‘made of 100% vegetable oil’ mean it’s just vegetable oil?Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
I have seen 2 different views argued on the application of products to leather soles.
1) Oils and conditioners are good for the sole as they keep the shoe supple and helps with water resistance
2) Don't apply anything to the sole as it makes the leather softer which means they will get worn out quicker.
I tend to very ocasionally use some Renovateur on my leather soles but it is very absorbant and uses a lot of product.
If it is likely to rain, I wear a pair of Dainite or Commando rubber soles. I do have one pair of leather soles that a cobbler has covered with a topy style cover. A decent cobbler will shave the sole by the same thickness as the topy and smooth the edges.
Don't be tempted to buy your own Topy covers, cut them to size with scissors and glue them on. It might turn out a bit crap (a I found out with my Grenson loafers!)
1) Oils and conditioners are good for the sole as they keep the shoe supple and helps with water resistance
2) Don't apply anything to the sole as it makes the leather softer which means they will get worn out quicker.
I tend to very ocasionally use some Renovateur on my leather soles but it is very absorbant and uses a lot of product.
If it is likely to rain, I wear a pair of Dainite or Commando rubber soles. I do have one pair of leather soles that a cobbler has covered with a topy style cover. A decent cobbler will shave the sole by the same thickness as the topy and smooth the edges.
Don't be tempted to buy your own Topy covers, cut them to size with scissors and glue them on. It might turn out a bit crap (a I found out with my Grenson loafers!)
dimots said:
I may be misinterpreting this but does ‘made of 100% vegetable oil’ mean it’s just vegetable oil?
I don't think it means the same stuff that you fry your eggs with.I have heard of other people using a particular type of edible oil on their soles.. I think it was rapeseed oil but could'nt say for sure. I suspect the Saphir will be based on the same.
No product is required for leather soles and such products are merely creating a market to address an inevitability. Leather is very resilient and, contrary to popular belief, doesn't dissolve in water.
Leather will retain a certain amount of oils from the tanning processes and water (particularly salt water) will draw these out, which will reduce the flexibility of the soles over prolonged use. However, the average pair of leather soles will wear out due to abrasion long before the drying out of the soles becomes a problem and no product will prevent this. In fact, applying oil to the soles is likely to make the soles more prone to premature wear and offers nothing more than a false economy.
Leather will retain a certain amount of oils from the tanning processes and water (particularly salt water) will draw these out, which will reduce the flexibility of the soles over prolonged use. However, the average pair of leather soles will wear out due to abrasion long before the drying out of the soles becomes a problem and no product will prevent this. In fact, applying oil to the soles is likely to make the soles more prone to premature wear and offers nothing more than a false economy.
Sorry to disrupt the conversation about snakeoil 
First off, apologies for the amount of pics I'm about to post.
Here are the photos as promised. Picked it up from the Covent Garden store after 3-4 months wait. It should have been quicker but there were some delays in the factory but it was worth the wait. I went back and forth trying out various ideas and colours. Some were pretty bold but decided to settle on something I could wear often rather than occasionally. I may go back to the initial idea of Navy with Aubergine spectators on the next pair.
Fresh out from the store in natural light
Comes in a nice big box, with magnetic latch.
Comes with lasted shoes trees as well. The shoe looks a bit too green here, I need to white balance the camera next time.
and shoe care. I believe the wax polish is saphir, abbeyhorn shoe horn, extra laces, polishing cloth. The shoe bags are different as well, it has a nice satin finish to it.
The green is quite difficult to capture. Here are a few more which closer to how it should look like.
I wanted purple lining but it wasn't available so green it is. I also specified copper foil in the stamp
Personalised to your name or another other nick names/rude remarks/carpets to your fancy
and lastly the sole. Option for full or half. I went for a purple sole but looks more reddish instead.
Closed channel and beveled waist, similar to the imperial line.
First off, apologies for the amount of pics I'm about to post.
Here are the photos as promised. Picked it up from the Covent Garden store after 3-4 months wait. It should have been quicker but there were some delays in the factory but it was worth the wait. I went back and forth trying out various ideas and colours. Some were pretty bold but decided to settle on something I could wear often rather than occasionally. I may go back to the initial idea of Navy with Aubergine spectators on the next pair.
Fresh out from the store in natural light
Comes in a nice big box, with magnetic latch.
Comes with lasted shoes trees as well. The shoe looks a bit too green here, I need to white balance the camera next time.
and shoe care. I believe the wax polish is saphir, abbeyhorn shoe horn, extra laces, polishing cloth. The shoe bags are different as well, it has a nice satin finish to it.
The green is quite difficult to capture. Here are a few more which closer to how it should look like.
I wanted purple lining but it wasn't available so green it is. I also specified copper foil in the stamp
Personalised to your name or another other nick names/rude remarks/carpets to your fancy
and lastly the sole. Option for full or half. I went for a purple sole but looks more reddish instead.
Closed channel and beveled waist, similar to the imperial line.
kelv_w said:
Sorry to disrupt the conversation about snakeoil
First off, apologies for the amount of pics I'm about to post.
Here are the photos as promised. Picked it up from the Covent Garden store after 3-4 months wait. It should have been quicker but there were some delays in the factory but it was worth the wait. I went back and forth trying out various ideas and colours. Some were pretty bold but decided to settle on something I could wear often rather than occasionally. I may go back to the initial idea of Navy with Aubergine spectators on the next pair.
Fresh out from the store in natural light
Stunning. The want is strong. How does a gentleman start the procurement process of something along these lines..?First off, apologies for the amount of pics I'm about to post.
Here are the photos as promised. Picked it up from the Covent Garden store after 3-4 months wait. It should have been quicker but there were some delays in the factory but it was worth the wait. I went back and forth trying out various ideas and colours. Some were pretty bold but decided to settle on something I could wear often rather than occasionally. I may go back to the initial idea of Navy with Aubergine spectators on the next pair.
Fresh out from the store in natural light
the_engineer said:
Stunning. The want is strong. How does a gentleman start the procurement process of something along these lines..?
Thanks g3org3ythe_engineer : Head down to Cheaneys at Jermyn Street and you would be able to see what options are available. At the moment, that's the only way for MTO as they don't do online customisation. It as much as being there for the experience and having the staff go through the process with you.
kelv_w said:
nigelpugh7 said:
Regarding my new Oliver Sweeney Chelsea boots posted above.
Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
I have them on my leather soles, I think it helps a bit but I doubt it would do much on a downpour. Best bet is to break out those rubber soles instead. Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
Certainly seems to do the job. Even after several hours and several miles in wet conditions to heavy rain, I've never had damp feet since I started using it.
It will darken the soles initially, but they seem to return to near original colour after 8-10 hours. I always do two light but comprehensive coats with 8-12 hours in between, Once per years seems enough.
As kelv_w says though, rubber/dainite can't be beat for the wet.
ETA
nigelpugh7 said:
nigelpugh7 said:
It’s not just me that also assumed that too then, I mean 100% vegetable oil, is well 100% vegetable oil isn’t it?
Plus does no one else see that applying any type of oil to a leather sole, despite how much it gets absorbed is going to make them pretty slippy right?.Edited by Goaty Bill 2 on Monday 15th January 08:08
kelv_w said:
Sorry to disrupt the conversation about snakeoil
First off, apologies for the amount of pics I'm about to post.
Here are the photos as promised. Picked it up from the Covent Garden store after 3-4 months wait. It should have been quicker but there were some delays in the factory but it was worth the wait. I went back and forth trying out various ideas and colours. Some were pretty bold but decided to settle on something I could wear often rather than occasionally. I may go back to the initial idea of Navy with Aubergine spectators on the next pair.
For me, I will likely never own a pair of green shoes, however, those look a stunning example of the shoemakers craft.First off, apologies for the amount of pics I'm about to post.
Here are the photos as promised. Picked it up from the Covent Garden store after 3-4 months wait. It should have been quicker but there were some delays in the factory but it was worth the wait. I went back and forth trying out various ideas and colours. Some were pretty bold but decided to settle on something I could wear often rather than occasionally. I may go back to the initial idea of Navy with Aubergine spectators on the next pair.
Very nice Kelv. i like the burnishing on the toes and the shoe trees look great!
I found it slightly amusing that the colour you chose looks a bit like the leather on cover of the brochure. It made me think of that joke about those parents that choose Aaron from the book of baby names as it's the first name they get to.
The green looks great though so I can see why you chose it.
If you don't mind me asking, how many kidneys will it cost me to get such a pair?
I found it slightly amusing that the colour you chose looks a bit like the leather on cover of the brochure. It made me think of that joke about those parents that choose Aaron from the book of baby names as it's the first name they get to.
The green looks great though so I can see why you chose it.
If you don't mind me asking, how many kidneys will it cost me to get such a pair?
Misterv said:
could anyone suggest anywhere in particular to look for people with wider feet such as myself.
It depends how wide you mean and what kind of style you are after.For comfortable leather shoes, I'm a fan of Anatomic Gel Co. and I know they offer models in wide and extra wide fittings. If you want them for formal use, I would look for a "smooth leather" option as their full grain ones look quite casual. They have a 50% sale on at the moment too.
Not new shoes as such, but I got my Gaziano & Girlings back today after getting some shoe trees made and flush toe plated installed. I had no idea what the trees would look like, but I'm pleased with how they turned out. Talk about a snug fit!
The trees look similar to the ones I saw in a Saint Crispin's video. I presume this is quite a common style for bespoke trees?
http://www.saintcrispins.com/video-5/
The trees look similar to the ones I saw in a Saint Crispin's video. I presume this is quite a common style for bespoke trees?
http://www.saintcrispins.com/video-5/
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