Show us your new shoes
Discussion
Wore my "budget" super stiff high shine Barkers for the first time in anger today, felt a bit brave so it was a full 7 hours including driving to Grantham, train to Kings Cross then two meetings near Aldgate and back again.
No problems to mention but getting slightly sore towards the end of the day, nothing specific just general breaking in (hopefully).
5 hour round trip in the car tomorrow......
I'm already tempted to get another (different) pair. Stupid shoes thread!
No problems to mention but getting slightly sore towards the end of the day, nothing specific just general breaking in (hopefully).
5 hour round trip in the car tomorrow......
I'm already tempted to get another (different) pair. Stupid shoes thread!
FreeLitres said:
I finally found some relatively formal unlined Chukka boots at a good price.
I just recieved these Church's Sahara boots reduced to £135 in the Flannels sale.
They look great. Congrats.I just recieved these Church's Sahara boots reduced to £135 in the Flannels sale.
toastyhamster said:
Wore my "budget" super stiff high shine Barkers for the first time in anger today, felt a bit brave so it was a full 7 hours including driving to Grantham, train to Kings Cross then two meetings near Aldgate and back again.
No problems to mention but getting slightly sore towards the end of the day, nothing specific just general breaking in (hopefully).
Good to hear No problems to mention but getting slightly sore towards the end of the day, nothing specific just general breaking in (hopefully).
toastyhamster said:
I'm already tempted to get another (different) pair. Stupid Brilliant and inspirational shoes thread!
EFA 
Right then chaps. Bespoke Cleverleys time.
For those of you who are not asboring enthusiastic about the finer points of shoemaking look away now.
Seamless back which you will note are sloped asymmetrically. Tapered heelstack.
Heavily waisted fiddleback.
A different angle of the tapered heelstack.
Heelstack contoured to accommodate the fiddleback
welt stitching at 12 SPI
For those of you who are not as
Seamless back which you will note are sloped asymmetrically. Tapered heelstack.
Heavily waisted fiddleback.
A different angle of the tapered heelstack.
Heelstack contoured to accommodate the fiddleback
welt stitching at 12 SPI
FreeLitres said:
Nice work IR! The shoes are looking spot on.
Have you thought about the kind of situations that you will wear them in? General office wear? Only weddings or very special occasions?
Cheers FreeLitres. I'm sure you will have noticed a few of the details present on your G&Gs.Have you thought about the kind of situations that you will wear them in? General office wear? Only weddings or very special occasions?
Special occasions only. To be honest they are something I am pleased to own but won't wear excessively. It's nice to know I have them and will wear them when I feel like it, but generally occasions involving people and alcohol are not conducive to shoe maintenance in my experience.
It's a strange kind of dilemma;
They are your perfect shoes - the exact colour and style that you want.
Plus, they fit you absolutely perfectly! Made for your foot.
You want to wear them the whole time, right?
However, you can't easily (cost effectively) replace them if they get absolutely trashed for some reason
Even if you are extremely careful wearing them, the resole costs are high (£x,xxxs)
You just want to keep them in top condition, as they are beautiful objects in their own right.
There is a solution though. The only way to proceed is to get a 2nd pair of bespokes that you keep on the shelf to admire/stroke from time to time and wear your first pair into the ground by going to the pub, walking in the rain, 5-a-side, etc. Best of both worlds.
They are your perfect shoes - the exact colour and style that you want.
Plus, they fit you absolutely perfectly! Made for your foot.
You want to wear them the whole time, right?
However, you can't easily (cost effectively) replace them if they get absolutely trashed for some reason
Even if you are extremely careful wearing them, the resole costs are high (£x,xxxs)
You just want to keep them in top condition, as they are beautiful objects in their own right.
There is a solution though. The only way to proceed is to get a 2nd pair of bespokes that you keep on the shelf to admire/stroke from time to time and wear your first pair into the ground by going to the pub, walking in the rain, 5-a-side, etc. Best of both worlds.
InductionRoar said:
Seamless back which you will note are sloped asymmetrically. Tapered heelstack.
Those seemless backs do look great. i guess it must be technically challenging to achieve as a maker. Plus, you need a nice large piece of flawless leather to take around both sides of the shoe.I would be tempted to do a full on mirror shine around the back, like a 2nd toe cap.
FreeLitres said:
It's a strange kind of dilemma;
They are your perfect forged pistons and connecting rod combination
Plus, they fit your re-lined block absolutely perfectly! Made for your liners.
You want to sit and stare at them constantly, right?
However, you can't easily (cost effectively) replace them if they get absolutely trashed if you blow the engine
Even if you are extremely careful running them, where is the fun in that, and the rebuild costs are astronomical (£x,xxxs)
You just want to keep them in top condition, as they are beautiful objects in their own right.
There is a solution though. The only way to proceed is to get a 9th pair of pistons/rods that you keep on the shelf to admire/stroke from time to time and run the other 8 into the ground by going to the pub, blasting through the country, stop light sprints, etc. Best of both worlds.
FTFYThey are your perfect forged pistons and connecting rod combination
Plus, they fit your re-lined block absolutely perfectly! Made for your liners.
You want to sit and stare at them constantly, right?
However, you can't easily (cost effectively) replace them if they get absolutely trashed if you blow the engine
Even if you are extremely careful running them, where is the fun in that, and the rebuild costs are astronomical (£x,xxxs)
You just want to keep them in top condition, as they are beautiful objects in their own right.
There is a solution though. The only way to proceed is to get a 9th pair of pistons/rods that you keep on the shelf to admire/stroke from time to time and run the other 8 into the ground by going to the pub, blasting through the country, stop light sprints, etc. Best of both worlds.
Nice shoes IR btw
Unfortunately a second pair is the same price as the first and as always, there is room for improvement and future orders would have leather added or bits shaved from the last. Even now the shoes aren't necessarily finished as I could send them back for alterations, which I may well do, but they need to be worn a few times for them to mould to my feet, go through a few heat cycles and stretch a few times before I can decide what needs altering to obtain the perfect fit. As the price for a second pair is the same there is always the temptation to try other makers out to see how they compare, but I think I would stay with Cleverleys for a number of reasons.
A seamless heel is undoubtedly more difficult (I have never seen a machine made pair), but I think it is so much more elegant than even the tidiest and most well executed seam. I am not a fan of mirror finishes and won't strive for anything shinier than what they are now. They can look too spectator-ish if you're not careful and it's nice to see the grain of the leather.
I must confess I have entertained a second pair, but it would have to be derbys (possibly boots) and a hatch grain leather of some description so a lot of the finer details I wouldn't want. First world problems indeed.
A seamless heel is undoubtedly more difficult (I have never seen a machine made pair), but I think it is so much more elegant than even the tidiest and most well executed seam. I am not a fan of mirror finishes and won't strive for anything shinier than what they are now. They can look too spectator-ish if you're not careful and it's nice to see the grain of the leather.
I must confess I have entertained a second pair, but it would have to be derbys (possibly boots) and a hatch grain leather of some description so a lot of the finer details I wouldn't want. First world problems indeed.
Goaty Bill 2 said:
FreeLitres said:
It's a strange kind of dilemma;
They are your perfect forged pistons and connecting rod combination
Plus, they fit your re-lined block absolutely perfectly! Made for your liners.
You want to sit and stare at them constantly, right?
However, you can't easily (cost effectively) replace them if they get absolutely trashed if you blow the engine
Even if you are extremely careful running them, where is the fun in that, and the rebuild costs are astronomical (£x,xxxs)
You just want to keep them in top condition, as they are beautiful objects in their own right.
There is a solution though. The only way to proceed is to get a 9th pair of pistons/rods that you keep on the shelf to admire/stroke from time to time and run the other 8 into the ground by going to the pub, blasting through the country, stop light sprints, etc. Best of both worlds.
FTFYThey are your perfect forged pistons and connecting rod combination
Plus, they fit your re-lined block absolutely perfectly! Made for your liners.
You want to sit and stare at them constantly, right?
However, you can't easily (cost effectively) replace them if they get absolutely trashed if you blow the engine
Even if you are extremely careful running them, where is the fun in that, and the rebuild costs are astronomical (£x,xxxs)
You just want to keep them in top condition, as they are beautiful objects in their own right.
There is a solution though. The only way to proceed is to get a 9th pair of pistons/rods that you keep on the shelf to admire/stroke from time to time and run the other 8 into the ground by going to the pub, blasting through the country, stop light sprints, etc. Best of both worlds.
Nice shoes IR btw
It is a question of using the appropriate thing for the appropriate event. Whilst it may seem fun to use a race engine to pick a Sunday paper and a pint of milk up, it is not what it is made for and is likely detrimental to its running.
Plus, if you drove a Ferrari Daytona (other desirable classics are available) every day, how would you make the special occasions more special?
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