Decent pair of shoes

[NiceCupOfTea]

PH massive,

I have done a search as I remember there being a couple of threads on here about decent leather shoes.

I need a good comfortable pair of smart leather shoes. I will be getting married in them and after that they will be very useful as concert shoes, but whenever I try or buy a new pair they end up rubbing. Some people on here have mentioned decent makes of shoe but I can't remember what they were.

I have been told that flat fronted shoes suit my foot shape better, but I don't like the look of them.

Any advice? Has to be comfortable if I'm spending up to a couple of hundred....

[Krusty]

Two words. Oliver and Sweeney

[J-Skid]

Church of Northampton are good quality and not too pricey. Provided you take care of them they last for years. Proper trees and getting them re-shod by Church will mean that they last a long time.

The black Balmoral Bookbinder finish is the classic shoe. Worn by Mr Bond with his DJ and for other events.

Other makes I've tried are Barkers, Loakes, Lobb. All of which vary in price and style, but Church fit me the best.

[stumartin]

I don't think you need to spend a couple of hundred to get a good pair of shoes, even for your big day. John White or Samuel Windsor both of Northamptonshire do very good, relatively low volume shoes that shouldn't set you back more than a ton. Or Church's of course, but not Jones'.

[Krusty]

Oliver Sweeney now designs for M&S under the 'Autograph' label. You can pick up a quality pair of his shoes for about 60 quid

[pesty]

I think thi sis the link for church shoes

www.churchsshoes.com/TEMPLATE/FrontEnd/index.cfm

[bruciebabe]

Lobb (wearing now) start at about £400 a pair.
Crocket and Jones and Churches are about half that.

If you go to Northampton they all have factory shops which give a good saving. Looked after they should last for life.

[craigw]

Oliver Sweeney for me, 4 years before they needed anything done. Sent them back to factory for a refurb £90 & came back like new.

[Plotloss]

Theres a place in the covered market in Oxford that will hand make a pair of shoes for your foot (all measured before hand etc) for less than £100

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks guys, keep it coming.

Off into London in a bit, have a list of shops to check out Fingers crossed! Before I've just got depressed as they all seem to be uncomfortable

[lotuslad]

Don't forget good old Russell & Bromley too! Or there's Fratelli Rosetti, Loake, Edward Green, Ferragamo, etc.

Depends what you want really - I've gone from the classic Brit makes towards really fine Italian shoes. I never liked the style before but now find they make the foot more elegant.

And I'm a bit of a ponce at times I suppose.

[Nuggs]

I've worn Tricker's for a few years now and I love them. I had real problems finding a comfy pair of shoes as I have to wear orthotics for my knackered knees.

They still look as good as the day that I bought them, and every year they go back to Tricker's for a full service (£60 IIRC).

I think they retail for around £225-£250/pair, but I picked mine up for £125/pair in the sale.

Like any decent shoes, they should be friends for life, but they will need looking after (e.g. regular polishing, let them recover for a day after wearing etc).

Highly recommended

[lotuslad]

Nuggs said:

I've worn Tricker's

I refused to buy those before as the label said 'Trickers for Berks'

[billb]

any shoes made in northampton are the best! best get up there and visit the factory shops theres loads

[ATG]

Plotloss said:

Theres a place in the covered market in Oxford that will hand make a pair of shoes for your foot (all measured before hand etc) for less than £100

Are they still there? God's in his heaven and all's right with the world. My Dad had shoes from there. I remeber going in there to pick up a pair that had been repaired when I was a kid. Wonder how much they charge for building the lasts?

There is little doubt that there is a lot of snob value attached to shoes and it is easy to start spending silly amounts of money for very marginal benefit. But nonetheless there are also objective differences too, and there should be no excuse for a firm like Churchs selling you a pair of uncomfortable shoes. Cheaper shoes are made with harder leather and therefore usually have to be broken in before they become comfortable. This is a mixture of your feet toughening up and the leather getting stretched and softened. You should not have to go through that with the more expensive brands. Firstly they should be able to tell you which of their styles of shoe are going to best fit your feet, and then the shoe should be available in a variety of widths and lengths. If you are being served by a spotty 15yr old who doesn't know or care where his arse is, walk away.

[bga]

stumartin said:

I don't think you need to spend a couple of hundred to get a good pair of shoes, even for your big day. John White or Samuel Windsor both of Northamptonshire do very good, relatively low volume shoes that shouldn't set you back more than a ton. Or Church's of course, but not Jones'.

I've nto found Church's too bad for work shoes. Current pair are 4 years old & are looking very good.

[800]

Krusty said:

Two words. Oliver and Sweeney

The man is right. Best shoes a man can buy.
opposite Liverpool St station.

[bigandclever]

It's all irrelevant - so long as your best man can paint "Help Me" on the soles of your shoes for when you're kneeling at the alter, you'll be right.

but Lobb are the mutt's nuts

[mr_tony]

Vote for Mr Sweeney here too - bought some nice boots 6 months ago and they're the best fitting most comfortable shoes I've ever had.

Only problem is that I've worn em out - soles are completely shot already. Anyone recommend a good place in london to get 'em resoled?

[lotuslad]

There's another good bloke, but I can't remember his name. He puts red leather inside his shoes.

I want to say Timothy Everest, but I know it ain't him. He's well-known though and does classics with a twist.