Proper leather shoes

Drawn to these

timberland chukka, good boot, was wearing those in brown with baggy jeans in 1990 - bring back the 4 aces!

Inner soles

Did you find any good insoles / inner soles in the end?

I'm tempted by the Saphir ones, just because I assume it's a brand you should be able to trust.

I've previously bought these to replace the worn out insole of some KG boots that were in otherwise good condition. They are fine, but like you I'm after something a little padded, possibly with a little inner arch support too.

I haven't, the ones I looked at were all described in reviews as very thin which wasn't really what I was looking for.

Do it, highly doubt you'll regret it.

Spending £50-100+ on a pair of boots then thinking maybe you should've got the Red Wings instead though, that'd sting.

Spent all week walking up and down an office 9-5. So so so happy to be swapping between Loakes, Barkers, and another lesser brand that I had re-balanced. Feels so good to finish a day and regardless of being tired, the shoes haven't caused any pains.

Spending £50-100+

I think unless you're getting a deal (seconds, 2nd hand, etc.) £100 isn't a great price point. £75 and below seems to give you better value with shoes. £150 seems to be the start of taking you into decent shoes.

Red Wings do seem to be very "now" so while they may last a lifetime, I guess whether you will be wearing them in 5 years time is the question.

But overall I think you're right. A quick Google says they're c£250 so if you spend between £50 and £150 odds are you're probably paying a premium for little quality gain. Over £150 and I guess you may as well cough up the extra dough for what you really want.

Tl;Dr £35-50 on Asos clones, or buy the real thing. Maybe.

$500 for Red Wings?
I paid just a little more than that for custom White's !

Mate, £250 is like $350 right now. Dollar is brutally strong.

I got them in the end.
I had some clarks desert boots but they tore my heels up and were the poorest gripping shoes I've ever had.
If there's even the slightest hint of moisture on the ground it's like your on an ice rink!

Just buy the Redwings, they will last longer than you will if you take care of them... I've got two pairs, getting on for twenty years old and both are fantastic...

tha white soles don't last long tho....

White soles are for trainers.

not my dollar, mate

William Lennon boots just got re-soled after five years, the cobbler was well impressed with them, reckoned they would be good for twenty years with the right looking after.
New leather soles and wet marble floors aren't much fun though.

This seems like the thread most likely to involve people who would know the answer to this - but what's the best course of action with a black tie dinner? Rent a tux? Where's a good place to do that?

A. Own a suit that fits
B. Borrow a suit that fits
C. Rent a suit that fits

Never A B or C with a suit that doesn't fit.

There was a news story recently about a company to allow you to experience proper tailored suits instead of buying them from Savile Row. I can't find it now, but the shop was supposed to be South of the river.

or you could ask here too > http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/182490/

moss bros probably the most reliable, but the suit won't fit perfect

If it's more than a one-off then it's worth buying. Even a cheap tux, altered to fit if needs be, will be better than what you'd hire and hiring isn't particularly cheap.

Last time I looked I managed to find dinner suit trousers (bespoke, not M&S) in a charity shop for £2. Later I found a Moss Bros rental (I think) jacket in another charity shop for about £6. Of course the trousers fit the jacket didn't. But it's not unlikely to find dinner jackets in your size. Depends which end of town you are. Loads and loads of tailors about, so also not difficult to get one taken in cheap.

Thanks all.

blue suede sheuxx..

sheuxxx and khoordzzz

Another question.... Need some shoes to go with the dinner jacket. Given I rarely go to black tie dinners, am thinking would be worth getting shoes that can do double service with a normal suit.

Something like these seem reasonable?
http://www.loake.co.uk/finsbury-13.html

Leather soles are more classy, dainite golf soles are more functional (also, modern James Bond). My leather soled Barker equivalent of those are the smartest shoes I own.