Proper leather shoes

Hmm, I may have over-paid, or my memory is failing: https://www.crockettandjones.com/boston-darkbrown-suede/

I chanced upon the G.H. Bass shop while I was wandering around in Soho on Monday so popped in for a look... Loads of Bass Weejuns, this and that, nothing special... I asked the young guy behind the counter if he could get the Bass Oxford saddle shoe... He didn't have any idea what a saddle shoe was, is this normal? I made my excuses and left...

While browsing for motorbike kit I came across Aero and saw they did a range of shoes. From an first glance they look like fair value.
1920s Style Cordovan "Town" Boots £200

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=3163

Jarrow Marchers Boots Cordovan Leather Sole £190

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=1928

Tricker's Stow boots!

I've got a new pair and I'm going through the breaking in period. Its been over a week now that I'm wearing them for around half the day, but it seems to be a very slow process to get the leather to soften at all. And its now started to manifest into some heel rub, as there's no give at all in the top part of the boots to lace them tight. If laced tight, I can't even contemplate stairs, as the tongue/top will cut into my ankle.

Also, does anybody know if the leather lining gets softer or if there's anything I should do to it? I've got a pair of Crockett & Jones Islay's and the liner on those is matt, where as the Tricker's Stow's lining is really shiny and almost plastic looking. Whereas the Crockett's appear to have moulded to my feet, inside the Trickers at the moment it just looks like its creasing and bunching up the leather.

Its a little frustrating, as the Crockett's leather went glove soft in a really short amount of time and are amazing to wear. But, I dread putting on the Stow's every day!

>>>>>>

I chanced upon the G.H. Bass shop while I was wandering around in Soho on Monday so popped in for a look... Loads of Bass Weejuns, this and that, nothing special... I asked the young guy behind the counter if he could get the Bass Oxford saddle shoe... He didn't have any idea what a saddle shoe was, is this normal? I made my excuses and left...

U need 2 wait until someone from TOWIE has rocked them...

No sure on those boots personally, but...cheat?

Go buy an aerosol can of 'shoe stretcher' and douse the inside, to moisten it up and put a little give.

Or, rub in a bunch of cobbler's cream (or if you're brave, Carr's Leather Oil), and give it time to soak in or else you'll be getting goo on your socks.

Or, go full old school and just fill them with water.

Grab sports tape, the kinesiology stuff or whatever it's called, I find it works magic to put a square of that on my heel, maybe double up if it's really painful. Often I use that over a toe that gets blistered, to take the rubbing pain away.

Normally the lining of Stows is fairly soft tan coloured leather of some description. I've seen special order Stows that have coloured linings, purple and so on, and they don't seem as soft although I've never worn a pair.

It almost sounds as if they are a bit big? The uppers don't normally need much breaking in whereas the soles, especially the leather one, can remain stiff for a good while.

Finally. Realised that yomping around London in trad leather soled shoes ain't doing my back any favours. Doc M compromise is v comfy.

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Jarrow Marchers Boots

Controversial: http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/business/historian-s-outrage-at-180-boots-being-sold-as-type-worn-by-jarrow-marchers-1-7567320

Wait so are you saying I can't buy working class authenticity?

Seriously though, he can do one. I'd rather he said he was sick of the wanky adoption the "heritage" marketing narrative.

Vintage Church's, Custom Grade 'Sahara Camelskin'. Must be old, still talk about being famous inside.

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Tell me more about the pinball machine.

In Swindon? There's hope then.....

@jaw The original pinball machine is in the corner (probably gonna sell it some time). It's a Williams 1979 Laser Ball, wide body, one of the first solid state machines. Pretty rare.
https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=13360
http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=1413

Mine is running a Rottendog MPU, because the original boards were toast. Stockpiled spare plastics and parts - bought a whole extra playfield to remove all the moving parts as spares just in case, and for a few years the spare playfield and broken plastics sat in the corner.

So now the spare playfield is my desk, had a custom cut piece of polished edge 8mm toughened glass, on top of original (broken) plastics. Haven't finished that 'project' yet so glass is still resting on the blue foam rectangles. Pic now attached when glass first arrived.

@MetalMelly exceptions prove rules.

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time for some new formal shoes for work - has anyone tried Sons of London?

That's gorgeous. Sounds like a great idea! Best era ever if you ask me.

I used to have a '78 Bally Six Million Dollar Man - the day this thing turned up I'm sure I played it nonstop for the whole easter break

Bally machines are classic, nice fast play. The Laserball has a bit of a weird setup especially being a widebody but I love it. It's covered in clothes at the moment and rarely played on but I struggle to think of selling it. Was a real tough one to repair and get working, and man you know what it's like when you play pinball...

Ex girlfriend a few years back took me to the pinball museum in Margate which was a bit odd but good fun. Some time later I treated myself to a visit to the one in Paris which is really good. Definitely recommend them if you can tolerate old school pinball.

Sons of London

They look nice, but don't strike me as exceptional value or anything. It seems to be a similar deal as Bexley, but less choice and more £s.

Personally I'd cough up an extra £30-100 and buy a decent pair of welted shoes or buy something around the £70-100 mark. Last time I looked the £100-200 price point wasn't a good one.

Agreed.

@fidbod

They look nice on the website but, like anything made in Italy, no guarantees it can survive our climate. I love subtle stitching on Oxfords, but absolutely hate rubber-injected leather soles.

Depends on your job I guess, but err on the side of comfort if you're wearing them day in and out at work. Surprisingly a cheaper pair of Jones took over from an ancient pair of all-leather Clarks for me. I wore those Clarks every day in retail and they survived a few years of punishment, and the Jones were excellent in the office - few can tell the difference anyway, if your suit fits you and shoes are polished well. Don't discount the bread and butter options from Church/Loake/Barker/etc if you can find a pair cheap - TK Maxx is your friend. A friend's Grensons cracked after a month of solid use, so buyer beware there.

I'd add carefully chosen M&S shoes from a big store - like the Finsbury Pavement, Oxford St, or Bluewater. They can be hit and miss though.

The great thing about Bexley is the whole 2nd pair for €99. It's a cost effective way to make sure you can rotate your shoes - which is a must and increase their life expectancy exponentially.

@pdlouche interesting analysis of the shoe itself - I hadn't considered it that way.

Looking for other brands to try outside of the established loake/cheaney/church etc brands. have been toying with the idea of Meermin but thier boot selection isn't the best.

Trickers?

Not loving Trickers formal boots. I do have a pair of their country brogue boots though and they are very nice too

TBH I would really like a less spendy version of Cheaney Brisworth. Can only find Meermin and Loake that do comparable

Cheaney Brisworth

Maybe something here
http://www.septiemelargeur.fr/fr/276-bottines#/page-2

If you're a size 7 I have a pair of Loake 209 that I've worn a few times and decided are too big for me and been meaning to move on.