Proper leather shoes

Blunnies?

Mine are 3 years old, worn at least 4 days a week on average and I'm not even close to wearing through the sole, got about half the thread left even on the heel

Just had a full inner and outer repair on these beauties at Kokos in E Finchley. Trouble is they're now too lovely to wear.

1 Attachment

Didn't see this. Got the dms which seem great. Sole is really grippy which is what I wanted and leather feels good.

They'll do till I can afford some chruch's.

Searched brogue boots. These came up. Fallen in love. £425 though, oof....

1 Attachment

if you're a 7.5 here's a £35 pair of crockett and jones tetbury

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282616605654?ul_noapp=true

not amazing condition but very cheap. (not mine)

Before/after stick-a-sole to show how nice the original stamped outsole was on this cemented pair.

Went to Penne and bought these for 30€ as super old stock, all calf leather and apparently made in Montegranaro. That's the place like our Sheffield etc with all the shoemakers.

Super comfy Italian made shoes, not quite the same as British made shoes but for the price couldn't resist.

The son runs the small shoe shop and the father is a cobbler with something like 70 years of experience, with this tiny workshop 2 minute walk up the street.

Anyway not the best quality shoe on this thread, but I like the stitching detail.

6 Attachments

Also boast post. Found this huge brush for 4,50€

1 Attachment

I like those shoes very much.

That's a lot of brush, there.

;)

1 Attachment

Possibly not to everyone's taste (but then what is?) but Flannels have got some bargain Grenson's in quite a few sizes at the moment:

http://www.flannels.com/grenson-stanley-brogues-112240?colcode=11224002

For £77 they're probably worth a look.

Sorry for being off-topic, but does anyone know how to fix this woven belt? Was purchased from a workshop in Florence.

The buckle section just has a sort of screwed rivet on it to secure. But how should the woven section be prepared to attach? It looks as if they used some sort of tape to join the loose woven sections!

@pdlouche can I pick your brain? My OH has some cheapish brown leather chelsea boots she wore through some rain/puddles without treatment. Best way to remove the water stain / tidemark before I polish. Will post some pics later.

That's a bit of a letdown! Looks like you need something to cinch all the ends together. Maybe a small flap of donor leather you can fold over the ends and stitch? Then I presume you could undo the rivet or drill it out and replace.

Take a very thin leather, contact adhesive, and glue to the flat piece of leather. Ideally you will also use a Singer walking foot patcher to sew across the loose pieces and hold them to the new strip. Then that can be glued/stitched/riveted to the buckle part.

You will struggle to entirely remove the stain, but you can try remove the mark if you carefully soak the whole shoe. You risk affecting the shape if you aren't careful with packing the inside (not too tight not too loose).

You can use isopropyl alcohol to soak and dry the entire upper, but otherwise use water and saddle soap if there is dirt too. The shoes may darken after you're done.

You must try to remove all the wax or other coating on the leather (saddle soap/ipa), and then soak it so that it dries consistently across the upper. Using saddle soap will soak in and you can scrub the upper too to get a good finish.

Trick is not to use heat when drying as it will shrink or cause more marks. A little above room temp, or the airing cupboard, not a radiator.

Hope that makes sense. Water marks are a bitch.

Thanks / oof !!

If you want, scrub it with spray-on saddle soap, wait for it to dry, then use cobbler's cream (or dubbin if you're brave) and you may be okay.

Thanks for the belt suggestions.

Didn't realise @Olly398 had already written out the exact thing I did..!

Lots of Trickers on TKMaxx 1/2 price (v. small / v. big sizes)
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/search/?text=trickers

Finally stopped using the red wing sole that I seem to tear through in about 6 months. Let's see how this vibram jobby lasts...

1 Attachment

Vibram is awesome. Does every step feel like your shoe is glued to the ground?

Not had a chance to bless them yet. I shall report back.

Please condition that leather though! Worn-in looks great, but leave em dry and you'll cut years off their life.

what would you use for this?