Proper leather shoes

https://www.georgecox.co.uk/men/snuff-suede-popboy-chukka

👌

I am tempted by these

IIRC the company is part owned by Brant who set up Planet X and the boots are also made by William Lennon.

These seems great. I have a pair of their trousers and they're really well made. From what I read online, Hebtreco's quality control is better than William Lennons, so it's like a pair of William Lennons but better if that makes sense

I've got two pairs of Lennon boots (waxy tan 78s and B5) and a pair of their cycling shoes; I think they're all great, and will probably get another pair when I'm looking for another pair of casual/work boots. The lead times are a bit annoying, but it does mean that you can have any custom changes made at minimal cost. I think Lennon do take a bit more care over the shoes they make for other brands; the finishing on their own stuff is sometime a bit rough and ready. OTOH you're basically getting workwear that hasn't really changed in a century, so these aren't refined pieces of footwear, and after a month or two's wear you don't notice any blemishes anyhow. In any case they're cracking VFM.

Also, trad brogues suggestions for up to £350-400? I tried on a pair of Loake 1880 Hestons yesterday and really liked them, especially for the £250 or so they were, but I know some people don't rate Loake all that much.

British-made Loake is totally fine. Indian-made is hit and miss. They are at times unfairly compared, as people compare shoes made in different countries or to different price points. See our chat upthread about the fall in quality at GH Bass, all the old brands are cutting corners.

£50 more I’d go for C&J Pembroke

https://www.crockettandjones.com/collections/mens/derbys/pembroke-darkbrown-scotch-grain/

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They look pretty good. The hard toes should soften as you wear them. The logger sole is just glued on though, no so keen on that. Would prefer the vibram commando they use on the moto boots.

Seconded. I bought some C&J double monks in that colour for my wedding and they are beautiful.

what was the (I think Scandinavian) online shoe store I think @kboy (?) linked to that had a green banner and some nice deals on handmade shoes for about €200?

Not sure. Could be https://www.pediwear.co.uk/?

Absolute n00b here in leather shoes. Looking for a pair of mid-brown brogues for my wedding. Budget max £350 ish really but would love something classic with foxing (I think that's what it's called) so nothing completely plain.

I've looked at the Loake export 1880 which are nice but am I missing out some other amazing quality brands?

Ta; there's a C&J local to me as well so I'll have a shufti and decide.

Have you looked at Church's - either the Grafton or the Burwood might work?

What size are you?

no worries, found it. It wasn't you, apologies

https://cavour.co/product-category/shoes/

don't seem to sell shoes anyhow now and half the website doesn't work. memory playing tricks on me clearly

Beware of customs charges with cavour. They have great stuff though

The new Trickers Ethan cordovan monkey boots look great.

Lovely shoes but a little out of my price range at £500, unless they re-sell somewhere cheaper?

Thought I was a 10.5 in normal shoes. Loake sized me at 9-9.5 if that's any help

Had a shufty round their website, bet you had some of those brothel creepers too!

I've been using Timpson's cobblers cream to revive some (brown) boots but I need to give them a bit more of a shine now. I don't want them super glossy but last time I polished them (kiwi polish I think) they ended up more matte than anything. Went with my usual technique of brushing it on, buffing with another brush and then a final buff with a rag but didn't seem to have great results.

Any suggestions on polish or technique?

Are you leaving them long enough for the moisture in the cream/polish to have evaporated? You should polish with the brush when it has sat for some time to dry, and the shoes shouldn’t have been worn that day or your foot sweat will still be in the leather too.

It’s all about having the absolute minimum polish that has been brushed and buffed hard and then lighter and lighter. Anything matted is usually too damp or too much polish.

Cream will give a shine but not a high polish, and if you put polish on top of cream you should wait a few days for above reasons.

Don’t apply anything else, leave them a few days and then go to town with a good brush. Then finish with a strip of old tshirt.

Cheers for the detailed response. It's generally been apply polish and then buff off a few minutes later so will try applying and then giving it a day or two before buffing.

Worth a trip to Northampton I'd say - they all have factory stores and can often pick something nice up.