Proper leather shoes

i find longwings looking really weird on their own, but great on when the trouser covers the heel

Cordovan is just the shit close up.

Yum. These are serious shoes and well out of my range.

Why? Do they only make them for men? :)

Bape brogues, quite nice actually. For Da Hipsterzz

http://www.hypebeast.com/image/2011/03/mr-bathing-ape-by-united-arrows-leather-brogue-0.jpeg

are you talking about cordovan or burgundy/claret?

the ones with the star look awful.

in other news mr 'rapha' mottram wears a rather fetching pair of white brouges by tricker's. i forgot to suggest he might like to get a markerpen and draw a black band round them.

I have just had some good results that I thought I'd share.

I have a pair of shoes, made out of a particular kind a leather (produced by American tannery Horween) called Chromexcel, that I wasn't been entirely happy with as the brown wasn't as dark as I wanted. So I looked into ways of darkening them and came up with a few options:

Neatsfoot oil - an oil that is used in the leather's production that, like most oils, darkens the leather when it's applied. However, it doesn't last forever and the leather will lighten up as it dries out again.

Dubbin - in particular Saphir's Graisse (graisse is French for grease I believe) that would also moisturise the leather and darken it slightly.

Dark shoe polish- As a wax rather than an oil-based product this is not strictly recommended for use on this particular kind of leather, but I thought it might temporarily darken the colour and darken it permanently over time

Leather dye - Kiwi and a few other companies do a readily available leather dye that comes in a bottle, that dyes the leather permanently but has to be applied extremely cautiously.

Darkening oil - is a product that I found through a Horse riding forum, that is colourless and is applied like any leather conditioning oil, but that darkens the leather with each application.

Anyway, I went with the last option and bought some Hydrophane brand darkening oil. It worked really well. I was sceptical at first as I couldn't (and still can't) understand how it works, but after two coats the leather is substantially darker. It's easy to use and covers evenly. Also, it isn't overly greasy and doesn't make the leather limp or over-moisturised. I imagine it'd work on other leather items (saddles?) to a greater or lesser extent.

I have about 95% of a 500ml bottle left if anyone wants to give it a go.

what kind of high did you get from sniffing it?

Bape brogues.......

I own a pair of well worn brogues, that were identical to this^^^^^^ when bought new, from an Italian shoe shop in Chiswick, many years ago.

In browsing for Bape Shoes/Brogues, I found that they are makers and purveyors of quite the nastiest footwear***** that I've ever had the misfortune to set eyes on. I feel that such shoes should not be seen in public, as they are most likely to bring on bouts of epilepsy, even in those that are not previously prone.

However, the was a silver lining behind this dismal cloud, and that was my stumbling upon the work of MARC HARE; of Hare Shoes. He does make a lovely shoe. I would buy Bape shoes (the brogues being exempt) for someone that I truly have a low appreciation of. If vomit and shit could be mixed together and sold, it would be fair to call them Bape Shoes (brogues exempt of course).

http://www.mrhare.co.uk/Aint%20No%20App%20For%20That.html
http://www.mrhare.co.uk/Miss%20Your%20Air.html
http://www.mrhare.co.uk/Hot%20Steppers.html
http://www.mrhare.co.uk/Purest%20Form.html

*Maybe I have over-egged that a tad; though truthfully, it may also have been an understatement.

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Picked up a pair of Clarks Desert Boots. Nice!

treat them with something that repels anything in a liquid state.

even though they're leather rather than suede? how about a transparent polish?

those mr bape brogues dont look too far off the loake royal brogues, would have to see them up close - in Present right?

Well they are both long-wings.

what kind of high did you get from sniffing it?

Actually there weren't any detectable fumes. It was fumeless. So, I will say a sort of carbon monoxide/nuclear waste high. It was great but I'm over it now.

slightly ot but has anyone used mink oil to soften up leather jackets, and if so, how does it work and where can you get it in east/central?

doesn't mink oil rotten stitching in the long run?

i'm not sure, hence why i'm asking

ALDEN Shoes are an outfit from across the pond. Quite traditional stuff.

Maison Martin Margiela , only a mere £500.oo But, it does stand out.

Like a brogue procreated with a Dutch clog, and this was the baby. Strange, but beautiful.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn137/GA2G/clog-brogue.jpg
http://static.lfgss.com/attachments/40481d1306758990-mm0868blk_05.jpg
http://static.lfgss.com/attachments/40482d1306759000-mm0868blk_02.jpg

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Nope. I don't like them. It looks like they haven't been finished yet; merely a cobbler's toile. Surely as a fan of the English shoe makers you prefer proper blocking?

I like them. I think they provoke comment. Though, the comments could be preceded by raucous laughter. Still, leather shoes should dare, and these do. I would wear them on sunny days, in very informal settings. But the £500.oo could be better used to help purchase a steel frame I am dreaming about.

They look ace but would be fucked in the rain

Would look even more ace teamed with these awesome sock suspenders...

#inbadtaste