August 27, 2013
It is often said that shoes are an accessory to an outfit. I have never really agreed with this train of thought as I believe that shoes are one of the more integral (if not the most integral) parts of your wardrobe. Without them you can’t really go out in public. And in even in some cases, you would not be allowed into an establishment without them. This clearly contradicts the idea of an accessory, […]
August 26, 2013
Bestetti’s workshop must be one of the greatest places on earth (for shoe lovers). The amount of shoe greatness that he creates on a regular basis, must add up and create a stockpile of beautiful pieces of art that one could drool over for hours on end. While I go to Italy quite frequently (to visit the in-laws), I find it saddening that I never get a chance to make it up to Vigevano (about […]
July 23, 2013
So needless to say it’s been quite a learning experience understanding the ropes of turnaround/replenishment times from the day that I place an order to the day that I receive the order in full. Some things come as quick as 6-8 weeks, others as slow as 8-14 weeks. It can be quite frustrating at times, but I believe that the new found delay has been due to a more strict quality control put in place […]
December 6, 2012
It’s been awhile since I have showed you one of my daily outfits to allow you all a chance to critique me, mainly because lately I simply can’t be asked to take photos of myself, especially since my time at Gieves & Hawkes these days is completely accounted for, down to the last second! But every now and then when I manage to put something together that I personally find appealing, I figure, ‘what the […]
November 20, 2012
For those of you that have been reading my blog for a long time, you will have undoubtedly heard me ranting and raving about the lack of wholecut loafers on offer within the shoe industry. Instead, every loafer on offer seems to have an apron stitch, some tassels or the penny strap across the vamp. But rarely do you see a nice wholecut loafer without anything other than a medallion or even completely clean…..Because this […]
October 15, 2012
A trip to Paris is not complete without me giving Septieme Largeur a visit to see what they have been cooking up! And it just so happened that a lot of their Fall/Winter 2012 product was coming in and I had the chance to take a couple of snaps for all of you to preview. I never tire of this brand because there is always something fresh to see, whether it’s a new patina color/variation […]
July 27, 2012
Picture Courtesy Of: So Black Tie Time and time again, I am constantly impressed by what the French shoemaking firms are coming up with. Never do they really cease to amaze me and frequently are they trying to step outside of the box and create something that while may have been done before, has a twist to it. Being that red on black (as an accent color) is my staple combination (think my bespoke saddle […]
March 6, 2012
Dear Readers, I have finally received the rest of my prototypes, adjusted up to this point, and am feeling a whole lot better about the way that my line is taking shape. At this moment, the shoes are finally done with all of the pattern adjustments, which takes up the majority of the prototype work. Now, I just have to finalize the minute details like lining & sole colors, perfecting the medallion (placing on shoe […]
December 17, 2011
There is something about wholecut loafers that I just absolutely love. The fact that they seem to derive from a Prince Albert shoe but usually will have a normal sole on them and are intended for actual wear as opposed to prancing around your big mansion, is quite appealing to me. And then, there are so many things that you can do to them to give them a little bit of character, like add a […]
October 9, 2011
I have always had this love/hate relationship with Berluti. I have always loved them for their stylistic nature. I must say that the designers, for me, have always hit the nail on the head and made some of the most elegant shoes that I have ever seen. I have always hated them for their price vs. cost vs. quality factor and how I believe that their mark up is way beyond reason, which will also […]
