Working Shoe for Young Exec - Part 2

[yswrox]

Hmm...I'm still a beginner collector and slowly looking to expand my collection.

Currently got 2 pairs of Carmina and wearing Atelier LLYR as daily beaters. I have to step into industrial areas often and remove shoes to enter carpet offices of customers so the Atelier LLYR pair which are loafers are more convenient.

 

[thundermarch]

Hmm...I'm still a beginner collector and slowly looking to expand my collection.

Currently got 2 pairs of Carmina and wearing Atelier LLYR as daily beaters. I have to step into industrial areas often and remove shoes to enter carpet offices of customers so the Atelier LLYR pair which are loafers are more convenient.

I know chelsea boots do get some flak. But if convenience of putting on and taking off is something that you are very particular about, you could really consider getting a pair.
They're really easy to slip on / off, and are dressy enough (if in black or mid / dark brown) for the office environment.

 

[yswrox]

I know chelsea boots do get some flak. But if convenience of putting on and taking off is something that you are very particular about, you could really consider getting a pair.
They're really easy to slip on / off, and are dressy enough (if in black or mid / dark brown) for the office environment.

To be honest, I just don't really like boots as I feel a bit restricted in them. Or maybe just too much memories of BMT

I guess also it's a bit too heart pain to wear Carmina to industrial areas...Shoes get damaged very easily...

 

[Izumanyan]

Anyone can recommend some office shoes that accomodate wide feet and orthopedic insoles? Basically needs to be wide and the arch support needs to be not very aggressive so that i can add on my own insoles. Existing insoles need to be on the thinner end as well so that my heel doesn't slip out with the addition of my orthopedic insoles.

Budget around 300-400. Looking for something that can last 3+ years with minimal care. Size is around US 11.0. Got such magical leather or not? Prefer to try the shoes in person rather than buy from online due to my weird feet.

 

[thundermarch]

To be honest, I just don't really like boots as I feel a bit restricted in them. Or maybe just too much memories of BMT

I guess also it's a bit too heart pain to wear Carmina to industrial areas...Shoes get damaged very easily...

An alternative would be a pair of chukkas with rubber soles.
I find chukkas very easy to take off and put on as well. No shoe horns needed either.

The Loake Pimlico is a fairly budget chukka that could suit your needs.

 

[evangel21]

To be honest, I just don't really like boots as I feel a bit restricted in them. Or maybe just too much memories of BMT

I guess also it's a bit too heart pain to wear Carmina to industrial areas...Shoes get damaged very easily...

Have you considered single/double monks or lazyman? Formal enough for office wear and easy to put on and take off.

 

[likehotbutter]

Some pics of C&J's Russian Leather Radnor 4

Got them from the Jermyn Street store before heading up to the Scottish Highlands, so their virgin wear period included lots of shitty cold wet weather, soft peaty mud and cobblestones upon cobblestones.

The main characteristics of Russian Leather tannage were a long tan using willow bark followed by currying with seal and birch oil. Supposedly "closely reversed engineered" by Baker with young ox hides using both Willow & Oak bark. No idea about the Seal oil but Birch Oil was used. Pattern was embossed afterwards

Smell wasnt so evident brand new but the pairs do give off a very distinct Bacon-esque/ Smoked Salmon scent, especially after wears.

Grain pattern

 

[Belthasar]

They are one of the most affordable Japanese bespoke makers out there.
A bespoke pair costs just slightly above 3K SGD all in.
The typical price for Japanese bespoke is approximately in the low to mid 4K range.
Their work looks pretty good. But I must say I find the Ugolini trained Japanese makers (like Seigaku from Corno Blu), aren't quite as refined as the UK trained ones (like Yohei Fukuda).
The GYW range from Corno is actually pretty expensive at 1K ish. But looks to be very well done as well.... I would say if you are looking in that price range, you can also look at Joe Works. Also pretty good GYW stuff. Certainly, at that price range, I would pick them over Northampton "high end" crap. And with the spare change, still have enough money for a pair of EB's if they were in the odd stock section of SkoaB.
I've been emailing Corno Blu as I will be in Fukuoka this coming January, and I think I'd likely pay them a visit, but their English is .... really hard to understand.

Thanks a lot TM. You could set up a directory for Japan soon at this rate! Ah I see, different masters different priorities I guess. Never knew about Joe Works thank you!
Still at that range, you would have gone way past EBs here now that I think about it. I'm sure Ryan and Enzo would be much easier to communicate with. Haha that's a given as they were trained in Italy, but I'm sure you will have contacts to help you out.

Now that I think about it too, do you share the same "appetite" with Japanese tailors?

 

[thundermarch]

Some pics of C&J's Russian Leather Radnor 4

Got them from the Jermyn Street store before heading up to the Scottish Highlands, so their virgin wear period included lots of shitty cold wet weather, soft peaty mud and cobblestones upon cobblestones.

The main characteristics of Russian Leather tannage were a long tan using willow bark followed by currying with seal and birch oil. Supposedly "closely reversed engineered" by Baker with young ox hides using both Willow & Oak bark. No idea about the Seal oil but Birch Oil was used. Pattern was embossed afterwards

Smell wasnt so evident brand new but the pairs do give off a very distinct Bacon-esque/ Smoked Salmon scent, especially after wears.

Very nice! Great looking boots.
Looks like you've got your wish of having "proper" Russian leather without having to go the CMT route.
The next level will be to shoot a reindeer and bring the hide to Baker to tan.

 

[thundermarch]

Thanks a lot TM. You could set up a directory for Japan soon at this rate! Ah I see, different masters different priorities I guess. Never knew about Joe Works thank you!
Still at that range, you would have gone way past EBs here now that I think about it. I'm sure Ryan and Enzo would be much easier to communicate with. Haha that's a given as they were trained in Italy, but I'm sure you will have contacts to help you out.

Now that I think about it too, do you share the same "appetite" with Japanese tailors?

You're welcome man.
Well, I'm no "Japan expert" and have actually gained a lot from Nutcracker's posts on SF. Nutcracker is actually Robin, from OakRoom Taiwan.
The SF community owes a lot to him... you can check out the Japanese bespoke shoe thread.
For the second bespoke maker I tried (Eiji Murata), he actually speaks very minimal English and I'd had help from a friend, translating emails back and forth from Eng to Jap and the other way round. It's a very, very tedious process. But he's totally worth it. With him, I think I've found my sweet spot among the Japanese bespoke makers, and will be sticking with him mostly, from here on out.
With regards to Japanese tailors, I've been wanting to try them for awhile now and had made enquiries with Vick Tailor (with Yohei Fukuda's help), and Sartoria Corcos.
Corcos is fully booked for the entire 2017 and will not accept new clients, and I think it's going to be difficult getting tailoring done with Vick due to the timings of the fittings needed, and trying to coincide these with shoe fittings and trips to Japan. I'll see how things go, but in the meantime, Lusso actually more than meets my tailoring needs.

 

[wiz]

Just left Lusso and they now accept credit cards!! Sweetener for more shoes and men's wear...

 

[Emospence]

Just left Lusso and they now accept credit cards!! Sweetener for more shoes and men's wear...

Oh? That's convenient.

 

[iphone1s]

Some pics of C&J's Russian Leather Radnor 4

Got them from the Jermyn Street store before heading up to the Scottish Highlands, so their virgin wear period included lots of shitty cold wet weather, soft peaty mud and cobblestones upon cobblestones.

WHERE DID YOU GET THIS!!! I WANT THIS BOOTS IN BLACK!

RWAR!!


that's the height I am always talking about! OMG!!! I am soooo liking this boots!

 

[thundermarch]

WHERE DID YOU GET THIS!!! I WANT THIS BOOTS IN BLACK!

RWAR!!


that's the height I am always talking about! OMG!!! I am soooo liking this boots!

The boots are available direct through Crockett and Jones.
They cost approximately 1K SGD.
They are not available in black.
There are many boots with this shaft height. It's not uncommon.

 

[iphone1s]

The boots are available direct through Crockett and Jones.
They cost approximately 1K SGD.
They are not available in black.
There are many boots with this shaft height. It's not uncommon.

1K jaw drop liao.. I am a poor insurance agent.

Do u know of any shops in Singapore which sells that kinda height of boots?

 

[thundermarch]

1K jaw drop liao.. I am a poor insurance agent.

Do u know of any shops in Singapore which sells that kinda height of boots?

To be honest I haven't seen a local retailer carry boots.
I don't even recall the local Carmina outlet having any.
You're probably going to have to get it online.

 

[iphone1s]

To be honest I haven't seen a local retailer carry boots.
I don't even recall the local Carmina outlet having any.
You're probably going to have to get it online.

Thanks bro.

In your opinion and experience, do u know of any online retailers who sells boots that are waterproof/resistant with such height and black?

 

[Darknight55]

To be honest I haven't seen a local retailer carry boots.
I don't even recall the local Carmina outlet having any.
You're probably going to have to get it online.

I saw the local Carmina outlet having boots... for women

 

[All in a Day]

Thanks bro.

In your opinion and experience, do u know of any online retailers who sells boots that are waterproof/resistant with such height and black?

Would this be to your liking? http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/product-info.php?colset=1&styleid=2057&shoeid=7761&brandid=7&catid=20&oldcolid=4135&stype=0&colourid=4135

The brand is loake n model name is hyde. If this suits your needs, good news is lots of online retailers carry them, bad news is u just missed black friday deals to get these cheaper.

 

[thundermarch]

Thanks bro.

In your opinion and experience, do u know of any online retailers who sells boots that are waterproof/resistant with such height and black?

Since you seem to not be averse to open lacing or a country looking grain for your office boots, you should just get them from here:

https://www.skoaktiebolaget.se/collections/carlos-santos

There are 2 possible styles:
- The Carlos Santos Grain Patina Field Boot (order it in Noir)
- The Carlos Santos Patina Service (choose the Jumper Boot 8866, in Noir Patina). In fact, I might be doing the exact same thing just to buy a pair of "proper" boots for reservist.
Both these options will set you back by just slightly over 400SGD.