Working Shoe for Young Exec - Part 2

[urbanturban]

Hello guys. Young exec here too. Looking for an entry pair, no stranger to gyw shoes. Missed out on the et ed al sales couple weeks(?) back, would Allen Edmonds, meermin or even et ed al be a good entry pair? I'll be wearing on rotation since I'm not required to be on office wear daily.

Yes they are all fine for entry level. I find Loake 1880 range pretty good value for money as well.

 

[basic___]

Hello guys. Young exec here too. Looking for an entry pair, no stranger to gyw shoes. Missed out on the et ed al sales couple weeks(?) back, would Allen Edmonds, meermin or even et ed al be a good entry pair? I'll be wearing on rotation since I'm not required to be on office wear daily.

LLYR is still having their 30% sales I think

 

[Emospence]

Hello guys. Young exec here too. Looking for an entry pair, no stranger to gyw shoes. Missed out on the et ed al sales couple weeks(?) back, would Allen Edmonds, meermin or even et ed al be a good entry pair? I'll be wearing on rotation since I'm not required to be on office wear daily.

Not sure how much is your budget but can consider Carlos Santos from Skoak (just look at the derbies posted by pwillie a couple pages back!), or Yanko at Lusso if you prefer to be able to see the shoes in the flesh first

 

[Wryer]

For me personally it's due to the grip. I walk a lot and because Singapore's weather is quite unpredictable I don't want to slip and fall lah

This.

Honestly I've had a lot of near falls with my leather soles. And they are honestly not fun to experience. Lots of places in SG have incredible slippery floors when it's wet. There comes to a point where appreciation of artistry has to give way for function - and this is one of them.

 

[urbanturban]

I have more issues with Dainite on granite than with any of my leather sole shoes.

 

[thundermarch]

Leather soles are certainly not any more slippery than any other material. Certainly.

 

[paladin]

Leather soles are certainly not any more slippery than any other material. Certainly.

I think that it depends on the varnish finish and how worn the sole is before contact with slippery wet surface. My old bata ambassador was slippery to the max

 

[All in a Day]

This.

Honestly I've had a lot of near falls with my leather soles. And they are honestly not fun to experience. Lots of places in SG have incredible slippery floors when it's wet. There comes to a point where appreciation of artistry has to give way for function - and this is one of them.

This will always be a controversial topic, especially on this thread!

I would say that leather soles are definitely slippery when brand new but they roughen up pretty quickly with use, and after a few wears will not generally be more slippery than say, rubber soles.

However, IMHO, I think one is likely to get more mileage out of a pair of rubber soles than leather soles, all else equal, and for that reason I choose to affix topy/vibram on my shoes.

 

[thundermarch]

I think that it depends on the varnish finish and how worn the sole is before contact with slippery wet surface. My old bata ambassador was slippery to the max

Any "varnish finish" applied on soles becomes a non factor within the first 20 seconds of walking on first wear. It doesn't take much friction to scuff a leather sole. That's why try-ons should always be done on carpets.

 

[arcfire]

Any "varnish finish" applied on soles becomes a non factor within the first 20 seconds of walking on first wear. It doesn't take much friction to scuff a leather sole. That's why try-ons should always be done on carpets.

For me I feel that the slippery part is more of the heels than the front, though granted that the metal taps and occasional nails at the tip do contribute to some slippage.

The nails on the heel is what makes the heel slippery for me. Perhaps its the way I walk. The rubber part is perfectly fine but when the leather portion with nails in it hit the ground, there's a higher possibility of slipping, particularly when walking down a slope.

Leather quality also makes a slight difference. If you compare say JR soles versus soles from Meermin, there's an obvious difference in the grip of the shoe.

 

[JoePilot]

Hello guys. Young exec here too. Looking for an entry pair, no stranger to gyw shoes. Missed out on the et ed al sales couple weeks(?) back, would Allen Edmonds, meermin or even et ed al be a good entry pair? I'll be wearing on rotation since I'm not required to be on office wear daily.

Yr most important question shd be, what's my size?
Fit is the most important

 

[JoePilot]

Dainite + hawker centre floors =

 

[Millimeter]

I found my really old pair of shoes in the storeroom, recall paying almost $300 for them a few years back at Tangs. The brand has faded off so I don't know what brand it is, but all it says on the sole is "Vero Cuoio" and "Made in Italy". Not sure if it's GYW, and whether it's worth resoling. Any advice, based on pics below?

 

[arcfire]

I found my really old pair of shoes in the storeroom, recall paying almost $300 for them a few years back at Tangs. The brand has faded off so I don't know what brand it is, but all it says on the sole is "Vero Cuoio" and "Made in Italy". Not sure if it's GYW, and whether it's worth resoling. Any advice, based on pics below?

Looks like blake stitched to me. The upper looks ok and frankly I think the sole still looks pretty ok to wear. I don't think you need to resole it.

Unless your lining has given way, otherwise a quick conditioning and polish will make it look great.

 

[Millimeter]

Looks like blake stitched to me. The upper looks ok and frankly I think the sole still looks pretty ok to wear. I don't think you need to resole it.

Unless your lining has given way, otherwise a quick conditioning and polish will make it look great.

Erm actually under the anti-slip adhesive the sole is kind of crumbly already lol. So most prob need to resole which I think costs $180. Not sure if worth it.

 

[Wryer]

Perhaps I should have further qualified -

Agree that soles of other materials would be slippery as well, and the quality/varnish of the leather sole makes a big difference. And I believe the way one walks also makes a difference. Main thing is, if it's too slippery for you, then get a topy done. If you need it, you need it. Don't see a point in insisting on it raw when you need protection. Not pretty falling down on your butt with a beautiful shoe.

Personal experience was my EEA which took very long to become anti-slip. I was even slipping on my office carpet! But the Loakes were fine out of the box.

 

[Emospence]

Reading about the construction on A.Meccariello's website got me thinking, what's everyone's thoughts on gemming in GYW shoes?

Perhaps some anecdotal experience from people who have shoes that are some years old?

 

[arcfire]

Erm actually under the anti-slip adhesive the sole is kind of crumbly already lol. So most prob need to resole which I think costs $180. Not sure if worth it.

Was the anti slip something that came with the shoes originally or was that slapped on to it?

Better to bring to a cobbler who would be able to better advise you on what is needed to be done. If you need to completely resole, I don't think it's worth it, unless the shoe has sentimental value to you.

 

[arcfire]

Reading about the construction on A.Meccariello's website got me thinking, what's everyone's thoughts on gemming in GYW shoes?

Perhaps some anecdotal experience from people who have shoes that are some years old?

I haven't had GYW shoes for long enough to know if gemming makes that much of a difference.

 

[Millimeter]

Was the anti slip something that came with the shoes originally or was that slapped on to it?

Better to bring to a cobbler who would be able to better advise you on what is needed to be done. If you need to completely resole, I don't think it's worth it, unless the shoe has sentimental value to you.

Oh I got Tangs to put it on for me the moment I bought it. No sentiment actually lol but I think I'll bring it to Kip and Kwik this weekend maybe, just to see if it really needs to be resoled. Thank you!