Working Shoe for Young Exec - Part 2

[Limakilo]

Hi All,

The Sabot website offers The Shabot shoes made by Antonio Meccariello.

Would it be better to get the shoes direct from Antonio Meccariello website rather thru third party source?

Although the shabot is made by Meccariello and label as The Shabot, somehow feel shoes with Meccariello label is better.

Thanks in advance.

 

[arcfire]

Hi All,

The Sabot website offers The Shabot shoes made by Antonio Meccariello.

Would it be better to get the shoes direct from Antonio Meccariello website rather thru third party source?

Although the shabot is made by Meccariello and label as The Shabot, somehow feel shoes with Meccariello label is better.

Thanks in advance.

You should go with your heart since you're the one forking out the dough. No point getting a shoe that everyone raves about but you think it's butt ugly right?

When you get from a 3rd party, usually you will find designs which are not available on AM's website as most of these 3rd parties will have their own stylistic input into the shoes that they would like to carry. If you like something on their website, why not?

With AM's offerings, you'll need to be a little more aware. TM will be able to clarify this. There's been some discussion over the different offerings(construction, welting etc) from different 3rd party sellers in SF.

Either way, I believe you'll be getting an excellent pair of shoes as long as they come from AM.

 

[wiz]

The reason I have not bought anything from AM is I am unsure of the fit. They are a tad pricy and the local store will be of great temptation for now I will stick to EB

 

[arcfire]

The reason I have not bought anything from AM is I am unsure of the fit. They are a tad pricy and the local store will be of great temptation for now I will stick to EB

I'm sure TM can help you with the sizing . Emailing AM with your measurements is another option.

 

[Limakilo]

You should go with your heart since you're the one forking out the dough. No point getting a shoe that everyone raves about but you think it's butt ugly right?

When you get from a 3rd party, usually you will find designs which are not available on AM's website as most of these 3rd parties will have their own stylistic input into the shoes that they would like to carry. If you like something on their website, why not?

With AM's offerings, you'll need to be a little more aware. TM will be able to clarify this. There's been some discussion over the different offerings(construction, welting etc) from different 3rd party sellers in SF.

Either way, I believe you'll be getting an excellent pair of shoes as long as they come from AM.

Yes, the third party offers different designs from AM website. Pricing range is slightly lower for AM shoes in The Shabot label.

Should go with the design of shoes which I like. Thanks

 

[Limakilo]

The reason I have not bought anything from AM is I am unsure of the fit. They are a tad pricy and the local store will be of great temptation for now I will stick to EB

AM does advise my shoes size after I sent my feet length, vamp and instep size (can check AM website size and fitting for measurement info).

 

[thundermarch]

AM offers sizing advice based on specific foot measurements ONLY for his Argentum handwelted shoes and above.

By specific foot measurements, I mean length, tracing, width, and 4 point circumference measurements he requires from you prior to your order being placed. The final pair of shoes are made with respect to these measurements. All of such orders are made on a single-pair basis.

If you are an existing customer, based on his knowledge of your prior pairs, he can also give sizing recommendations for RTW pairs.

If you are a new customer, it is unlikely he will ask you for these specific measurements and then give you a sizing recommendation. It is simply too time consuming for him, and he is a busy guy. He will likely refer you to his online sizing calculator (on his website) instead, or give you simple sizing advice based on what you currently wear. If he does otherwise, it will likely be a favour, and an exception rather than the norm.

So if any of you guys need any AM sizing advice, I can try to help out. No vested interest for me, because I don't sell his shoes. I just think his shoes are very good.

There will not be a physical retail store for Yeossal / AM shoes. At least not in the near future. I know this for a fact.

With regards to the swedish retailer, you can see that their prices are significantly more expensive than what AM charges. Their stock RTW Argentum-welted shoes are priced like single-MTO prices from AM in the same construction.

Their house brand shoes are made to Aeris line specs. These are GYW, and inferior to the Argentum-welted line direct from AM. Aeris line shoes are not available directly through AM, but only through retailers. The exception would be if you ordered an Argentum-handwelted, or Aurum line pair, and also a pair of test shoes to go with it. Test shoes are meant for assessing the fit based on the measurements given to AM, and are made to the same standards as his Aeris line. Test shoes cost about 400-450 Euros from AM, and include the costs for last modification.

Prior to buying, it is important to know what is fact, and what is deliberate deception, false marketing and frank scam work.

 

[alvinquah]

I believe they are setting up shop in UOE Downtown Gallery. Not sure if they are open already though.

Otherwise you'll need to contact them to find out.

Just spoken to Yeossal. At the moment they have no plan to open any retail store yet. As of now they are concentrating their sales solely to online retail model. They don't rule out the possibility of retail store in near future but not now yet...

Bro maybe you mixed up with another retailer : )

 

[twomantoes]

Any idea if Grenson in UK is cheaper than the online price shown on their website? & Barker or Loake shoes have a higher quality?

 

[arcfire]

Just spoken to Yeossal. At the moment they have no plan to open any retail store yet. As of now they are concentrating their sales solely to online retail model. They don't rule out the possibility of retail store in near future but not now yet...

Bro maybe you mixed up with another retailer : )

Thanks for the clarification! Probably wrong info or maybe it's another retailer.

 

[vintagepotato]

recently came across this online shoe store called earnest collective, prices seems to be very cheap and that is what their selling point is, cheap shoes for same quality. Any reviews?

 

[arcfire]

recently came across this online shoe store called earnest collective, prices seems to be very cheap and that is what their selling point is, cheap shoes for same quality. Any reviews?

Depends on what you're comparing with.

 

[supernova]

The reason I have not bought anything from AM is I am unsure of the fit. They are a tad pricy and the local store will be of great temptation for now I will stick to EB

Without over generalising I would say half size up from EB. AM runs short.

I wear UK6 in EB 946, 062, 804 lasts (most ppl size down 804 but it's ok for me).
I wear UK6.5 in AM soft square and round lasts, and they are about the same external length as 946 in UK6.

Hope this helps.

 

[wiz]

Thanks, I am actually in between UK6 (946) and 6.5 (945) for EB hence hesitating quite a bit for AM..

Without over generalising I would say half size up from EB. AM runs short.

I wear UK6 in EB 946, 062, 804 lasts (most ppl size down 804 but it's ok for me).
I wear UK6.5 in AM soft square and round lasts, and they are about the same external length as 946 in UK6.

Hope this helps.

 

[vintagepotato]

Depends on what you're comparing with.

Okay sorry wasnt more specific haha. Would you guys think that the price is worth it for the quality of the shoes?

I mean at $124 it is really cheap but doesn't make sense for me to buy it and after a few months it spoils or get damaged

 

[arcfire]

Okay sorry wasnt more specific haha. Would you guys think that the price is worth it for the quality of the shoes?

I mean at $124 it is really cheap but doesn't make sense for me to buy it and after a few months it spoils or get damaged

Any shoe can get damaged, regardless of how good the quality it is if you abuse it. I.e. wear it to play futsal or soccer. (I know of pple that did that )

As for price, it's reasonable for cemented shoes and they offer 1 resole for free so I see that as a plus. Other shoes in the same category are about the same price or higher, unless you get them during sale periods.

Frankly, everyone has different experiences. I have Pedro shoes that lasted for more than 3 years. It would have been longer if not for the lining peeling off. For other people, it couldn't even last for 1 year so go figure.

 

[thundermarch]

Thanks, I am actually in between UK6 (946) and 6.5 (945) for EB hence hesitating quite a bit for AM..

AM's lasts all fit a little differently. Which one are you interested in?

 

[wiz]

No specific design or last but looking for something in burgundy or museum brown. Starting a gmto anytime soon ?

AM's lasts all fit a little differently. Which one are you interested in?

 

[thundermarch]

No specific design or last but looking for something in burgundy or museum brown. Starting a gmto anytime soon ?

Well... ok... Hmmm
Here's some general sizing advice for you, hope it comes in handy.

He has a series of 5 main lasts for the Argentum range.

The Hawksbill (banana shaped, almond-ish toe), the Soft Square, the Chisel 1 and 2, and the Argentum Round.

There is another roundish last (Argentum Last B) that he developed mainly for boots. I will leave out this last.

In terms of fit, the Hawksbill and Soft Square are the slimmest / narrowest and almost always would require a half size up from your normal size.

The Argentum Round last I feel is the most generous, is wider at the toe box, but has an equivalent instep, but is a little longer than the Hawksbill. For more narrow footed, lowish instep guys, this would probably work for you in your normal size.

The Chisel 1 and 2 fit identically, the only difference being the toe shape. And is somewhat in between the Round last, and the Hawksbill.

I am not planning any GMTOs at the moment, but if there are sufficient interests, or if you have any ideas, I can help to organise / run point if you want. Or better yet, I can help with the organisation, and then refer the entire GMTO to Antonio via Yeossal, since he is the official Singapore distributor, and he's an honest, nice guy.

Although Yeossal does not have a retail shop, if any of you guys have genuine interest in the shoes and would need a test fit, I would encourage you guys to contact him to see if an off-the-cuff meet up can be arranged. I am sure he would try his best to help.

 

[wiz]

Thanks TM great guide !

Well... ok... Hmmm
Here's some general sizing advice for you, hope it comes in handy.

He has a series of 5 main lasts for the Argentum range.

The Hawksbill (banana shaped, almond-ish toe), the Soft Square, the Chisel 1 and 2, and the Argentum Round.

There is another roundish last (Argentum Last B) that he developed mainly for boots. I will leave out this last.

In terms of fit, the Hawksbill and Soft Square are the slimmest / narrowest and almost always would require a half size up from your normal size.

The Argentum Round last I feel is the most generous, is wider at the toe box, but has an equivalent instep, but is a little longer than the Hawksbill. For more narrow footed, lowish instep guys, this would probably work for you in your normal size.

The Chisel 1 and 2 fit identically, the only difference being the toe shape. And is somewhat in between the Round last, and the Hawksbill.

I am not planning any GMTOs at the moment, but if there are sufficient interests, or if you have any ideas, I can help to organise / run point if you want. Or better yet, I can help with the organisation, and then refer the entire GMTO to Antonio via Yeossal, since he is the official Singapore distributor, and he's an honest, nice guy.

Although Yeossal does not have a retail shop, if any of you guys have genuine interest in the shoes and would need a test fit, I would encourage you guys to contact him to see if an off-the-cuff meet up can be arranged. I am sure he would try his best to help.