Working Shoe for Young Exec - Part 2

[All in a Day]

I personally find that shoes using better polished leathers are good for trashing around, with polish required only when you need to cover up minor scuffs/scratches. If not the leather does pretty well on its on. No fussing about needed.

At those pricepoints no need to worry about GST. IIRC GST only applicable to declared value of SGD400 and above.

I personally prefer working eith Herring because their customer service is superb, delivery via DHL although at GBP20 is slightly pricey but fast and easy to deal with.

For Robinson's Shoes you have to note that free shipping is only applicable for purchases above GBP150 (after deducting VAT from listed price).

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Word of caution on polished leather is that once scuffed, more or less GG and it's hard to touch up whereas on calf leather, u can apply crème/wax (don't work on polish leather) to cover up. Also once cracked (more likely than calf IMHO, cause of the synthetic layer), is also GG.

But otherwise yes, easy maintenance if one does not like polishing, just wipe down with dry/damp cloth periodically.

Herring shoes definitely the best customer service and delivery speed but comes at a price. DHL = gst once over item valued over SGD400. Lastly, Herring seldom discounts for 3rd party brands. If I wanted to get Loake/Barker, definitely go for Robinson's over Herring. The downside to Robinson's is the speed of delivery, but at cheap prices given frequency of their discount codes and not likely to hit GST (anyway Loake/Barker prices typically within SGD400).

Meermin is abit of a lucky draw QC wise. Stand by my analogy of Meermin to a Zara/H&M of men's GYW dress shoes previously.

And lastly from personal experience of Herring own brand shoes, they always seem to price about GBP30-50 less than the equivalent range offered by the OEM and that IMHO is reflected in somewhat poorer quality compared to a similar model under the actual brand itself.

 

[darthsid11111]

Word of caution on polished leather is that once scuffed, more or less GG and it's hard to touch up whereas on calf leather, u can apply crème/wax (don't work on polish leather) to cover up. Also once cracked (more likely than calf IMHO, cause of the synthetic layer), is also GG.

But otherwise yes, easy maintenance if one does not like polishing, just wipe down with dry/damp cloth periodically.

Herring shoes definitely the best customer service and delivery speed but comes at a price. DHL = gst once over item valued over SGD400. Lastly, Herring seldom discounts for 3rd party brands. If I wanted to get Loake/Barker, definitely go for Robinson's over Herring. The downside to Robinson's is the speed of delivery, but at cheap prices given frequency of their discount codes and not likely to hit GST (anyway Loake/Barker prices typically within SGD400).

Meermin is abit of a lucky draw QC wise. Stand by my analogy of Meermin to a Zara/H&M of men's GYW dress shoes previously.

And lastly from personal experience of Herring own brand shoes, they always seem to price about GBP30-50 less than the equivalent range offered by the OEM and that IMHO is reflected in somewhat poorer quality compared to a similar model under the actual brand itself.

To add on,durability of said shoes are still better than the mass market pedro and aldos out there...

Expect at least more than a year's worth of wear especially if well taken care of.

For polished leather I have found wax polish effective in covering up scuffs. It works the same way you were taught to cake on black kiwi on your army boots.

If you take that step you'll find the uppers will last you a long time.

Taking reference from the army comparison, I'm a combat engineer and cut up my boots pretty badly during exercises due to barbed/concertina wire and iron picket work.. My combat boots always passed muster for inspections thanks to a healthy kiwi (wax polish) brush shine regime.

The cementing on my boots were what failed me after more than 2 years (full time service+1 cycle reservice).


Based on that experience I would hazard that polished leather, a healthy brush shine regime, and vibram sole protectors would allow polished leather welted shoes to last a very very long time.
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[arcfire]

Italigente looks ok but somehow i'm a little doubtful of the leather quality... closer look at the magnified images show some weird spots on the shoes.

At sub 500, they are pretty interesting but i'd rather look for alternate sources of getting Carminas.

 

[dark_aLLeY]

Josh just got featured on CNA.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/he-puts-his-soul-into-his/2522582.html

Is that you, thundermarch?

 

[arcfire]

Is that you, thundermarch?

Looks to be so!

 

[thundermarch]

Yes. That's me.

 

[ahboy82]

Thks for that long article review on all the good shoes but i juz wan to hear from u guys on grenson shoes?

Keen to get them but from the article i read that there r models made in india? Not keen in those man.

 

[darthsid11111]

Thks for that long article review on all the good shoes but i juz wan to hear from u guys on grenson shoes?

Keen to get them but from the article i read that there r models made in india? Not keen in those man.

So if you're not keen already then... What is your question? Sounds like you've already made up your mind.

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[WakeUpDead]

Thks for that long article review on all the good shoes but i juz wan to hear from u guys on grenson shoes?

Keen to get them but from the article i read that there r models made in india? Not keen in those man.

IIRC, since 2008 they have mostly produced their shoes in India. Apparently their QC has suffered because of this. I own a pair from this "inferior"production line and they look and feel fine. A bit heavy but quality wise I see no issues.

 

[dj_flame]

Thks for that long article review on all the good shoes but i juz wan to hear from u guys on grenson shoes?

Keen to get them but from the article i read that there r models made in india? Not keen in those man.

Please read https://parisiangentleman.co.uk/2015/08/23/parisian-gentlemans-mens-shoe-review-2015-2016-part-12/.

Your answers are in there.

 

[dj_flame]

Also just learnt that Septieme Largeur has a brick and mortar on Pickering.

Interesting.

 

[likehotbutter]

Also just learnt that Septieme Largeur has a brick and mortar on Pickering.

Interesting.

super overpriced

 

[dark_aLLeY]

Thks for that long article review on all the good shoes but i juz wan to hear from u guys on grenson shoes?

Keen to get them but from the article i read that there r models made in india? Not keen in those man.

http://why-youmad.com/tag/grenson/

Grenson has 3 different grades, G2, G1 and GZero. G2 is the least expensive of the three and also the lowest quality of the three. You have a G2. The G2s are made in India and Grenson tries to hide this fact by putting on little stickers which say “Made in India”. Usually these little stickers fall off or taken off by retailers and you just assume they were “Made in England”. The easiest way to spot a G2 is by the color of the insole, it’s usually red. Another thing to keep in mind is the retail price, if the shoe retails around $300 ($400 for boots) it’s probably a G2.

The G1 grades are pretty much Northampton, England made, better quality, G2s. The GZero models are Northampton, England made aswell and are lined in the same leather as the uppers and have an extra piece of leather covering the outsole stitching. From what I understand, Grenson makes Paul Stuart shoes and they are usually G1s with some G0s thrown in every so often and the Barbour x Grenson collaboration are all G1s. G2s are not bad and are excellent for the price-point.

This guy pretty much summed it up.

 

[dj_flame]

super overpriced

Yeah, we're looking at a $200 markup from European prices.

 

[All in a Day]

super overpriced

Shop is empty most times I pass by. Closed by 7pm on weekday nights.

Don't know how the 2 ex-bankers manage and even open shop in Taiwan/Indon and get distribution rights in Asian countries.

 

[fzhfzh]

Looks like blake stitched with synthetic inner works, heel etc.

if like that can call "artisan hand made" then shukey gluing vibrams can also join the same league.

Dont get taken in by sweet marketing talk please

Ah ok thanks, got a pair of Allen Edmonds made in italy loafers instead as it's on clearance sale.

 

[urbanturban]

Shop is empty most times I pass by. Closed by 7pm on weekday nights.

Don't know how the 2 ex-bankers manage and even open shop in Taiwan/Indon and get distribution rights in Asian countries.

Promise a minimum order.
Burn capital.
Not that difficult if you have a big reserve in the wallet.

 

[dj_flame]

Promise a minimum order.
Burn capital.
Not that difficult if you have a big reserve in the wallet.

Yes. Basically similar to how Surrender has survived over/close to a decade, the owner comes from IndoChinese money.

 

[dj_flame]

Hi Shoe People,

PSA - Santoni FAM (Orange socks mostly, may have a few tan ones?) going for $450 a pair at Takashimaya Men's level 3. Lots of sizes.

Should be cheaper than full retail in the West.

Hope this was useful.

 

[ahboy82]

IIRC, since 2008 they have mostly produced their shoes in India. Apparently their QC has suffered because of this. I own a pair from this "inferior"production line and they look and feel fine. A bit heavy but quality wise I see no issues.

Thks!!! Nice to hear that