Yes, that's my dirty laundry. The point is to contrast the classic nature of oxford cloth and madras against some pretty wacky shoes from John Lobb. Known as the Foxton, I found these on sale. Tried them on and they fit. I told the salesman, "You know, I can see the quality. The leather is beautiful. But they're so ugly." He knocked off 30%. I passed.I walked around. He followed me. "You know, I can knock off another 15%." He set the hook. Not that this guy looked like he did a lot of fishing. So, I own these shoes. I've studied them. Researched them (2006 model from Lobb's Prestige line). And I still don't know. Will you help me? Should I ebay these or keep them?
I have two other pair of Lobbs. The cap toe and Monk strap. They're black. They're conservative. I love'em. But these...
I'm no expert in wearing men's shoes. I do however observe men's shoes. I think they're quite sleek and clean. I won't be wearing them though.
ReplyDeleteAs the potential wearer, if your first reaction was "they're ugly", I think that's telling. And perhaps pointing you to eBay. I do totally relate to why you bought them - I would have been putty in that salesman's hands too.
Please advise what your final decision is.
You asked for it...
ReplyDeleteI know what I like, and it doesn't include those shoes. E-bay.
Scott
Sorry, but I like them...I mean I wouldn't wear them as normal loafers, but in the picture they remind me of a summer in Positano (hey, you never know)You're on vacation there, and black shoes or bass weejuns and shorts just aren't cutting it. You don't want to wear shorts for drinks this evening with that cute lady because that's what tourists do. She wouldn't like it. So you pair them with blue or cream linen slacks (or any other summer trousers like seersucker, or summer weight flannel in light gray) and go sockless, and odd jacket, or not. If you're hair color is close it'll work. If you have darker hair, stain them a bit darker with polish. If you're graying, leave them as they are..it works better than you think
ReplyDeleteI know you'll feel a little euro trash at first, but I assure you when your cute lady looks down at your crossed legs admiring your tanned ankles, she'll say "those are beautiful shoes" You can take it from there...What happens next might just be worth keeping them.
I was about to toss a pair that left me with the same feeling. One or two interesting experiences changed my mind...you'll probably only wear them a couple of times but...
Can't see anything at all trad, ivy, WASPy, whatever about these shoes.
ReplyDeleteEBay them. I'm sure the folks at the Sartorialist will snap them up.
They certainly aren't trad, but in this case thats not bad. They'll give an extra punch to those textbook trad outfits of yours and keep everyone that thinks they've got you pegged guessing. I vote for the keep it
ReplyDeleteThey are a keeper and why not. You have a good story to tell when you wear them. Sure they are little left of Trad but that just keeps things interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have a high-wealth friend with your same Irish coloring who wears these sans hosiery with Bermudas in neutral/yellow/green, yellow shirt under a navy double breasted linen jacket. He's kinda into boats, Dewars and irreverence.
I think it's a southern thing. M.
That's three for yes. Two for no. And I consider Alice a maybe.
ReplyDeleteSorry, E-bay, with not even a second thought.
ReplyDeleteI think you are 100% correct, very high quality, very ugly.
"Spent piece of used jet trash" comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteI also think your first reaction is the one that should be listened to. These shoes might look good with different clothing choices, but with the trad color palette in this picture, they just don't seem to work. Good luck.
ReplyDeletePut them on eBay. I would not have bought them in the first place. I love tassel loafers, but there's something substantially 'off' about these shoes. Funny, but I stopped in to John Lobb just this afternoon, just to see if they had anything new. Nothing. Just about every Lobb RTW model, IMO, has something 'off' about it. 9The bespoke models can be quite beautiful). Like Allen-Edmonds, Lobb takes a perfectly standard design (in the example above, a tassel loafer) and f*cks with it, just a little bit, so that the result, more often than not, is a weird-looking shoe. WTF?!
ReplyDeletee-bay them.....
ReplyDeleteErk, eBay.
ReplyDeleteTHey seems to be like simple, clean high-vamp loafers with tassels fused on. Maybe it's the angle of the photograph, but they're not working for me.
I stopped into the Lobb on Madison. One of the bespoke makers was there. A nice Brit with the ugliest hands I've seen. Testament to his trade of shoe making for 25 years. He saw my issue of "Last" magazine and asked if he could read it while I sniffed around on the sales rack.
ReplyDeleteAlert.
If you're a 7.5D hoof it to Lobb. They have a beautiful calf tassel loafer (in the Trad style like Alden but cleaner) in Black knocked down from 1,050 to $350. They only have 7.5D.
We're chatting and he mentions he knows a couple of the Japanese shoe makers in Last. Told me they paid him just to sit next to him and watch him work. Turns out this guy worked at Cleverley as well. I ask him what he thinks of the Foxton adding I picked 'em up for $400. He tells me they never go on sale and explains the "Prestige" process. How they're hand rubbed, the beveling of the sole. Yadda, yadda, yadda. He also suggests taking off the original tassel and replacing with a more traditional tassel. I like this idea.
I bought shoe trees for an older pr of Lobbs I have and thanked him as I left leaving the magazine with him. I'm gonna stop in today after an appointment to see if Lobb belt straps will work with my Tiffany belt buckle (monogramed engine turned silver). And I'll get his name and my magazine back.
My Foxton's have found a new home.
ReplyDeleteI sold them last week and must admit to having some sellers remorse. But they're better off with someone who'll appreciate them more. Initials CG almost did me in. His desription of the shoe with white linen trousers in Positano...Problem is, I just don't get to Positano that often.