English shoes - Page 2

+1

C+Js

I would second everything here except to say I believe the quality surpasses Alden and is in a more elite range.

Another vote for Alfred Sargent. Their Premier line offers fantastic value (can now be ordered directly through them in addition to Pediwear I believe) and the new Handgrade line competes admirably with the other big boys.

I think you're right. As an American, I may have been practicing a bit of affirmative action for Alden. But still, by "compare favorably," I meant the scale tips slightly in favor of AS, due to its finishing being a bit better, or certainly more consistent, than Alden. As usual, my vote for US shoes are Aldens, AS for English shoes, and Martegani/Rider for Italian. A pair of Handgrade mtos arrived at my office the day after I left for a 6 week trip. Arg. I will get them in 4.5 weeks. If Chay is reading this, maybe he could post a picture of them, if pictures were taken before they were sent!

I really like AS too. I also think the Classic Collection is decent for its price range, although I guess some SF members wouldn't touch that collection.

As I have AS shoes on the 80, 87 and 89 lasts I'm curious how you would describe the 99 last compared to 87?

Another + for AS. Fantastic shoes at great price. They're going to beef up their operation too (with MTO lines). It's great seeing a shoe company going up (not like many others have been going down like Allen Edmonds, Churchs, etc.,)

Great news Groover, I am revitalised. My Cheaneys took some finding after having seen them at SEHM in Paris whilst exhibiting in the mid nineties but they still look great today!!

Just saw on the AAAC forum where they mentioned Shipton & Heneage http://www.shiptonandheneage.co.uk/

Anyone got insight about the make?

They have shoes made by a wide range of UK makers (including C&J, AS, Church's, etc.,). So it all depends on individual pairs.

merci beaucoup.

I would definitely buy suede shoes from the classic collection or a calfskin pair if I was in college. My hesitance about the calfskin shoes from the classic collection is that I think they're made of corrected grain. Not sure if that's true though.

I think the 87 is a great example of a traditional English last, maybe the best example. The 99 is what SF would call "sleeker." I posted a bunch of pics of an mto pair I ordered here. I think the plainness of the style reveals the shape of the last well.

Some of them definitely are, for example the Eden (monkstrap). Not sure whether they're all CG though...

AS has moved to occupy the space in the market between C&J and EG. You can't go wrong with C&J if you know your size and last, especially with the exchange rate to USD. That said, my sense is the AS has stepped up their game and may be significantly better for only slightly more money.

Both of them offer competitive and different products to Alden. If you want old-school weight in your shoes, go with Alden. If you want old school English style, go with C&J or AS.

I don't know about AS yet. I wonder how many people have experience with them in their new incarnation. They are a completely different company now than they were a year ago. Certainly, for some time after their bankruptcy/receivership they were a disaster. I know they have plans to do all sorts of things but all those plans haven't yet come to fruition. The point is that you can't rely on their historical reputation and the new AS hasn't been around long enough to establish a reliable track record for quality and reliability. I hope they make it though.