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Berluti or John Lobb? Pewter patina or Fumo?

lasbar

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I'm torn between my loyalty for John lobb and my fascination for Berluti.....
I have read your comments and feel ,more than ever , puzzled and lost...
I'm the proud owner of a few John Lobb models (2004,kennet,Bramley and 2002)and two recent acquisitions from Berluti (model Alessandro) and i'm planning to buy two more pairs next year...
I'm torn between the John Lobb Beckett in pewter or in deep blue and the Fumo or Testa di Moro patina for the Berluti Alessandro model.
I have read very qualified comments on the extreme fragility of the Berluti models and i'm a bit worried of the wrinkles appearing on my shoes despite my best efforts..
Pictures of the pewter patina for John Lobb or the Fumo for Berluti will be appreciated...
Thank you for your pictures and useful tips...
 

mussel

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Originally Posted by lasbar
Pictures of the pewter patina for John Lobb or the Fumo for Berluti will be appreciated...

Welcome, lasbar. Go to the pictorial index, I remember I saw some pictures of pewter museum calf there.
 

aportnoy

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Here are some additional photos of mine. They definitely have a gray tint but they also are in the brown family. I hope this helps.



 

mussel

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Yes, I forgot, another important shoe resource is to search aportnoy's damage reports.

aportnoy, how many times have you worn the pair in the pictures? The patina looks even more beautiful and "organic" than many spanking new ones. Do you have pictures of the same shoe when new?

I think you should take pictures of your shoes when new, after 10, 25, 50... wears to document on how the patina develops.
 

william

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Originally Posted by mussel
.
The patina looks even more beautiful and "organic" than many spanking new ones.


I agree. I have to admit that several JL designs/lasts excite me greatly but I've never quite 'understood' the antique finish. Seeing them once they've been broken makes A LOT more sense. They look incredible. I might have to break the bank on a pair of JL sometime soon.
 

aportnoy

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Thanks mussel, much appreciated. I've worn these perhaps 5 times and have polished them recently.

I'll dig around for a new picture, I'm sure I've got it somewhere. It's an intersting thought to track the patina over time as a shoe develops. Maybe I'll do it with one each of a Lobb, EG and a Vass to see what the differences are?
 

luk-cha

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Originally Posted by aportnoy
Thanks mussel, much appreciated. I've worn these perhaps 5 times and have polished them recently.

I'll dig around for a new picture, I'm sure I've got it somewhere. It's an intersting thought to track the patina over time as a shoe develops. Maybe I'll do it with one each of a Lobb, EG and a Vass to see what the differences are?


so with these what color do you polish them with?
inlove.gif
 

aportnoy

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Originally Posted by luk-cha
so with these what color do you polish them with?
inlove.gif


I mix it up with Saphir's gray, black and dark brown.
 

Chris "Italia"

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I love Berluti's colors on their shoes.

They can be such stunning colors.

My question is this: Why buy Berluti when you can get StefanoBi shoes (The RTW maker for them).
 

zjpj83

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Berluti is the most overrated RTW shoemaker, in my humble opinion. If they are merely a "fashion" brand, a la Gucci et al., (which they are, again in my humble opinion) then they should be taken for what they are and priced accordingly, i.e. much lower.

If I were in your position, I would get the pewter Lobbs.
 

Chris "Italia"

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Originally Posted by zjpj83
Berluti is the most overrated RTW shoemaker, in my humble opinion. If they are merely a "fashion" brand, a la Gucci et al., (which they are, again in my humble opinion) then they should be taken for what they are and priced accordingly, i.e. much lower.

If I were in your position, I would get the pewter Lobbs.



Isn't true that StefanoBi makes their RTW line?
 

zjpj83

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Originally Posted by Chris "Italia"
Isn't true that StefanoBi makes their RTW line?
I believe so, but to LVMH's specifications. In my experience, this means very thin upper leather which is prone to creasing, and few welted models.
 

Chris "Italia"

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In your opinion, if StefanoBi didn't do it to the LVMH's Specifications, they would be better shoes?


Makes Sense.
 

zjpj83

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Yes, I think all outsourcing brands specify what quality level they want for the product.

Paul Stuart, for instance, now specifies a quality level from Grenson that Grenson no longer produces under its own label. StefanoBi can and does make a better shoe than it makes for Berluti.

All this said, I do like Berluti's burnishing and think they have some nice looking models.
 

Sator

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Originally Posted by zjpj83
Berluti is the most overrated RTW shoemaker, in my humble opinion. If they are merely a "fashion" brand, a la Gucci et al., (which they are, again in my humble opinion) then they should be taken for what they are and priced accordingly, i.e. much lower.

If I were in your position, I would get the pewter Lobbs.


Well said. Berluti and Lobb should not be mentioned in the same sentence.

Berluti are Blake constructed and might be reasonable if they were half the asking price or less. I went to the Berluti store on Madison Ave and asked them if they were truly Blake constructed as rumour had it and to my astonishment they said "yes" without any hesitation. They even had a cutaway model showing it. They almost seemed proud of the fact! Somehow I managed to keep a straight face and politely thanked them before making quickly for the door.
 

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