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New 'top drawer' Church's range?

post #1 of 125
6/15/11 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 
Today I walked into one the Church's shops in central London and they had a few models priced at something like £660 with a new last. One of them was called Lamont I believe, but I may have misread. The SA said they were part of a new collection which she called 'haute de gamme'. She was French so I am unsure if this is the "˜official' name.

It is a huge jump from the previous top priced £485 range that were associated with the Royal collection, i.e.,. Tewkesbury, Tenby, Taunton, Walcot , etc (I confess to having them all- bought at half-price; no seconds)

They looked pretty nice, but not obviously £200 nicer. The last is sleeker and there is more 'attention' to the waist- but don't get me wrong it is still far from the pornographic soles of the likes of AS and G&G.

Anyway, does anyone know anything about this 'new collection'??
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post #2 of 125
6/16/11 at 2:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by countbaron View Post
Today I walked into one the Church's shops in central London and they had a few models priced at something like £660 with a new last. One of them was called Lamont I believe, but I may have misread. The SA said they were part of a new collection which she called 'haute de gamme'. She was French so I am unsure if this is the "˜official' name.

It is a huge jump from the previous top priced £485 range that were associated with the Royal collection, i.e.,. Tewkesbury, Tenby, Taunton, Walcot , etc (I confess to having them all- bought at half-price; no seconds)

They looked pretty nice, but not obviously £200 nicer. The last is sleeker and there is more 'attention' to the waist- but don't get me wrong it is still far from the pornographic soles of the likes of AS and G&G.

Anyway, does anyone know anything about this 'new collection'??

There's another thread about this called " Church's new 137 last" I am the only one who has replied and it was started on 24th May - so I guess the absolute lack of interest is due to SF group think on Church's. I'd love to know more about this range.
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post #3 of 125
6/16/11 at 2:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leather man View Post
There's another thread about this called " Church's new 137 last" I am the only one who has replied and it was started on 24th May - so I guess the absolute lack of interest is due to SF group think on Church's. I'd love to know more about this range.

Nope me too, any insider info ?????????????????
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post #4 of 125
6/16/11 at 4:24pm
I'd like to know. I'm a Church's fan.
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post #5 of 125
6/16/11 at 4:26pm
Why would SF not like Church's?
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post #6 of 125
6/16/11 at 4:31pm
I posted about this in a new thread a couple of weeks ago: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=245521. My observations were similar to the OP, in that the 137 last they are using for this new range is sleeker than one normally associates with Church's. I will pop into the Canary Wharf store tomorrow and ask to take some pics.
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post #7 of 125
6/16/11 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Achilles_ View Post
Why would SF not like Church's?

They're not discussed too often here as their sales presence in the US is pretty limited. From what I've seen at Leffot they make a good solid shoe.
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post #8 of 125
6/16/11 at 4:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Achilles_ View Post
Why would SF not like Church's?

Lasts not as "exciting" as, for example, EG 888 or JL 7000, plus the non-channeled sole. There have also been threads where the quality of the leather has been called into question, however I'm no expert so I'll leave it for others to comment.
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post #9 of 125
6/16/11 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 
I think that not many people here (or anywhere) could really say if this leather is that much better than that leather just by looking/felling it when we are talking about high grade shoes. I surely am not in that position, but the leather used in the £485 Church's range (betis) is as buttery as they come I am partial to Church's to good extent because how easy it is to get good deals in the UK, and I assume the opposite is true for posters living in countries where that is not the case, which I can only guess includes the US and we know that SF is US-heavy. That would to some extent justify Church’s bad rep in SF. Other than price/quality ratio the other complains commonly are: ‘it is owned by prada’, and the lasts, colouring are boring I don’t think the 1st issue is pertinent, but I agree that C&J have a nicer variety than Church’s. However, many benchgrade C&J’s are significantly more fragile than Custom Grade church’s Anyway, what about this new 137 ‘beasts’ ??
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post #10 of 125
6/16/11 at 7:36pm
I was wondering about this the other day.

I saw a shoe that looked like it was made from museum/ radica calf in Church's on Bond Street. I'm guessing this must be the same range you're all talking about. I'd never seen Church's use such interesting leathers before.

I only work around the corner so I'll pop in tomorrow and ask about them.

I think American SFers don't like Church's because they don't have access to their custom grades at £160 like we do. My Bicester beauties are holding up wonderfully, especially considering that they are my go to shoe whenever it rains.

I've been polishing a pair of brown Nevada Calf Waltons with red polish for the last 6 months and they're already starting to develop a great character. The leather is very supple and easy to maintain. Last-wise they are certainly a lot sleeker than most Aldens (which also do not have concealed channel soles)

My one gripe is that the sole overshoots the upper, giving what I refer to as a 'squiddy' appearance. My next order of business will be to see if I can get John Rushton to put some Baker soles on them, cut more closely to the uppers.
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post #11 of 125
6/16/11 at 11:52pm
SF'ers don't like Church's because they're under the impression that Prada's ownership of the company has somehow comprised the quality of the shoes.
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post #12 of 125
6/17/11 at 12:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jermyn View Post
I've been polishing a pair of brown Nevada Calf Waltons with red polish for the last 6 months and they're already starting to develop a great character. The leather is very supple and easy to maintain. Last-wise they are certainly a lot sleeker than most Aldens (which also do not have concealed channel soles)

Do you use red shoe polish or red shoe cream?
I have been using blue shoe polish and shoe cream on my black shoes but they still look as black as ever.
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post #13 of 125
6/17/11 at 1:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRINI View Post
SF'ers don't like Church's because they're under the impression that Prada's ownership of the company has somehow comprised the quality of the shoes.

Did the original Church's owners buy Cheaney or something?
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post #14 of 125
6/17/11 at 3:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Achilles_ View Post
Did the original Church's owners buy Cheaney or something?

yes!
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post #15 of 125
6/17/11 at 4:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by countbaron View Post
I think that not many people here (or anywhere) could really say if this leather is that much better than that leather just by looking/felling it when we are talking about high grade shoes.

exactly. it takes a lot of experience and knowledge, which i don't have either atm. look and feel can be a factor, but you can fail immensly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by countbaron View Post
...which I can only guess includes the US and we know that SF is US-heavy. That would to some extent justify Church's bad rep in SF.

Other than price/quality ratio the other complains commonly are: "˜it is owned by prada', and the lasts, colouring are boring

basic knowledge about shoes is pretty low here. drum beating can be effective, though.
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Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › New 'top drawer' Church's range?