I´ve red the autopsy report on the Septième Largeur above - very interesting reading.
Markowski is sadly out of the race as their double monk offerings are either black only or only available on the stubby&blubby 195 last.
Septième Largeurs “Rennan” is a decent offering, esp as it comes in a danite sole version at no extra cost. Still, due to excessive shipping fees they´ll land at 300+ euros assuming separately bought shoe trees. Herring Shakespeare II is 240 euro for the same package (assuming you can combine the 10% discount and the free shoes-trees codes) .
60 euros is not a deal-breaking difference, in itself (and it´s closer to 40 after I put rubber on the Herrings), but I´d like to to know what I´m getting for the price difference.
Regarding fit and suitability of lasts – I´ve been in touch with both makers with precise my measurements and a scanned outline drawing of my feet (a better method is probably use a flat-bed scanner, but the only ones available to me are at university, and I was hoping to avoid the embarrassment of having to explain why I´m standing on one leg with my polka-dot socked foot crammed into the scanner if somebody walks in during the process...).
Anyways, both makers confirm the lasts suitability and Herring even offered a free return and exchange if I despite this find the last and shoe fit unsuitable to my feet.
This close-up review had me gravitate towards to the Herrings in the first place. The deciding question remains – how well do they age, or more precisely, will they actually look better with age at this price point?
If not, holding out for Lowndes might be worth it after all.
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