Advantages of a $1000 Pair of Shoes

Here's the best photos I could find to do a fair comparison of plain black cap toes.

Shoe one - Retails in the US for about $600.




Shoe two - Retails in the US for about $1200.




Shoe three - Retails in the US for about $1200



Shoe two and three will have more sole durability. And perhaps will resist creasing quite as much as shoe one. But otherwise will perform pretty similarly in terms of durability.

Even considering the fact that C&J benchgrades rarely come out of the box looking quite as perfect as in these pictures and that EGs and G&Gs are always are perfect, would I pay this premium? Absolutely not.

Gdot said:

Here's the best photos I could find to do a fair comparison of plain black cap toes.
Shoe one - Retails in the US for about $600.


Shoe two - Retails in the US for about $1200.


Shoe three - Retails in the US for about $1200




Shoe two and three will have more sole durability. And perhaps will resist creasing quite as much as shoe one. But otherwise will perform pretty similarly in terms of durability.
Even considering the fact that C&J benchgrades rarely come out of the box looking quite as perfect as in these pictures and that EGs and G&Gs are always are perfect, would I pay this premium? Absolutely not.

Click to expand...

I take it you wouldn't because your looking for a little more something extra special in regards to style or color for your money correct?



dddrees said:

I take it you wouldn't because your looking for a little more something extra special in regards to style or color for your money correct?

Click to expand...

exactly my point. as the differences in overall effect are pretty slight (although they do exist), and given that they all will perform similarly, there simply isn't enough of a difference between these shoes to warrant double the price.

I might, and I do mean might, go for a black cap toe on the G&G deco last. As this last is quite distinctive would render the shoe 'special' even from a distance. Although I would have to see it on my foot before pulling that trigger. As the deco last is perhaps too out there even for me.

Gdot said:

Although I again acknowledge that I'm a 'shoe guy'.

Click to expand...

Well I suppose there are two types of shoe guy, the ones who understand the craft and real quality and so tend to wear bespoke handmade shoes and then there are the igents who are deluded and think they understand the craft and translate their own largely aesthetic standards into some form of endorsement of quality - they buy rtw.

Gdot said:

I might, and I do mean might, go for a black cap toe on the G&G deco last. As this last is quite distinctive would render the shoe 'special' even from a distance. Although I would have to see it on my foot before pulling that trigger. As the deco last is perhaps too out there even for me.

Click to expand...

+1 Might be too much for those million dollar meetings.



Stirling said:

Well I suppose there are two types of shoe guy, the ones who understand the craft and real quality and so tend to wear bespoke handmade shoes and then there are the igents who are deluded and think they understand the craft and translate their own largely aesthetic standards into some form of endorsement of quality - they buy rtw.  

Click to expand...

exactly

Stirling said:

Well I suppose there are two types of shoe guy, the ones who understand the craft and real quality and so tend to wear bespoke handmade shoes and then there are the igents who are deluded and think they understand the craft and translate their own largely aesthetic standards into some form of endorsement of quality - they buy rtw.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately this happens. But you generally can discern the difference based on the type of comments made. If it's overally generalized or a very short statement which includes no details it's pretty easy to recognize. Generally someone who does know what they are talking about speaks to the issue with greater detail, and their statements are representaive of other statements and facts which can be found elsewhere. Do enough research and these things have a way of coming to light.

It just requires a bit more work to figure this out. But hey it's worth it if your really passionate about something.



Stirling said:

Well I suppose there are two types of shoe guy, the ones who understand the craft and real quality and so tend to wear bespoke handmade shoes and then there are the igents who are deluded and think they understand the craft and translate their own largely aesthetic standards into some form of endorsement of quality - they buy rtw.  

Click to expand...

Absolute twaddle. It's purely a matter of budget. A pair of fully bespoke shoes costs well on twice to six times as much as the best RTW and that is simply outside of my budget.

It has nothing to do with a lack of understanding or appreciation for quality. I have no delusions that a pair of G&Gs is of the same quality of internal construction as a pair of Delos bespokes.

BTW - may we see photos of your bespoke collection please?

Gdot said:

Absolute twaddle. It's purely a matter of budget. A pair of fully bespoke shoes costs well on twice to six times as much as the best RTW and that is simply outside of my budget.
It has nothing to do with a lack of understanding or appreciation for quality. I have no delusions that a pair of G&Gs is of the same quality of internal construction as a pair of Delos bespokes.
BTW - may we see photos of your bespoke collection please?

Click to expand...

May I ask why you are lashing out and making this personal?

Anyway, there is a thread about this which incidentally you started and might I add were taken to task on:http://www.styleforum.net/t/285283/shoes-handmade-in-the-united-states-for-1000-00

I have posted one or two of my shoes but accept I'm not as prolific as you are to constantly share images of your footwear with the world.

dddrees said:

Unfortunately this happens. But you generally can discern the difference based on the type of comments made. If it's overally generalized or a very short statement which includes no details it's pretty easy to recognize. Generally someone who does know what they are talking about speaks to the issue with greater detail, and their statements are representaive of other statements and facts which can be found elsewhere. Do enough research and these things have a way of coming to light.

It just requires a bit more work to figure this out. But hey it's worth it if your really passionate about something.

Click to expand...

I particularly enjoy your comparisons between watches and shoes. Following your example I intend to make comparisons between trucks and shoes and hope that will appeal to your advanced intellect.

Stirling said:

I particularly enjoy your comparisons between watches and shoes. Following your example I intend to make comparisons between trucks and shoes and hope that will appeal to your advanced intellect.

Click to expand...

I used watches but I could of easily used anything else, to include trucks. it's just that I happen to have a passion for is watches. If you pay more one would expect to get more in regards to the same type of product whether it be watches, shoes, or trucks. Generally the more you pay once you get to luxury prices the greater attention to detail, reputation, quality, or uniqueness is what your paying for. But I didn't try to portray myself as having any higher level of intellect than others nor did I intend to offend anyone.



Stirling said:

May I ask why you are lashing out and making this personal?

Anyway, there is a thread about this which incidentally you started and might I add were taken to task on:http://www.styleforum.net/t/285283/shoes-handmade-in-the-united-states-for-1000-00

I have posted one or two of my shoes but accept I'm not as prolific as you are to constantly share images of your footwear with the world.

Click to expand...

Because you made it personal when you implied that I was somehow ingnorant of the quality of bespoke shoes and thus some sort of 'igent' simply because I purchase RTW shoes. It's an insulting statement. And you know perfectly well that you intended it as such. Your 'coy' response as to why I am 'taking it personally' is clearly just your way of 'baiting' the situation. I've read many of your posts on here and your mode of operation is not unknown to me.

As for the thread you mention it actually completely illustrates my point. In that nobody, including the many bespoke shoe experts on SF, was able to indentify a single bespoke maker in my region that could produce a quality bespoke dress shoe for anything remotely near $1000 dollars. Yes, many breezed through and implied that I surely was ignorant because I hadn't scared anyone up. But nobody coughed up any makers that were accessible to me without adding on thousands of dollars in travel costs. Reread the thread - you'll not find a single valid resource for someone living in the SE US.

The simple truth is that the vast majority of the world does not have ready access to bespoke footwear. Those of you who do are quite fortunate, but that geographical advantage does not render the rest of the world to be ingnorant 'igents'.

Too bad you aren't as willing to share your footwear with the world as I am. Perhaps if you weren't so jealous with your knowledge and resources you could contribute something of merit to this conversation. Again - shoe pics and detailed descriptions of what makes them superior please or GTFO.



Gdot said:

Absolute twaddle. It's purely a matter of budget. A pair of fully bespoke shoes costs well on twice to six times as much as the best RTW

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

and that is simply outside of my budget.
It has nothing to do with a lack of understanding or appreciation for quality. I have no delusions that a pair of G&Gs is of the same quality of internal construction as a pair of Delos bespokes.
BTW - may we see photos of your bespoke collection please?

Click to expand...

seriously. how often do we have to go through this again and again? this is so annoying.

can you please stop polluting shoe threads which are not fan based? thank you.

dddrees said:

I used watches but I could of easily used anything else, to include trucks. it's just that I happen to have a passion for is watches. If you pay more one would expect to get more in regards to the same type of product wether it be watches, shoes, or trucks. Generally the more you pay once you get to luxury prices the greater attention to detail or uniqueness is what your paying for. But I didn't try to portray myself as having any higher level of intellect than others nor did I intend to offend anyone.

Click to expand...

Ok accept you did not intend to offend and likewise here.

But back to the thread, the point is in terms of shoes a higher price doesn't always correlate to greater attention to detail or even uniqueness. And where it does is the greater attention to detail or uniqueness a mark of quality? or is it a mark of design.The two don't always go hand in hand.



Stirling said:

Ok accept you did not intend to offend and likewise here.

But back to the thread, the point is in terms of shoes a higher price doesn't always correlate to greater attention to detail or even uniqueness. And where it does is the greater attention to detail or uniqueness a mark of quality? or is it a mark of design.The two don't always go hand in hand.

Click to expand...

alright, we're getting back on track. much appreciated.