LOAKE APPRECIATION THREAD

[Gbg brouge]

I've been looking for a chukka for a while and I think I've decided on the Kempton, but the closest store which sells them is in NYC (I'm in Philly), and I'm hesitant about ordering because of sizing. I e-mailed Loake who referred me to someone else who referred me to the store itself, but no one would give a straight answer because they didn't want to suggest the wrong size. I have suede Clark's desert boots in 11D (Used to have a beeswax pair in 11.5D), and Bass Logan's in 11.5D. I know charts and such have been linked, but I get less confident the more I look at everything.

Du you have any shoes made in UK?
I have the Kemptons and I find them very true to size. If that helps you I'm a 10,5W in Timberland boots and a UK 9,5F in almost everything else.

 

[rodneytrousers]

No UK made shoes; although, I do have a pair of Timberland boots in 11.5M. Should I go for a 10.5F? or 10F? I thought I'd read something about finding your UK size (11UK for me according to the chart on the Loake site) and going down one (which would be the 10F).

 

[Gbg brouge]

No UK made shoes; although, I do have a pair of Timberland boots in 11.5M. Should I go for a 10.5F? or 10F? I thought I'd read something about finding your UK size (11UK for me according to the chart on the Loake site) and going down one (which would be the 10F).

If you have room to spare in your Timberlands you should go for the 10F, but if they are snug you should go for the 10,5F. This is a very rough advice but I hope it helps a little. I don't have any other american made shoes to compare with so it's the best I can do.
But I can really recommend the Kempton, a great shoe. I have it in brown suede with dainites and I just love them

 

[rodneytrousers]

I just looked at the other thread I was using for reference and the guy went from a US 8D to a UK 7F which would be equivalent to me going from a US 11.5D to a UK 10.5F. That coupled with your advise makes me think a 10.5F is my best bet, and a pair just popped up on eBay.

 

[Odradek]



Agree about the Taunton - a very nice shoe - rather like a posher Woodstock!

I had been looking forward to seeing the Loake Taunton, but when I was in London I called to the Loake shop off Jermyn Street, and they had none in stock.

Looking at photos online this morning, on the Pediwear site, I see Loake have made an unforgivable cost cutting measure with a quality shoe in this price range. In an effort to save leather, they have gone for a seam on the side of the shoe, in the instep, much like they do with their cheaper longing, the Royal Brogue. Maybe not a big deal to many people, but it would put me off buying, and I'd keep saving for the Cheaney longing, which retails for about 50% more.

 

[techaview]

I had been looking forward to seeing the Loake Taunton, but when I was in London I called to the Loake shop off Jermyn Street, and they had none in stock.

Looking at photos online this morning, on the Pediwear site, I see Loake have made an unforgivable cost cutting measure with a quality shoe in this price range. In an effort to save leather, they have gone for a seam on the side of the shoe, in the instep, much like they do with their cheaper longing, the Royal Brogue. Maybe not a big deal to many people, but it would put me off buying, and I'd keep saving for the Cheaney longing, which retails for about 50% more.

Does that means there is another separate piece for the tongue area? Can you elaborate more on why production in such way will be lower? thanks

 

[Odradek]

I think the tongue is generally a separate piece anyway, but on the longwings, by having a seam on one side they don't have to have the long toe and wing piece all made from one piece of leather, and so can cut more smaller pieces from the one piece of hide.

 

[Mr Knightley]

I had been looking forward to seeing the Loake Taunton, but when I was in London I called to the Loake shop off Jermyn Street, and they had none in stock.

Looking at photos online this morning, on the Pediwear site, I see Loake have made an unforgivable cost cutting measure with a quality shoe in this price range. In an effort to save leather, they have gone for a seam on the side of the shoe, in the instep, much like they do with their cheaper longing, the Royal Brogue. Maybe not a big deal to many people, but it would put me off buying, and I'd keep saving for the Cheaney longing, which retails for about 50% more.

John Simons purveyor of the original Royals in the 1960s gave me a little comparative study of the original Royal (he still retains a few for posterity) and the current Loake Royal Brogue. The original was, he said far superior in nearly every way - quality of the leather, the finishing, colour, etc. What he could not forgive about the current Loake was that very thing - the seam on the instep. Bad enough on a £150 shoe but at this level.......

 

[techaview]

Any example of shoe that doesn't use another piece off seam for their in sole for the tongue area? I reckon those will come at a higher price tag because of the construction?

 

[Gbg brouge]

I had been looking forward to seeing the Loake Taunton, but when I was in London I called to the Loake shop off Jermyn Street, and they had none in stock.

Looking at photos online this morning, on the Pediwear site, I see Loake have made an unforgivable cost cutting measure with a quality shoe in this price range. In an effort to save leather, they have gone for a seam on the side of the shoe, in the instep, much like they do with their cheaper longing, the Royal Brogue. Maybe not a big deal to many people, but it would put me off buying, and I'd keep saving for the Cheaney longing, which retails for about 50% more.

I share your view and had a similar experience with a pair of Barker shoes a few years ago. If you're looking for a nice longwing I can recommend the Herring Canning. Made by Cheaney with or without dainite soles. They are a joy to wear and the burnishing gives it a great look.

 

[Gbg brouge]

I just looked at the other thread I was using for reference and the guy went from a US 8D to a UK 7F which would be equivalent to me going from a US 11.5D to a UK 10.5F. That coupled with your advise makes me think a 10.5F is my best bet, and a pair just popped up on eBay.

Sounds great, go get'em!

 

[Odradek]



I share your view and had a similar experience with a pair of Barker shoes a few years ago. If you're looking for a nice longwing I can recommend the Herring Canning. Made by Cheaney with or without dainite soles. They are a joy to wear and the burnishing gives it a great look.

The Canning looks like a good, sturdy shoe, and Herring are great, but I wouldn't call it a longwing.
For UK made longgwings, I like the look of Cheaney's own Victor shoe.
http://cheaney.co.uk/classic/206/victor-brogue-in-burnished-chestnut-with-mahogany-grain

http://cheaney.co.uk/classic/216/victor-brogue-in-burnished-chestnut-with-donegal-fabric

Or the Belgrade, by Sanders.
http://www.pediwear.co.uk/sanders/products/5869.php


....but now we're getting off the subject of Loake's.

 

[rodneytrousers]

Won the Kemptons. Should be here by Wednesday. Guess I'll find out if they're the right size or not. I did happen to notice my Clark's have a UK 10.5 size on them so the Kemptons should be good.

 

[Gbg brouge]

The Canning looks like a good, sturdy shoe, and Herring are great, but I wouldn't call it a longwing.
For UK made longgwings, I like the look of Cheaney's own Victor shoe.
http://cheaney.co.uk/classic/206/victor-brogue-in-burnished-chestnut-with-mahogany-grain

http://cheaney.co.uk/classic/216/victor-brogue-in-burnished-chestnut-with-donegal-fabric

Or the Belgrade, by Sanders.
http://www.pediwear.co.uk/sanders/products/5869.php


....but now we're getting off the subject of Loake's.

Point taken on the longwings, got a little carried away there

I guess Loake has a standing dilemma when it comes to producing shoes at a reasonable cost versus the quality and finish.

 

[alexSF]

^That visible seams it's an annoying detail, although I handled the Loake Berkeley (the previous 1880 longwing) and it's really barely noticeable, when compared to other longwings with the same seam, such as Meermin Barker or others, where it's like a punch in the eye.