LOAKE APPRECIATION THREAD

[md2010]



Hey guys, need a little advice on sizing. I'm an 8 EEE in the AE Park Aves. I initially wanted to purchase a pair of the Aldwych, but it seems to only come in an F. So, I was thinking about getting the Churchill in an 8 G from Pediwear. Any thoughts? Would an 8G be comparable to an 8EEE from AE? Would it be too much of a stretch to get the Aldwych in an 8.5 F?

Any help would be great. Here's the link to Pediwear: http://www.pediwear.co.uk/loake/products/5001.php

Mate I am also a PA 8eee . Go uk 8F and you should be fine. But if there is a 8G available I would probably get it instead.

 

[thebov]

Hi Albi I have a aldwych in 7F and the gladstone which is on the same last as the churchill in 6.5G

 

[thebov]

Hi Wurger, are those woodlore epic shoe trees (loake strand review). If they are what size are they? I am a UK7 and planning to get some. I want to make sure I get the right size, thanks!

 

[AL FINK]

I have sent you a PM.

Edit:

The Barker double monk-strap shoes arrived today, and the colour is closer to brown than what I had been expecting.

Here are a few images, although they haven't yet been polished:














However, while the colour looks quite good and has its own charm, would it be safe to use brown polish for further darkening?

I would recommend using a darker shade of shoe cream rather than polish. Polish takes time to darken and has lower pigment than cream. It will better darken the shoes. I used black shoe cream on my Loake Canon to darken it and love the results. If you don't really like the results, you could always use a leather cleaner such as a Renomat to ease it off.

 

[RPM1]

I would recommend using a darker shade of shoe cream rather than polish. Polish takes time to darken and has lower pigment than cream. It will better darken the shoes. I used black shoe cream on my Loake Canon to darken it and love the results. If you don't really like the results, you could always use a leather cleaner such as a Renomat to ease it off.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, AL FINK.

However, I have already ordered Saphir Pate De Luxe in dark brown, and will likely use that initially if I decide to darken them.

Furthermore, I am now not sure that I want to darken them immediately, and perhaps I will first see how I like them in their original colour.

Edit:

Well, I have now also ordered some Saphir shoe cream in dark brown, as I think a couple of coats of the cream followed by the wax could provide more desirable results. Moreover, as the shoes have still not had any polish applied to the leather, the dark brown should take much more readily.

Of course, I will try to take some images after.

 

[wurger]

I picked XS for the shoe trees.

 

[originalkfc]

Received Loake 1880 Strand in Burgundy. Photos show shoe after initial polish with Collonil 1902 burgundy cream. Both from robinsonsshoes.com (shoe tree is Barkers)

Was initially concerned that the burgundy would be more "merlot" and less "oxblood" - Photos on the web show wild differences, and I believe now, that this is highly influenced by the polish used on the shoe. Out of the box, the sheen of the shoe is matte, the colour of the shoe looks flat with no depth or patina. After a few layers of cream polish, the leather colour gains depth, particularly if the creme you use is slightly darker than the shoe colour - as was the case with the Collonil burgundy cream. The creme sits in grooves and leaves a very faint dark burgundy layer atop the base colour.

I couldn't be happier - The Loake Strand's after a polish with Collonil burgundy creame are the complex red/brown I see in the best representations of the this shoe on the web. Robinson's were fantastic to deal with.

 

[thebov]

thanks wurger will try to get a pair to test them out

 

[inno]

Received Loake 1880 Strand in Burgundy. Photos show shoe after initial polish with Collonil 1902 burgundy cream. Both from robinsonsshoes.com (shoe tree is Barkers)

Was initially concerned that the burgundy would be more "merlot" and less "oxblood" - Photos on the web show wild differences, and I believe now, that this is highly influenced by the polish used on the shoe. Out of the box, the sheen of the shoe is matte, the colour of the shoe looks flat with no depth or patina. After a few layers of cream polish, the leather colour gains depth, particularly if the creme you use is slightly darker than the shoe colour - as was the case with the Collonil burgundy cream. The creme sits in grooves and leaves a very faint dark burgundy layer atop the base colour.

I couldn't be happier - The Loake Strand's after a polish with Collonil burgundy creame are the complex red/brown I see in the best representations of the this shoe on the web. Robinson's were fantastic to deal with.

They look lovely. Can't wait to get a pair.

 

[Munky]

I agree that the burgundy Strands do look a slightly different shade, depending on what you put on them. That's half the fun, for me!

I am having a bit of a problem wearing mine in. I used some Lexol to see whether or not it had a softening effect on the shoes. Today, they do feel a bit better but that may just be because I haven't worn them for a few days...of it might be the Lexol. I was worried that the conditioner might darken the colour of the Strands but this doesn't seem to have happened. A great buy and great looking shoes. I mostly use Saphir Burgundy cream and/or wax polish, on mine.

 

[originalkfc]

This is a rather odd question and the answer to it may be obvious. Loake's Buckingham and their Strands are both made on the Capital last. Does this mean that they are exact the same, in terms of shape? If I stood a Buckingham and a Strand, would the only difference be the broguing and colouring?

I want to buy another pair of Loakes but I don't particularly want two, very similar, pairs.

Was in a similar predicament. For those considering ordering online sight unseen, I find both the Stand and Buckingham are identical in fit (5.5UK Capital last)

 

[originalkfc]

For Burgundy Loake Strand owners, how do you manage waterproofing? Will a good cream suffice, or should a matching colour beeswax also be used? Once a wax is applied, will the cream still penetrate to nourish the leather?

 

[Munky]

Hello Original
I have found that Saphir Burgundy cream and their polish seems to take care of waterproofing with Strands. As always, though, it is best not to wear new shoes in the rain for at least the first few outings. I have also used Loake's own Burgundy cream and polish. I am not sure that I can tell the difference in terms of outcomes. The usual things apply; always use shoe trees; give the shoes a good brushing before you go out and don't polish too often. A more general rule would be only to polish them when they need it, not as part of a routine.

 

[originalkfc]

Thanks Munky. These are my 2nd 1880's. My Buckinghams have a slight vertical crack on the ball of the foot! I think this is due to lack of moisturisation - despite use of a cream polish about once a month. And that I was wearing them 5 days a week.

When you mention Saphir cream and polish, do you use one product (cream polish), or two products (cream and polish).

Thanks for the sage shoe wisdom.

 

[Munky]

Thanks Munky. These are my 2nd 1880's. My Buckinghams have a slight vertical crack on the ball of the foot! I think this is due to lack of moisturisation - despite use of a cream polish about once a month. And that I was wearing them 5 days a week.

When you mention Saphir cream and polish, do you use one product (cream polish), or two products (cream and polish).

Thanks for the sage shoe wisdom.

I'm not sure about the cracking and it may be time to take your shoes to a cobbler to get it sorted out. You say the cracking is on the 'ball of the foot' and write about 'despite use of cream polish'. Does this mean that you have been using cream on the soles of your shoes? From what I have read, this is generally thought not to be a good plan.

On the Saphir cream and wax issue, I tend to vary them along the lines of 1) cream only, 2) wax only, 3) cream and wax. There is no science behind this but I think I must read about it on the Shoe thread. As a rule, I tend to use one of these options about once a month, but always give the shoes a good brushing before wearing. Every six months or so, I do the 'de luxe' clean and use renovator, cream and wax. I would probably dispense with the latter but, having bought a jar of Renovator, I am determined to use it up! As always,

Other good creams and polishes are made by Collonil and worth exploring.

Try, if you can, to rotated the wearing of your shoes. GIve them at least day off after wearing them.