Church's Shoes 2008

I've defended Church's to the hilt here, and I still think for $3-400, the old custom grades I used to buy were worth every penny. But I was just perusing one of the new mens mags (either GQ or Esky) and noticed a pair of Church's captoes listed at $800 . . . is this a typo? Is there a premium line now?

I remember post Prada when they climbed to $500+, but $800??????

Gulp! I used to love the custom grades too and got plenty of comfortable wear out of mine over the years. But, if the prices you mention are true, then I would rather get a Lobb on sale.

My Custom Grade black longwings were $610 and my football brown pebble chukka boots I think were $645

The weak dollar probably has something to do with it.

Originally Posted by TCN

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I've defended Church's to the hilt here, and I still think for $3-400, the old custom grades I used to buy were worth every penny. But I was just perusing one of the new mens mags (either GQ or Esky) and noticed a pair of Church's captoes listed at $800 . . . is this a typo? Is there a premium line now?

I remember post Prada when they climbed to $500+, but $800??????

There is a Premium line called the 'Royal' which is described as being similar to the old pre-Prada 'Master Class' line. They go for around £390 in UK so the $800 is accurate. Here 's an example from Herring Shoes: http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/produc...electedFitID=0

Defending a brand is a good thing in term of nostalgia and loyalty but the latter must be motivated by some factual reasons...

Churchs used to make me dream 10 years ago but since i got 2 pairs,my love for the brand has been seriously dented...
I still believe that they're decent good shoes for a decent price but nothing exceptional...

They're not better than the JM WESTON models for example and do prefer their lasts...

Originally Posted by lasbar

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Defending a brand is a good thing in term of nostalgia and loyalty but the latter must be motivated by some factual reasons...


They're not better than the JM WESTON models for example and do prefer their lasts...

Ermmmm?...... that is of course...... an opinion .

This,on the otherhand, is a photograph:

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So is this...

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Church "Sherborne" 130 last

Originally Posted by Percy Trimmer

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There is a Premium line called the 'Royal' which is described as being similar to the old pre-Prada 'Master Class' line. They go for around £390 in UK so the $800 is accurate. Here 's an example from Herring Shoes: http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/produc...electedFitID=0
If you look at the small print the 390 price includes VAT. sans that, it appears to be about 331

At £390 ,they're getting very close to the classic John Lobb models....

I just own one pair of monks Westbury and they're ok (no more)...

I got a pair of Church's Westburys in black. 'Just had to have 'em. Though nice, they aren't quite as wonderful as I'd hoped they'd be. Lots of problems with sizing, too.

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

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My Custom Grade black longwings were $610 and my football brown pebble chukka boots I think were $645

SoCal,

Can you post pics of them? Thanks.

Originally Posted by jsherman02

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SoCal,

Can you post pics of them? Thanks.

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

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Very nice. Didn't you get them last year or so? That would definitely make them post-Prada.

Do any of you experts really know if there is a huge difference pre and post Prada and what makes one or the other better?

I love the boots. Thanks for posting.

I've been buying Church's custom grade for 45 years. I have pairs over 30 years old that have been factory repaired several times and look excellent. I think the last shape was 73 and in all I must have about 15 pairs of different models. I never liked their Monkstrap-the buckle is to prominent. When they were acquired by the Italian handbag company and then subsequently sold to a private equity firm I feared the worst but although I haven't bought a pair for probably five years the quality looks pretty good to me. They are still made at the Church's factory in Northampton so why shouldn't it be. They seem to have put all my old favorites like the Diplomat, Cromwell and Balmoral on a new square toed last and it gives the shoe a more modern look but which still looks very classic. I've noticed the prices creeping up, well you've got to repay all that debt somehow, and I think a pair in NYC is now around $750 which is approaching EG prices but I hear RL are soon going to be charging $1300 for their EG sourced product and this still makes the Church's something of a bargain. In fact I'd argue they've probably been somewhat underpriced relative to their quality. They get mixed notices here but I'm a fan as you can tell. They don't have quite the finish of the EG's and when I could afford it started buying some of his shoes but I'm very fond of my Church's.