EG lasts

I frankly find the EG lasts chunky. Of the English book makers, the Lobbs are generally sleeker, more stylish.

I recently bought a pair of shoes from EG, Burlington Arcade, London, asking the salesman for their slimmest last which seemed to stump him.

Nevertheless, I chose a cap toe 82 last in chestnut being closet to a slim last to my eye. A beautiful shoe. Just chunkier than what I am used to.

To those EG aficionados, can you give us a run-down of the current EG lasts and their styling features?

TIA

Of course no two people have the same concept of elegance, classiness or even the same idea of what's "right". Is a Kiton or Brioni more elegant, a BMW or Mercedes more classy or Mahler or Bruckner more "right" as composer?

To stick with the last comparison, after a number of years as Mahler devotee, I've now come down more on Bruckner's side. I've changed my mind over the years. That's just my choice. If you feel that John Lobb (Paris) makes the better or more elegant shoe, that's your choice and you should stick with JL. That decision is right for the time being and for your next purchase. Whether it still applies in ten years time, only time will tell. John Lobb (Paris) shoes are more flamboyant than EG, but still subdued compared with Berluti or Lattanzi.

I cannot find an ounce of "chunkiness" in any EG lasts, look at Tricker's to see chunky. But that's horses for courses, some people might find Dolce & Gabanna's super-elongated lasts elegant, I find them just grotesque.

EG's most elongated last is 808 which EG does not use at present for stock shoes; many people find the shoes too narrow. Special orders can still be made up in that last. Currently, all the RLPL shoes are made on last 808. Pop into the Ralph Lauren store and see if you find that last to your liking.

I find in all the EG lasts, even the round-ish 202 a sense of "rightness" and calm determination, transcending all notions of "fashionable" and "showing-off".

Indeed, horses for courses.
My eye needs to become accustomed to the EG last after years of wearing Italian shoes.
But I am getting a great deal of enjoyment from polishing the chestnut EGs, gradually antiquing them and I am sure that the style will become an old familiar friend with time....

Do you know what are the current EG last designations sold by EG?

For lace ups
the classic 202, rounded toe
606, squarer toe.
888 - elongating
82 - elongating but more rounded toe
and the RLPL last