Mod to Suedehead - Page 613

I have just finished reading the skinhead 1969/70 part of 'Booted and suited' based in Bristol.   The stories could have been from anywhere in the country.  They certainly applied to my time at that period in North Kent. 

Something that brought back memories and something I had completely forgotten about that was mentioned in the early part of the book was that of getting another leather sole put on your Royals even though they were not worn down to give a thicker / chunkier feel and appearance and of course the inclusion of Blakeys front and back for that smart marching sound. 

The Royals I have now have a rubber heel but I am sure the ones in 69 had leather heels to match the soles. 

Colin your memory is normally on the button whats your recollection?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gramps 

Friend of mine has these on fleabay at the minute, theyre of a real high quality. Whats everyones thoughts on them. Theyre benchmade, which is unusual for Jones.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jones-bootmakers-bench-made-oxford-smooths-uk-9-5-oxblood-skinhead-mod-oi-polloi-/140870016450?pt=UK_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item20cc81ddc2

 

You wanna see the suit hes listing tomorrow, fantatstic mohair, shame about the cut. Be fine for anyone wanting to look mid 70's though

Nice pair of shoes, ive got a pair of jones brogues, comfortable shoes, quite trim around the heel if that makes sense and good quality, my ankles are shot these days, but i could wear them for a day/night unlike loakes which make me look like im suffering with elephantitus

I got my loafers clumped, stacked, built up whatever you want to call it, wouldn't want to go any thicker, me ankles wont take it and i'd get altitude sickness

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aces and Eights 

 

I bought 2 pairs a couple of years ago from a London shop and I think they are a F width as standard.  I am a 10 and the fit on both pairs was generous and comfortable - not loose - a decent fit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Man-of-Mystery 


Are you in the UK? If you have a branch of Debenhams near you you might find they stock Loakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sipreano 


Going to a shop to try them on is probably the best advice. But be sure to wear the socks you're gonna wear them in and go in the afternoon when you feet are already slightly bigger than in the morning (yes feet get up to 1/2 size bigger during the day). Also if that are your first dress shoes don't make the error to buy them too small/tight (if there is any pain or anything gets squashed they are definitely too small) get something comfortable. Dress shoes feel quite differently than boots and trainers and might feel less snug at first.
Helpful online tools are: http://sizeadvisors.com/shoes/
I found their recommendations a bit to small though
The sizing toolkit from http://www.allenedmonds.com/ which you can print out to measure your feet.
I found it to be very helpful. It gives you US size and width which you can convert to UK sizes by going one size down (e.g. US10=UK9). You can find shoe width conversion charts online. This shows you if you've got wider feet and if the Loake Royals in F are potentially too narrow for you.

Thanks for all your advices! Unfortunately I'm not in the UK and I'm definitely not familiar with imperial units since, here in the continent, we use that strange thing called metric system!! :) Anyway, I will try to manage it trough the sites that you linked me...wish me luck, and thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressure_Drop 

That was about the norm back in the day Mike but definitely saw a lot thicker than that with some of the more avant garde - or was it the vertically challenged - going double if not treble that (personally I thought they looked ridiculous).
The first 'platform' shoes or sorts that I can recall had a big rounded toe cap and a slightly elevated wood effect sole (actually synthetic) think they've already been referred to as 'toppers' in and around London but we called them 'madcaps' down here.
To also add to the mocassin debate, these were very common wear in the mid 70s - not just indoors! Not at all practical but incredibly comfortable, bit like wearing slippers, useless in a scrap but useful if you had to leg it. There was also a heavy duty mocassin with a thick sole that we used to wear in about 1971, not sure of the official name but we called them 'Bovver mocs'.

Interesting Chris, ive heard the term toppers but tbh had no idea what they are, never heard the term madcaps, the way you and others describe them makes me think of the shoes i always refered to as duckbills as a kid, dont recall owning a pair but remember having my fingers crushed by a pair worn by a kiddie a bit older than me, a dispute over a ball bonk whilst playing marbles.

 I remember moc's being worn in the 80's never wore them myself, i did used to wear those chinese slippers/karate daps, black canvas/velvet, orangey brown plastic sole, god knows why, i suppose i was just doing what me mates were doing