The Ultimate Collection of Shoe Appreciation

[Kent Wang]

That's not water - it's Dom Perignon.

I recall reading about some Victorian dandy who insisted on polishing his shoes with Champagne.

 

[LabelKing]

Quote:

(bengal-stripe @ July 01 2005,05:39) That's not water - it's Dom Perignon.
I recall reading about some Victorian dandy who insisted on polishing his shoes with Champagne.
Beau Brummell would have his shoes polished with the froth of champagne. However, he didn't live in the Victorian era; earlier in the English Regency period. When he ordered John Lobb boots he would insist the boots then be put out in the storefront window for about a year in order to make them look slightly aged. It once took his valet, and him two hours in the morning to knot the perfect cravat. And his toiletry itself was about two hours.

 

[RJman]

Beau Brummell in the English Regency period.

When he ordered John Lobb boots he would insist the boots then be put out in the storefront window for about a year in order to make them look slightly aged.

I thought Lobbs was founded in the 1850s, after Brummell had died -- broke, insane and incontinent -- in a French asylum?

 

[LabelKing]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabelKing,July 01 2005,13:56
Beau Brummell in the English Regency period. When he ordered John Lobb boots he would insist the boots then be put out in the storefront window for about a year in order to make them look slightly aged.
I thought Lobbs was founded in the 1850s, after Brummell had died -- broke, insane and incontinent -- in a French asylum?
I recall that it was John Lobb that Beau Brummel patronized. I could be wrong though. It was in Ellen Moers' book, "The Dandy"

 

[Kent Wang]

According to Wikipedia:

He died penniless and insane in Caen in 1840.

Google reports that John Lobb was founded in 1849.

 

[LabelKing]

According to Wikipedia:
Quote:

He died penniless and insane in Caen in 1840.
Google reports that John Lobb was founded in 1849.
I do not know I link John Lobb with Beau Brummell. I believe he had his shoes made by Hoby which used to be on the corner of St.James, and Picadilly. But he still left them in the store windows.

 

[pemazel]

First of all: thanks to naturlaut. Fine pictures.

Where to buy these magazines? I tried Amazon Japan, but got lost. If anyone finds an oulet, please let us know.

Paul

 

[naturlaut]

Where to buy these magazines?

Heh.

 

[naturlaut]

The following pictures are taken from the regular "Men's Ex" magazine of December 2004. Â It usually features tons of suit Appreciation, but this issue deals with black shoes in particular, so here you are.

Bottom left corner is our friend Mr. Martini from the Kiton Store in New York (formerly from Borrelli store). I don't know if he knows he's in the magazine.

I know it's really hard to see the shoes at the bottom, but they are: (Left to right on the bottom row) Bonora, John Lobb Matta II, Stefano Bemer.

This is also quite hard to see, but the middle shoe on the top row is Hanry Maxell's.

 

[marc37]

lt would be great to just travel the world collecting those types of shoes. So many beautiful and unusal shoes. Thanks Naturaut.

 

[faustian bargain]

wow, this thread DOES rock.

(BTW the 'this thread rocks' pic of the fat dude...priceless.) i'm with TokyoSlim - those 'two tie'(?) shoes are amazing. also in the same set of scans was a shoe in a 'sidebar' titled 'Focus On', had a single line of broguing running down from one of the lace holes...really cool. also #2, i really liked the boots with the flower punched out on the lower ankle. too many great shoes to talk about... /andrew

 

[naturlaut]

The following pictures are taken from LAST, volume 4. There are other topics in this issue besides shoes too. (My Volume 3 is will Koji ... so I can't post any scans.)

 

[bengal-stripe]

Just returned from my friendly neighbourhood Japanese bookshop with the specially ordered copies of  "Last" (vols. 3-5).

Wow, they are really nice. Ought to take up Japanese evening classes to read the text. Thank goodness, all the manufacturers and model names are featured in Latin script. I'm waiting for vol.6, which, I was told, is scheduled to come out in late August/ early September.

 

[naturlaut]

It will most likely come out on the 29th of the month, just like all the others. We'll probably going to see a long line at each of our local Japanese bookstore on that morning ...

 

[Kent Wang]

Is it me or do a lot of these fellows sport a bit too much sock -- i.e. their trousers are too short?