Artioli shoes

[bslo]

Hello. This is my first post, although I've been reading the posts on this forum for several months. Thanks for the education, guys. Anyway, I recently purchased a pair of Artioli shoes and was wondering if anyone has heard of this brand. It is an Italian brand (I think), and the shoes seem nice to me, although I am not an expert.

Thanks

 

[RIDER]

bslo - Welcome, Artioli are excellent shoes. Very well made, very good people. Wear them well. What did you get and where?

 

[bengal-stripe]

I've read previously that at one time, both, President Bush and Saddam Hussein, were wearing Artioli shoes. I suppose in the meantime, Saddam has been forced to get his footwear from another supplier.

 

[jcusey]

I've read previously that at one time, both, President Bush and Saddam Hussein, were wearing Artioli shoes. I suppose in the meantime, Saddam has been forced to get his footwear from another supplier.

I can't find a link just now, but I believe that that particular urban legend has been debunked. If I recall correctly, there is significant doubt that Saddam ever ordered Artioli shoes; and it was the elder George Bush, not the current President, who was the Artioli client.

 

[bengal-stripe]

but I believe that that particular urban legend has been debunked.

Maybe it's an urban myth, I don't know: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_748613.html?menu= http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/02/20_WWJW.html http://www.townhall.com/columnists/j...20030214.shtml I've neither met G.W. nor Saddam nor have I checked out their footwear. But like all urban myth it has an incredible staying power. Just ask Marianne Faithful about Mars bars. Although she has denied it for some 30 years, MF plus Mars bars gives you some 720 entries on google. (SH and Artioli shoes only give 43.)

 

[jcusey]

Maybe it's an urban myth, I don't know: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_748613.html?menu= http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/02/20_WWJW.html http://www.townhall.com/columnists/j...20030214.shtml

Notice that the ultimate source for the claim in all three stories (and just about every story that I turned up with a Google search) is a story in the British Sun tabloid.

 

[A Harris]

They are very nice and very expensive shoes. Primarily blake-stitched, but they couldn't accomplish that ultra-thin sole they do with a goodyear welt. Unfortunately the styling is all over the map - some are atrocious and some are exquisite. The models they do for Stefano Ricci are especially nice.

 

[bslo]

I purchased the shoes from a guy I know who gets excess high-end inventory from stores.  I don't know where he got the shoes from, but he only charged me $70, which is a steal I assume.  The shoes are kind of a beige/mustard brown wholecut with a row of stitching running down the left and right sides of the top of the shoes to the soles.  Very Italian look.  I'm sorry I don't have pictures right now, but I'll post pictures soon.  

The seller has another pair that I'm interested in that he said retailed for $960.  He said that he'd let me have them for $320.  I assume that's a good deal?  Or would I be better off spending the money on a pair of Edward Greens? (speaking from a standpoint of quality and not style).  He also has a few pairs of beautiful Lattanzis, but he wants $700-$800 for them.

Comments?

 

[bslo]

The Artioli shoes that I've seen don't seem like anything W. would wear. I wouldn't think that they'd be conservative enough. He seems like more of an Alden or Allen Edmonds kind of guy (they'd fit his suit selection better, also).

 

[bslo]

I guess that Artioli shoes are not well known, but does anyone have thoughts about picking up another pair for $320. Disregarding issues of style (the Artiolis I'm considering are very conservative), from a quality standpoint would I be better off investing in a pair of Edward Green shoes?

Mr. Harris? Jcusey? Bengal-stripe? RIDER?

Thanks

 

[norcaltransplant]

I assume the $320 price is about 60-70% discount considering that most of the Artioli shoes I've seen at Sak's run around 800-1k'ish.  That being said, $300 dollars for a tasteful and quality shoe isn't a bad deal (especially if you like the fit and finnish).  I personally prefer English shoes with a goodyear welt for everyday wear, but would readily buy something Italian if the opportunity presents itself... FWIW, it took great restraint not to stock up on every pair of Lidforts at the last warehouse sale... really nice for about half the cost of Greens or Lobbs.

 

[jcusey]

I guess that Artioli shoes are not well known, but does anyone have thoughts about picking up another pair for $320. Disregarding issues of style (the Artiolis I'm considering are very conservative), from a quality standpoint would I be better off investing in a pair of Edward Green shoes?

The only Artiolis that I've ever seen were a pair of chestnut grained Venetian loafers, and they were very comfortable. I think that comparing Artiolis to Edward Greens is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. I think that most Artiolis have either have Blake or Bologna construction, whereas EGs are all Goodyear welted. If the shoes that I tried on are any indication, the leather used on Artiolis typically is softer than that used on EGs. All of this adds up to a softer, more flexible shoe than an EG.

Do you like the way the shoes look? It sounds to me like you're getting a good deal and that you want the shoes. Why not?