Chestnut?

[Avebury]

Is there such a thing as "chestnut", or is this just a broad brush classification? There are quite a number of shoes described as being 'chestnut' in colour, but colours vary quite markedly. A few examples attached. Factor in the fact that shoes are individually hand burnished and will differ slightly in colour anyway and you have very much a sliding scale. I mention this only because many people order online are are reliant on the quality of the image on the website, or indeed in the printed catalogue. Image is often misleading. Perhaps, to avoid a headache go for business black! I have to say, chestnut is probably my favourite colour, though burgundy comes close. By 'chestnut' I mean a darker shade of chestnut (e.g. EG "Chelsea" on the 888 last). Like many things to do with shoes, you have to get up close to them and try them on to be sure. What with new technology an' all, there'll be an answer to this conundrum eventually.

 

[Poshak Man]

Chestnut varies a lot by the maker. I think C&J chestnut is the darkest of the three makers but the chestnut color seems to vary a lot even within the C&J range. For examples check the C&J catalgue on the Plal website http://plal.com/cj2008-9.html One example of C&J chestnut that I have is almost a mix of medium brown and light burgundy. My C&J chestnut color looks something like this: http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/handgrade-belgra.html I think the C&J Bolton that you have posted might be a C&J tan color.

 

[HHD]

It looks like it's broad brush! I think the EG is closest to what I think of as chestnut. Beautiful colour.

 

[apropos]

Um... what about the influence of cameras/lighting? And computer screens with different colour balances?

And chestnuts (the actual nuts) are not all the same colour in reality - I wouldn't get my knickers in a twist over 'chestnut' shoes not being 100% identical either.

FWIW, the C&J 'Chestnut' in reality looks little like the linked photo, being closer to that of the EG photo as displayed on my screen.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

I want Chestnut shoes that look like unopened chestnuts.

 

[alliswell]

SAB Chestnut is the colour I remember from playing conkers as a kid. See it here:

http://www.englishhall.com/swaine-ad...document-case/

The toe of the EG example is the closest. The Church's are definitely tan.

 

[Avebury]

To complicate matters Tricker's call their brogues Marron - yes, indeed! Look it up in the OED - 'large Australian crayfish'. Are they chestnut in colour? More likely, juicy pink after being boiled. Marron from the French - chestnut. Bit too close to maroon - it confuses people. I think of chestnut in terms of conkers - the beast we used to whack other kids kneecaps with. In other words, a rich brown colour (EG example, as mentioned). Other colours are too close to 'Tan' or 'Maroon'. It's an interesting point - it's the only colour you are never on safe ground with.

 

[Avebury]

Originally Posted by letmebefell

SAB Chestnut is the colour I remember from playing conkers as a kid. See it here:

http://www.englishhall.com/swaine-ad...document-case/

The toe of the EG example is the closest. The Church's are definitely tan.

I quite agree. A marvellous colour. Probably the best of all! That'll do me.

 

[Avebury]

Originally Posted by apropos

Um... what about the influence of cameras/lighting? And computer screens with different colour balances?

And chestnuts (the actual nuts) are not all the same colour in reality - I wouldn't get my knickers in a twist over 'chestnut' shoes not being 100% identical either.

FWIW, the C&J 'Chestnut' in reality looks little like the linked photo, being closer to that of the EG photo as displayed on my screen.

Of course. The issue is about the difficulty of reliable classification.

 

[Tarmac]

It's the same as any other color. Brown - is there only one shade of brown? Is there only one shade of dark brown? Is there even one shade of black? No.

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by Avebury

To complicate matters Tricker's call their brogues Marron - yes, indeed! Look it up in the OED - 'large Australian crayfish'. Are they chestnut in colour? More likely, juicy pink after being boiled. Marron from the French - chestnut. Bit too close to maroon - it confuses people. I think of chestnut in terms of conkers - the beast we used to whack other kids kneecaps with. In other words, a rich brown colour (EG example, as mentioned). Other colours are too close to 'Tan' or 'Maroon'. It's an interesting point - it's the only colour you are never on safe ground with.
'Marron' - French for 'chestnut'! That one wouldn't have thrown me off - I knew there would someday be a payoff from reading all those ingredient lists in all the languages printed on the back of candy bars and 'matching' the words between languages.

 

[Avebury]

Originally Posted by apropos

'Marron' - French for 'chestnut'! That one wouldn't have thrown me off - I knew there would someday be a payoff from reading all those ingredient lists in all the languages printed on the back of candy bars and 'matching' the words between languages.

Tricker's:

Clunky website, clunky catalogue, confusing description, lovely shoes!

And the shop is dark, so you can't see them properly anyway.

They make it difficult to appreciate the shoes.

Bring on Andersons of Durham!

 

[Poshak Man]

And then there is RM Williams chestnut, which to me looks like oxblood or a very dark burgundy.

 

[sho'nuff]

if anyone has ever looked at and opened a chestnut, there are two distinct colors:

the inside is a light brown color and the shell/husk is a very dark or reddish brown.

so the different brands do refer to chestnut to describe these two types of colors.

e.g.
Allen edmonds chestnut is for leather coloring that resembles the inside as well as edward green.

John lobb's chestnut and other makes refer to coloring that resembles the husk or shell

 

[alliswell]

Shoe -

You're hallucinating. The inside is like unbleached cotton.