Gaziano & Girling Appreciation & Shoe Appreciation Thread (including reviews, purchases, pictures)

[Ironist]



What brands deliver the same combination quality of leather, construction and sleek styling?

Others appear to exceed in one category or another but I havent seen any that hit at high level of all 3.

Id love to hear of other contenders though!

Enzo Bonafe, Meccariello, Bestetti, a number of japanese brands? I would think if you are comparing MTO prices with trees to the last two the price would be more comparable.

 

[VRaivio]



They are a more fashion forward version of EG. But why are they more expensive?

Justin FitzPatrick wrote about this on this here thriid a while ago. If memory serves, G&G's upper and lining leathers alone cost $100. Then there's Baker's one whole year oak bark-tanned leather insoles, welts and outer soles to consider. The carved fiddleback waist and semi-manual lasting take more time than EG's production, just as G&G's beautiful hand-made shoe trees. The factory also makes considerably less shoes per year than EG.

If you'll do a bit of math now, you will see that G&G's leathers and production methods are expensive, much more so than EG's. It's up to the customer to decide if these choices give enough value to justify the ~ 1000£ price tag. For many men, they do -- enough so that the maker has now been able to move into a new factory. Only the owners know how big of a loan they're now facing. Well, now that they've made shoes for the Elkanns and Ralph Lauren himself, I trust things are going pretty well and they've nothing more to prove.

 

[jas0nt]



Justin FitzPatrick wrote about this on this here thriid a while ago. If memory serves, G&G's upper and lining leathers alone cost $100. Then there's Baker's one whole year oak bark-tanned leather insoles, welts and outer soles to consider. The carved fiddleback waist and semi-manual lasting take more time than EG's production, just as G&G's beautiful hand-made shoe trees. The factory also makes considerably less shoes per year than EG.

If you'll do a bit of math now, you will see that G&G's leathers and production methods are expensive, much more so than EG's. It's up to the customer to decide if these choices give enough value to justify the ~ 1000£ price tag. For many men, they do -- enough so that the maker has now been able to move into a new factory. Only the owners know how big of a loan they're now facing. Well, now that they've made shoes for the Elkanns and Ralph Lauren himself, I trust things are going pretty well and they've nothing more to prove.

Well said. Not to mention the hand patina that can be made for Deco shoes. It's all factored in the price.

 

[NAMOR]

I'll patina your shoes. Patina the **** out of them for $$$

 

[Frank the sheep]

GG RTW doesn't have handmade shoe trees. The trees is made by Springline http://www.springline.net

 

[PCK1]

I will continue to buy G&G...I like the fit...and I like the style...I like the leathers and the soles and construction and the quality (even for a GYW)...and I just think they look awesome

I hope to try their bespoke in the near future too...

 

[Rincon]



Well said. Not to mention the hand patina that can be made for Deco shoes. It's all factored in the price.

IMO a huge factor is the weakness of the dollar.

If the exchange rate was $1.55 instead of almost $2.00 ...

 

[Chowkin]



IMO a huge factor is the weakness of the dollar.

If the exchange rate was $1.55 instead of almost $2.00 ...

But that exchange rate argument applies to EG as well

 

[JubeiSpiegel]



What happened to the h width u last? I thought it looked great.

Can you believe they were still too tight? That was a bitter sweet day...

 

[NAMOR]

That's tough. I can't fit into the balmoral it's too tight. Blucher do much better

 

[jhcam8]



They are a more fashion forward version of EG. But why are they more expensive?

GG lasts are really nice (haven't tried deco or GG06). But again that price bump and high hurdle for mto along with shoe tree requirement just annoyed me in principle. They are the worst value IMO next to alden calf and CJ Handgrade

I like some of the Alden calf more than the shell - price/fit-wise.

 

[jhcam8]



What happened to the h width u last? I thought it looked great. I loss the vash

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Looking good, Namor.

 

[jhcam8]



I'll patina your shoes. Patina the **** out of them for $$$

You're a good man, Namor!

IMO a huge factor is the weakness of the dollar.

If the exchange rate was $1.55 instead of almost $2.00 ...

This is also pounding the US watch market. I have a great idea - let's threaten to default on the US debt! That'll restore faith in the dollar! **** yeah!

 

[jhcam8]

Maybe my last pair -

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

^
How do you like it? Does if feel as good as it looks?