General Shoe Question

[foto010101]

Hi there,

I am looking for high-quality shoes and have read about various brands on this forum. However, which brand is generally considered superior in quality and constuction to most other brands? Bu the way, I am not really interested in shoes that are well above 1500USD.

I am aware that this question is quite general and maybe irritating for some of the people who have posted a lot on this, but I am really looking forward to read some expert opinions on this matter.

Mike

 

[Chris "Italia"]

For 1500 less; best shoe would be Vass and Edward Green, Paolo Scafora. SOME John Lobb Paris. Maybe some Silvano Lattanzi as well if you're lucky.

I said some because those latter two can be very, very expensive.


Are you looking for RTW or Bespoke?


Another great RTW would be Stefano Branchini, not sure what the prices are, but can be super high.

 

[foto010101]

I am looking for RTW. It is important to me that the shoes are classic and very durable. I just looked at some John Lobb and Edward Green shoes. I particularly like this model:

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imag...phlogomain.jpg

It's an Edward Green for RL. What do you think of this model?

I also liked this one (Salvatore Ferragamo, how's the quality and durability of this brand?):

http://www.shopkanvas.com/MAINDIR/FE...MABAL/MAIN.jpg

Any opinions?

Cheers,

Mike

 

[Chris "Italia"]

Originally Posted by foto010101

I am looking for RTW. It is important to me that the shoes are classic and very durable. I just looked at some John Lobb and Edward Green shoes. I particularly like this model:

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imag...phlogomain.jpg

It's an Edward Green for RL. What do you think of this model


That's a very classic looking shoe, very clean.

Since it is an EG; it is one of the best welted shoes in the world. I think you will do well with EG...

They will last a very long time...

Others can chime in that they know more about shoes than I do.


Ferragamo top of the line is well made, but I would go for Edward Green on this. I don't think that's the top of the line Ferragamo, but I can very well be wrong.

It's like comparing a Bentley to a Lancia.

 

[foto010101]

Thanks for your contribution!

 

[Chris "Italia"]

Another shoe you can look into is Vass.

Handmade shoes with a hand welt process.

I believe EG does it with some assistance of the Goodyear Welted machine?

I can be wrong on this.

 

[chorse123]

Where do you live? I think if you're paying that kind of money for shoes you should try them on first or at least buy from a seller who takes returns. Fit is so crucial with shoes.

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by foto010101

Hi there,

I am looking for high-quality shoes and have read about various brands on this forum. However, which brand is generally considered superior in quality and constuction to most other brands? Bu the way, I am not really interested in shoes that are well above 1500USD.

I am aware that this question is quite general and maybe irritating for some of the people who have posted a lot on this, but I am really looking forward to read some expert opinions on this matter.

Mike

yes , alot of great shoes can be had under 1500 USD, almost everything actually besides bespoke and lattanzi or kiton.

but even those two brands IF you are lucky, you may run into a discounted one, but i have yet to find one. let alone my size, my taste, and able to be ordered by me where i live.

the question is really what chorse said above, where do you live, since you are in holland, you are in europe and items like vass, lobb, and many italian brand names will be quite accessible to you through mail i guess.

my favorites are: Santoni. an italian brand name making a wide range of qualitative shoes. the ones i am particular for are the Fatte A Mano series. comes truly with decadent leathers, substantial soles, nasty vero cuoio stamp, great styling and antiquing, a truly superlative shoe.

Lobb, although i do love my lobb shoe and the ones i have seen and felt, they are not as decadent and substantial as santoni fam. this is my opinion.
and it is an english shoe but with many contemporary stylings.

vass, i heard alot of great things about vass, almost mystifying and legendary to me (all from this and ask andy fora) i have never seen one in person. but i have recently ordered a wingtip and cannot wait for it to arrive and i will show all. vass i heard is truly handmade in RTW and is one of the best deals to be had for a 'handmade rtw shoe' compared to lattanzi and kiton or even santoni fam.

St. Crispin: i know one fellow forumite owns the rtw wholecut and is truly a beautiful piece of handmade shoe. it looks to be very substantial and the leather is to be CRUST and hand dyed or something or other. i am pretty sure st crispin is awesome , but does not have the same PR as Vass does here.

corthay makes a very stylized and beautiful rtw shoe as well. they are a france based company and the shoes are sort of glazed , elongated toebox, chiseled , stylized look. not for everybody, but for me, i wish i had a pair.
there is no way anyone here in USA can order one.

 

[DocHolliday]

One quick point: If you're looking for a classic style and good quality, you can find very nice shoes starting at $300 retail and significantly less on discount. All the names mentioned are excellent shoes, but there's comes a point of diminishing returns, at which point you're largely paying for aesthetics, prestige and nuances most, uh, normal folks won't notice/appreciate. Ultimately, there's no way to label any one maker "the best."

 

[BigHandMan]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

One quick point: If you're looking for a classic style and good quality, you can find very nice shoes starting at $300 retail and significantly less on discount. All the names mentioned are excellent shoes, but there's comes a point of diminishing returns, at which point you're largely paying for aesthetics, prestige and nuances most, uh, normal folks won't notice/appreciate. Ultimately, there's no way to label any one maker "the best."

+1 on that.

You should check eBay for shoes in this range. I've found a decent selection of stuff there - including all ranges of RL and Ferrgamo - for reasonable prices.

Thanks to what I've learned on SF, I've been slowly upgrading my shoe collection.

Thanks to eBay, my wallet isn't completely barren. (Yet...)

 

[LARon]

There are many forumites who swear by the American firms Alden and Allen Edmonds, both of whose products can be had for well below your price ceiling. If you've decided to go European, review the Comprehensive Shoe thread, then check e-bay and shops in your town.

As has been noted, there is no such thing as "the best shoe," just as there is no such thing as the "most beautiful woman" or "best country." These things are, by definition subjective, depending upon what each beholder personally values.

 

[fritzl]

It really depends, where you are situated.

If you are in Europe, it is much easier to get good shoes at reasonable prices.

Whether you choose english, italian, french or austrian-hungarian shoes.

I have very good experiences with VASS, Balint or Maftei.

Prices from € 400 - 800,- = ~ $ 520 - 1040,-