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Grapevinehill on EBAY - RLPLs keep coming

kabert

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I've now bought and had arrive two of the RLPL offerings by Grapevinehill, and thought I'd give a review. The shoes are velvet slippers and boat shoes.

Velvet Slippers. These are made by Edward Green and originally retailed for $695. They are actually even better/nicer than I was expecting. The bottom sole is all leather, but in a sort of brushed leather -- not shiny like RLPL dress shoes. The interior of the shoes is beautiful and is clearly different from EG dress shoes -- the insole has much more padding and the stitching and leather on the interior seems to have been done with an eye towards comfort and the wearer wearing these barefoot. They are very elegant and I think will be more versatile than I first thought.

"Boat shoes." These are the beige shoes that look a bit like Sperry topsiders. I think original retail was @$295. They are RLPL but I'm quite sure are not made by Edward Green. Two things set them apart from regular boat shoes: First, the bottom sole is not rubber (.) but is very smooth, dress-shoe-like leather, with a small rubber insert at the heel; thus, the Grapevinehill description (a "rubber sole for traction") is incorrect. These would be a disaster on a boat. Second, the interior of the shoes are very nicely done, with partial leather lining unlike you'd find in common boat shoes. The insoles are also very comfortable and are nicely constructed. The suede leather that makes up the shoe is not particularly soft or delicate that I can tell (as compared to Edward Green-made RLPL suede dress shoes). However, this is the one feature that actually is relatively clear from the Grapevinehill auctions.
 

bengal-stripe

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These are made by Edward Green and originally retailed for $695.
Of course you can always contact Edward Green directly and have the same slippers made up with your own initials. I don't know the exact costs, it might well work out cheaper then $ 695. If you have a granny who is handy with a needle, Shipton & Heneage will turn one of her tapestries, or one of your brocade cushions or kelim rugs, into slippers.
 

chorse123

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I bid on a pair of these slippers (maxed out though at around $10). I could see myself wearing plain slippers, or even personalised ones, but I think it's a bit funny to wear Ralph's slippers. Why couldn't Polo have just sold them plain?
 

kabert

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Chorse,

Grapevinehill is selling some with the plain toe (no "RL" initials).
 

marc37

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l've competed in couple of grapevine auctions for the slippers and i've been done every time by about $2.00.
 

kabert

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Chorse,

I'd say the RLPL's run perhaps a bit large in length, but I think width is true to size.
 

RJman

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l've competed in couple of grapevine auctions for the slippers and i've been done every time by about $2.00.
Did you ever get the Chinese RLPL shoes you won?
 

zjpj83

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Awesome customer service. I'm very happy with Grapevinehill. I just paid for the three pairs of shoes I have bought over the past ~week, and got an email from FedEx saying they are shipping today and will be arriving tomorrow, the 24th. Can't beat that.
 

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