J. Crew cordovan

[Willsw]

It seems they are ever heightening their...end. Higher-ing? Anyway, some pennies in that leather you all love. Hopefully they'll end up in the bargain bin at the end of the season.

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/Mens...7577/97577.jsp

 

[lee_44106]

I highly doubt that it's shell cordovan.

 

[robin]

Ron Rider made an excellent post recently about some lesser cordovan that's coming out of Italy now, and that could be it. I was also curious about them, but I'd sooner just buy Alden.

 

[TheFusilliJerry]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

I highly doubt that it's shell cordovan.

Originally Posted by jcrew

The ultimate penny loafer: a collector's item in a superior quality, extra-durable Cordovan leather with a classic ox-blood finish. Italian leather upper. Leather lining and sole. Import. Catalog/jcrew.com only. Price $425


It appears so..

 

[RIDER]

Originally Posted by robin

Ron Rider made an excellent post recently about some lesser cordovan that's coming out of Italy now, and that could be it. I was also curious about them, but I'd sooner just buy Alden.

Thanks, but I didn't say 'lesser cordovan'....there is a very nice heavy calf that is tanned to mimic shell cordovan, and that's what I've seen. As a matter of fact, I just ordered some, as it is very nice.

Whether these shoes are made of this or not, I would'nt know. Shoe looks pretty good, actually, except for the soles. I can tell by the prefab heel who makes them, and they are pretty cheap. And the welt stitching you see is just for appearances, it's not functional. Pretty much cardboard.

 

[robin]

^ Thanks for clarifying that.

 

[AlanC]

It is a collector's item, though.

 

[voxsartoria]

If that is shell cordovan, though, I give them points for moccasin construction which one would not find in a cordovan penny very easily. Alden does not use a moccasin front, for example, and neither does C&J in their cordo pennies.

But, if you're after that, I would spring for a bit more and get these for $588 from Paul Stuart:



I recall a rumor that these are made up in Maine by some of the workers who used to make Weejuns. Does anyone have these? I was thinking of looking into a pair.


- B

 

[Tarmac]

would this new leather be similar to Horween's ChromXcel? I have Chromxcel on Red Wing Gentleman Travelers, and it is the closest I've seen calf leather feel like shell.

 

[rebel222]

There was a long discussion of these shoes on AAAC a couple of months ago. I will try to locate the thread b/c I think someone purchased these (or at lease inquired to J Crew)

Here's the post:
AAAC thread

It looks like no one ever found out if these are shell. The price was $350 a couple of months ago.

 

[Willsw]

Originally Posted by rebel222

The price was $350 a couple of months ago.

Soon we'll see J.Crew monogram sneakers for $600.

 

[RIDER]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

would this new leather be similar to Horween's ChromXcel? I have Chromxcel on Red Wing Gentleman Travelers, and it is the closest I've seen calf leather feel like shell.

No - chromexcel is a pull-up, meaning it's impregnated with grease/tallow and the pigment is 'loose'. If you had the leather in your hand before it's made into a product, you could pull your fingers underneath and move the color.

This is just a plump calf with some sort of grain treatment to smooth it out.

 

[TheFusilliJerry]

Originally Posted by AlanC

It is a collector's item, though.
the mark of exellence

 

[playdohh22]

Definitely calf skin. If not definite, they sure do look a lot like it. Jeeezz $425 for those?

 

[TheFusilliJerry]

Originally Posted by oaklandish on AAAC

Again, this is a funny way to describe cordovan-colored calf: "superior quality, extra-durable Cordovan leather with a classic ox-blood finish." If this isn't shell, it is horribly deceptive advertising. "Extra-durable"? Capitalized "C"? I give this outfit a bit more credit than that. The reference to "Italian leather" is a bit weird, granted, but I'm not ready to write these off as calf just yet.
+1