John Lobb Shoes..... foundation or finishing touch.

[renman23]

So, i'm debating with a friend of mine... He thinks a pair of bespoke shoes are a cornerstone of a good wardrobe.
I believe its a finishing touch. Much better to have quality basics and lesser shoes.

What do you think?

 

[NoCleverName]

Good shoes make a crappy outfit look better and bad shoes make a great outfit look like ****. I'm siding with shoes being the cornerstone.

 

[Joenobody0]



So, i'm debating with a friend of mine... He thinks a pair of bespoke shoes are a cornerstone of a good wardrobe.
I believe its a finishing touch. Much better to have quality basics and lesser shoes.

What do you think?

John Lobb St James shoes cost around $5,000 and don't really look a great deal nicer than top level RTW. In fact, if your foot is odd shaped, a bespoke shoe can look very orthopedic. Bespoke shoes are great for people with hard to fit feet, or people who want something out of the ordinary.

Clearly a pair of bespoke shoes are not the cornerstone of a good wardrobe. Theyr'e not even required to be well dressed.

 

[ljrcustom]



Good shoes make a crappy outfit look better and bad shoes make a great outfit look like ****.  I'm siding with shoes being the cornerstone.

You are definitely right that shoes can help improve the look of an outfit and also have the ability to ruin the like of an otherwise nice ensemble, however this can certainly be achieve without spending the kind of cash that it costs for LOBB st James. If rtw shoes work then you will be fine with any of the myriad of great RTW makers such as EG, St. Crispins, G&G, Vass, etc... In the end though, if you have the money to spend on bespoke shoes, by all means go ahead and enjoy them.

-LR

 

[NoCleverName]

You are definitely right that shoes can help improve the look of an outfit and also have the ability to ruin the like of an otherwise nice ensemble, however this can certainly be achieve without spending the kind of cash that it costs for LOBB st James. If rtw shoes work then you will be fine with any of the myriad of great RTW makers such as EG, St. Crispins, G&G, Vass, etc... In the end though, if you have the money to spend on bespoke shoes, by all means go ahead and enjoy them.
-LR

Oh, definitely, I didn't mean to imply that everyone should be wearing Lobb, just that the shoes need to be in proportion to the rest of the clothing. If you have a bespoke suit you should have bespoke shoes. If you have a RTW suit then RTW shoes are perfectly fine as long as they are well constructed and appropriate for the suit.

 

[scottcw]



Oh, definitely, I didn't mean to imply that everyone should be wearing Lobb, just that the shoes need to be in proportion to the rest of the clothing.  If you have a bespoke suit you should have bespoke shoes.  If you have a RTW suit then RTW shoes are perfectly fine as long as they are well constructed and appropriate for the suit.

I would disagree, there are plenty of RTW shoes - Lobb, Edward Green, Corthay, G&G, etc. - that would pair perfectly with a bespoke suit.

 

[JayJay]



I would disagree, there are plenty of RTW shoes - Lobb, Edward Green, Corthay, G&G, etc. - that would pair perfectly with a bespoke suit.

I agree with this. There are plenty of better RTW brands that would complement a bespoke suit well.

 

[Macallan]



the shoes need to be in proportion to the rest of the clothing.  If you have a bespoke suit you should have bespoke shoes.  If you have a RTW suit then RTW shoes are perfectly fine as long as they are well constructed and appropriate for the suit.

Many people who wear bespoke suits, get by with rtw/mto shoes

In terms of making a difference to one's wardrobe, I would put shoes towards the end rather then the top; and in my opinion, shirts make the biggest difference and should be the starting point.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



Oh, definitely, I didn't mean to imply that everyone should be wearing Lobb, just that the shoes need to be in proportion to the rest of the clothing.  If you have a bespoke suit you should have bespoke shoes.  If you have a RTW suit then RTW shoes are perfectly fine as long as they are well constructed and appropriate for the suit.

That's kind of bullshit. Some of the best dressers on this forum don't have any bespoke shoes.

I feel that the added value of a bespoke suit is much more than the added value of bespoke footwear if one is already getting high end RTW.

 

[F. Corbera]

I've become undecided about this question, so I have nothing to add.

 

[rohde88]

Shirt->Suit->Shoes->Tie->watch->belt,socks, underwear(if any)

 

[earthdragon]

Shoes and Fingernails DAWG - without these two 'stay in bed'... Just sayin

 

[PhiPsi32]

Dunno, your shirt should be mostly covered up by your jacket or sport coat. I wouldn't put the shirt at the top. I start with the shoes (not necessarily bespoke or John Lobb RTW) then work my way up.

 

[dieworkwear]

I think it's worth adding that getting anything custom made isn't just about what it adds to your look or ensemble, it's also about the experience. While I don't think anyone needs custom shoes to look nice, getting something custom made can be very enjoyable, assuming you can afford it. In addition to playing a role in the design process, you get to have something made by an artisan and, hopefully, build a relationship. In this case, the service and experience is just as meaningful as the final product. Assuming you go with someone worthwhile, it can also add a lot to your education and understanding of elegance.

I often feel like some members on this forum focus too much on the final product and their utility. "Will this make me look good?" "Is this versatile?" "Will this last a lifetime?" So on and so forth. Some things are just beautiful things in and of themselves, even if they don't make you into an Adonis.

 

[NewYorkBuck]

IMO, of the three primary bespoke items - shirts, suits, shoes - they are worth the extra $$ in exactly that order. I have never regretted a custom shirt or suit purchase. I regret the one custom shoe purchase that Ive made. Not that they're bad shoes, its just that they werent worth the premium over an EG RTW or even AE. Shoes to a degree are self-customizing - they mold to your size as you wear them more than any other item of mens business dress.