Leather Quality and Properties

[deez shoes]

I hear you. Plus those StC shells ain't cheap.
Did you go with the aniline leather (vna) for the new pair or crust?

 

[taxgenius]

I'll add, they are 7 years old and never saw the rain, outside of this one instance. They look pretty horrid, but that's the rain's doing. They looked great earlier that day, my girlfriend recently commented on me talking of retiring them stating how they looked brand new.

Most people are used to Alden, AE, C&J shell etc that have no issues with rain. This is because the factory sprays a shellac on them. Saint Crispins uses the leather has provided to them from Horween. Naked shell doesn't like rain. The water penetrates the wax finish and the shell swells. When dry there is a a "bubble" created by the wax. You either have to strip them down with a solvent and build the finish back up, or use a bone, or smooth surface object to burnish it back down and then rebuild a finish risking leaving dents and impressions.

Ironically, shell is often touted as a great for wet weather but I hate wearing my shell in the rain because it takes so much “fixing“after it dries.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I hear you. Plus those StC shells ain't cheap.
Did you go with the aniline leather (vna) for the new pair or crust?

CRU crust. I like how it ages.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Most people are used to Alden, AE, C&J shell etc that have no issues with rain. This is because the factory sprays a shellac on them.

This ?? is why I have nothing but positive things to say about Shell. I own Shell from Alden, AE, Carmina amongst others.

Speaking of positives, that's also why Patrick doesn't know what he's talking about.
I mean what's not to love about Shell.

It's more expensive than other leathers. It is heavy and insulates heat like no other.

In the summer time, it feels like you are carrying a pair of Cadillac Deville's on your feet.
Then you have that incessant creasing and blooming that requires countless minutes to remove.

It's even more fun to get them wet, because then you have to spend hours (as @taxgenius said) to fix them.

I just love Shell ?.

 

[vmss]

I wonder if shell is warm and heavy then why are there so many loafer make ups with shell? Loafer is a summer type shoes that needs to be light and breathable leather, then why I see so many shell loafers made by different brands?

 

[wurger]

I'll also add, this is why shell sucks.

plus it’s stiff, heavy and doesn’t breath

 

[deez shoes]

I wonder if shell is warm and heavy then why are there so many loafer make ups with shell? Loafer is a summer type shoes that needs to be light and breathable leather, then why I see so many shell loafers made by different brands?

Allow me to answer your question! Lol

It works for me because I don't have sweaty feet genes and I wear them sockless. Also, I get better results wearing the shell in harsh environments than the other nicer calf loafers that I own.

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

I wonder if shell is warm and heavy then why are there so many loafer make ups with shell? Loafer is a summer type shoes that needs to be light and breathable leather, then why I see so many shell loafers made by different brands?

One of the greatest mysteries of this earth. Then again, many guys love wearing loafers in the fall (looking at @deez shoes).

A penny can be worn year round, unless there's rain or snow. Definitely many men in the train here in NYC throughout the fall wear them.

 

[skeen7908]

Was going to retire a pair of shell wholecuts and got caught in the rain wearing them. Nails in the coffin. Out with the old, in with the new (albeit calf now).
Aside from rain welts you’ll notice how much the black shell dye has moved and faded. Pretty cool.

View attachment 1395784

As someone with too many pairs of shoes, I find this fascinating and horrifying

The upper has detached from the welt?
The stitching has torn or the shell has torn?

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

I wonder if shell is warm and heavy then why are there so many loafer make ups with shell? Loafer is a summer type shoes that needs to be light and breathable leather, then why I see so many shell loafers made by different brands?

Speaking of loafers and as Patrick had up his StCs up, I could easily see someone use the StC Norwegian loafer throughout the year.

It is just a beautiful shoe to wear, regardless of weather. Now I probably would not make it up in Shell but that's the sort of loafer you would see guys wear with pride, regardless of season.

 

[deez shoes]

Speaking of loafers and as Patrick had up his StCs up, I could easily see someone use the StC Norwegian loafer throughout the year.

It is just a beautiful shoe to wear, regardless of weather. Now I probably would not make it up in Shell but that's the sort of loafer you would see guys wear with pride, regardless of season.

Or, if you are really brave, light kudu suede... at Disney World (side note: this was a Jan visit) :

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Allow me to answer your question! Lol

It works for me because I don't have sweaty feet genes and I wear them sockless. Also, I get better results wearing the shell in harsh environments than the other nicer calf loafers that I own.

That's because they are shellacked shell. They are essentially corrected with a topcoat.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

As someone with too many pairs of shoes, I find this fascinating and horrifying

The upper has detached from the welt?
The stitching has torn or the shell has torn?

Shell torn. Same happens on calf.

 

[ntempleman]

I have made many sacrifices to the welting gods lately

 

[ntempleman]

Save $$$ and replicate that authentic Cordovan feeling by wearing a pair of these inside your regular shoes