Loake

[johnnynorman3]

Pretty simple question here. I really like the look of the Norwich in the dark brown. Sort of look like C & J Weymouths. I've never seen any up close, so I'm wondering what the quality of Loake compares to.

 

[kabert]

No immediate experience, but my impression is that it's a little below Sargent; perhaps around the level of Trickers.

 

[johnnynorman3]

I think if I go in this direction I may actually just go to Ebay seller English Shoes. I contacted him and he said he could get C & J handgrades for 230 pounds and benchgrade for 140 pounds. For 60 - 70 dollars more than the Loakes, I think it'd be better to go with the Crocketts.

 

[Urbane]

I appreciate that the quality of Loake's is not of the same standard as many of the English shoes discussed here.  But they cost significantly less (in the UK around 60-70 pounds).  I have worn Loake's for many years, and they make excellent wet weather/travelling dress shoes.  Their styles are conservative, they are in my opinion well made, and they coordinate well with business attire.  I, for one, recommend them.

 

[VMan]

I appreciate that the quality of Loake's is not of the same standard as many of the English shoes discussed here.  But they cost significantly less (in the UK around 60-70 pounds).  I have worn Loake's for many years, and they make excellent wet weather/travelling dress shoes.  Their styles are conservative, they are in my opinion well made, and they coordinate well with business attire.  I, for one, recommend them.

I'm thinking of getting a pair. Cheaper than Kenneth Cole, and the quality/styling looks better. I'm interested in a pair of black captoes, and maybe some sort of nice brown pair...perhaps in a monkstrap. What are the shipping costs like?

 

[raley]

I was thinking about some chelsea boots myself... do the 290's look too shiny to you guys? Would that be weird with jeans or should I go for the other (1276 I think?), only downside to those is that they are closer to 200 vs the shinier ones which are closer to 130.

 

[Urbane]

Either of the Chelsea boots you mention will look great with jeans, or with more formal pants/trousers.

 

[kabert]

By the way, you might be able to find Loake's here in the US. A store near me, W.M. Fox on G Street btw. 14th and 15th in Washington, DC, recently told me they are going to start carrying Loake shoes. I haven't heard of other stores carrying them, but if this little men's store has them, others presumably do too -- the Loake website probably has a list of US retailers.

 

[RIDER]

Wm. Fox is still in business.? I bought my first beaver felt fedora from them about 12 years ago - they were on M at 18th St. then. Actually the Loake guy gave me his book last week; some look ok, for the money. Kind of stiff though, no?
Mostly corrected grain from what I can tell.

 

[MPS]

No immediate experience, but my impression is that it's a little below Sargent; perhaps around the level of Trickers.

Whilst Tricker's make some of the ugliest shoes around, I don't think this is a fair assessment of their quality, which is certainly above that of C & J (standard line).

 

[kabert]

Rider,

Yes, WM Fox is still in business and seems to be doing quite well too. Frankly, they have some great clothes, but the best part IMO is the guys who run the place (one of whom is named Fox) who are very friendly and knowledgeable. The whole place feels very clubby inside, like you could just hang out there and sip a G&T. I've bought lots of clothes from them though. They have Talbott shirts, Samuelson and Nick Hilton slacks, Bill's khaki's, Samuelson suits/blazers (same company that makes many Paul Stuart suits I understand), Locke hats, Barbour jackets, Dore Dore socks (superb.), and various other doodads -- watch straps, boxers, books, umbrellas, belts (Trafalgar and Talbott). Various golf attire too. Their sales are not to be missed.

 

[jcusey]

Actually the Loake guy gave me his book last week; some look ok, for the money. Kind of stiff though, no?

You Italian shoe guys are all the same. "English shoes are too stiff. Nyah, nyah, nyah."

Mostly corrected grain from what I can tell.

Well, for the prices of some of the lower-end Loake stuff, it would almost have to be corrected-grain, wouldn't it?

 

[BGW]

As far as I know Charles Tyrwhitt shoes are re-branded Loake's.

 

[RIDER]

You Italian shoe guys are all the same. "English shoes are too stiff. Nyah, nyah, nyah."

And I thought you were one of us.

Well, for the prices of some of the lower-end Loake stuff, it would almost have to be corrected-grain, wouldn't it?

No, not really. Besides, I have the wholesale list in front of me and they are not that inexpensive. Of course, the exchange here is pretty bad vs. UK, but still. IMO,you can do better from Spain. Pertini does some real nice Goodyear Welts for the same price as the lower Loake line. They are a little stiff as well, but use a much nicer, analine upper.
Anyway, for the price PLAL charges, they seem to be a good buy. But the US price seems a little high. Just my opinion.

 

[jcusey]

Quote:

You Italian shoe guys are all the same. "English shoes are too stiff. Nyah, nyah, nyah."
And I thought you were one of us.
I believe in shoe ecumenicalism.

Quote:

Well, for the prices of some of the lower-end Loake stuff, it would almost have to be corrected-grain, wouldn't it?
No, not really. Besides, I have the wholesale list in front of me and they are not that inexpensive. Of course, the exchange here is pretty bad vs. UK, but still. IMO,you can do better from Spain. Pertini does some real nice Goodyear Welts for the same price as the lower Loake line. They are a little stiff as well, but use a much nicer, analine upper. Anyway, for the price PLAL charges, they seem to be a good buy. But the US price seems a little high. Just my opinion.
It's sometimes a bit difficult to get excited about lower-end English shoes. In any event, the lower-end Loake stuff on Pediwear go for maybe $130 US, and you usually don't get very good stuff for $130. Obviously, the Loake people think that their product would have more cachet in the US market, though.