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Monk strap buckles

hopkins_student

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I've never owned a pair of monk strap shoes, but I intend for this to change soon. Are the bukles on monk straps intended to be functional, in the sense that they are there to tighten or loosen the shoe, or are they pretty much just decoration? If they are meant to be functional, should the shoe fit so that it buckles at the middle hole? Has anyone ever had a problem with the hole getting stretched by the pressure from the buckle? Thanks, HS.
 

skalogre

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Originally Posted by hopkins_student
I've never owned a pair of monk strap shoes, but I intend for this to change soon. Are the bukles on monk straps intended to be functional, in the sense that they are there to tighten or loosen the shoe, or are they pretty much just decoration? If they are meant to be functional, should the shoe fit so that it buckles at the middle hole? Has anyone ever had a problem with the hole getting stretched by the pressure from the buckle? Thanks, HS.

AFAIK, they are not meant to be used as actual buckles. But I don't have any.
 

chobochobo

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Originally Posted by DocHolliday
Some monks have hidden elastic, such that they can be slipped on and off. But others have true buckles that have to be undone.

Personally, I'd rather depend on leather than elastic.


Yup, I have both types: the elastic in a pair of Magli's and the leather in a pair of very old Church's.
 

rdawson808

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Mine are all functioning. And all leather. I did have a pair that had some elastic built into the strap but they did not flex enough to allow me to take the shoes off (much less put them on) without undoing the buckle.

I have also had the hole stretch because of my constantly going for a tighter fit. However, that was probably due to the shoes being a smidgen too big which I seem to have come to terms with and now buy a half-size smaller. Current ones have no problem.

b
 

Bic Pentameter

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Originally Posted by hopkins_student
I've never owned a pair of monk strap shoes, but I intend for this to change soon. Are the bukles on monk straps intended to be functional, in the sense that they are there to tighten or loosen the shoe, or are they pretty much just decoration? If they are meant to be functional, should the shoe fit so that it buckles at the middle hole? Has anyone ever had a problem with the hole getting stretched by the pressure from the buckle? Thanks, HS.


I have the Grenson felstead, and came to the conclusion that it is not meant to be buckled and unbuckled after the pin tore up the back of the buckle the first time I adjusted them. I may be in the minority, but I find myself buying most monk straps (C&J's Saville, EG's Oundle)1/2 size too big and slipping them on like loafers. Your mileage may vary.

Bic
 

lawyerdad

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The straps and buckles of my C & J's are definitely functional.
 

DocHolliday

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Originally Posted by Bic Pentameter
I have the Grenson felstead, and came to the conclusion that it is not meant to be buckled and unbuckled after the pin tore up the back of the buckle the first time I adjusted them. I may be in the minority, but I find myself buying most monk straps (C&J's Saville, EG's Oundle)1/2 size too big and slipping them on like loafers. Your mileage may vary.

Don't they slip?
 

thinman

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I never simply slip my monkstraps on and off; I always buckle/unbuckle them. The elastic looks like the weakest part of the shoe to me, so I stress it as little as possible.
 

pejsek

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I think on the better shoes (and in the original incarnation) the buckle is meant to be functional (though as we can see on this thread there is also the faux strap with elastic). I have a couple of pairs of EG monks as well as a classic model from Church's and they all have a functional buckle. You can usually slip the shoe off without unbuckling, but I wouldn't advise putting it on the same way. As for how much the strap will need to be tightened, I think it just depends on your foot. The strap isn't really there to completely control the fit; it's more of a secondary adjustment and, as such, shouldn't be subject to too much strain.
Here's a monk I like quite a bit, though the buckle may prove a bit flamboyant for some tastes:

http://www.sinner.jp/sample/design-o..._09/index.html

Not cheap for a rtw shoe, though--$1628-$2080.
 

sho'nuff

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there are monkstraps with functioning buckles (many of which come with a little elastic band underneath so you can pull to adjust to tighter cinches without tearing the stitching underneath the leather, the elastic is to give a little slack while you cinch it up)

and there are the nonfunctioning buckled shoes called 'monkstrap designed' shoes that are mostly just a plain vamped loafer with strap and buckle ornamented across the vamp rather than a horsebit, penny aperture, or tassel.

ferragamo is known to have a style like this in their Lion? style monkstrap design loafers from last year.
 

Bic Pentameter

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They slip a bit more than my lace ups, but not enough to cause me any concern. I use a shoe horn, and have never had a problem. My Savilles are particularly comfortable.

Bic
 

chobochobo

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Originally Posted by diorshoe
there are monkstraps with functioning buckles (many of which come with a little elastic band underneath so you can pull to adjust to tighter cinches without tearing the stitching underneath the leather, the elastic is to give a little slack while you cinch it up)

and there are the nonfunctioning buckled shoes called 'monkstrap designed' shoes that are mostly just a plain vamped loafer with strap and buckle ornamented across the vamp rather than a horsebit, penny aperture, or tassel.

ferragamo is known to have a style like this in their Lion? style monkstrap design loafers from last year.


I have one pair of Ferragamo monkstraps with a functioning/functional buckle. Nice shoe.
 

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