Need pictures of worn Vass cordovan shoes

[nmoraitis]

I am trying to decide between getting a cordovan whole cut (Italian Medallion model) or a captoe. Many here have said that once worn the waviness of a cordovan whole cut looks terrible with a suit. Most forumites seem to recommend going with a captoe (or wingtip) for cordovan and I just wanted to see if the whole cut looks as bad as some say.

 

[JayJay]

I'd like to see a worn shell wholecut, too. Based on how I like the way my plain toe shell shoes now look, I would think that the deep creases would look good on the wholecuts.

 

[Manton]

I have two worn Vass shell shoes, but no wholecuts.

 

[johnny_flapjack]

I think Yachtie posted a pic of some worn plain toe Alden whiskey shell monks in the Your Favorite Shell Shoes thread (or some similarly named thread). Not Vass, or technically a wholecut, but still a big expanse of shell that is worn. Also, member Kolecho (again, or something similar) has posted a pic of some Carmina wholecuts. They were new, and I have no idea if they ever got put to use, but you might PM and find out.

 

[Phil Ossiffee]

I'm not sure if this will help you. Not exactly what you're looking for, but 4 different, very old (non-Vass), all shell plain toes. I'm really hard on shoes, and I scratch up the cordovan, but it doesn't scuff like calf.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Phil Ossiffee

I'm not sure if this will help you. Not exactly what you're looking for, but 4 different, very old (non-Vass), all shell plain toes. I'm really hard on shoes, and I scratch up the cordovan, but it doesn't scuff like calf.
The creases in the shoes in these pics look good to me. I'm still curious to see how the worn wholecut shell looks but I think I'll like it.

 

[A Harris]

Originally Posted by Phil Ossiffee

I'm not sure if this will help you. Not exactly what you're looking for, but 4 different, very old (non-Vass), all shell plain toes. I'm really hard on shoes, and I scratch up the cordovan, but it doesn't scuff like calf.

Lattanzi & Bemer, nice!

To the op, I think that a cordovan cap toe is going to look more formal than a wholecut once the shoes have some wear.

 

[emptym]

This image of various Carmina types includes one (green) wholecut w/ some creases: I can't remember who posted it originally.

 

[william]

Von Rothbart has a pair of cordovan Vass wholecuts. Maybe he can chime in here with some pics.

 

[kolecho]

Wait for my scans next week. You ain't seen no creasing yet.

 

[Roger]

I have four pairs of shell cordovan shoes (including one of Vass, but not a wholecut) and wouldn't wear any of them with a suit. Shell cordovan is very nice with more casual outfits, but has a slightly too bulky, thick, or heavy (for lack of better descriptors) appearance to look good, in my opinion, with a suit. It's not that the shoe lasts or construction are necessarily bulky and thick, but more that the leather itself looks that way. One other thing: wholecuts stretch much more readily than shoes with stitched seams, and shell cordovan is more prone to stretching (according to the insert I got once with a pair of Aldens) than calf. Thus, I'd give very careful consideration to buying a pair of shell wholecuts, and be particularly vigilant about size.

 

[nmoraitis]

Thanks for all the comments and pics so far guys.