Project Allen Edmond

[phoenixrecon]

little elbow grease and those will look nice

 

[ManCrush]

If you have them redone by AE, then you will have to deal with the more substantive issue of them being 1/2 size too big. Respectfully, I disagree with those who say that they being too big means you shouldn't even bother with them. I have salivated over C & J 348 Last shoes for quite some time. Problem is, trying on a pair of C & J's was not really convenient given that I live in Florida. Finally, I saw 'my' pair of Hallams on ebay. Brand new, from a trusted seller in England, and at least 30% off retail (pediware). I couldn't stand it, and got them, taking a complete chance on the size (UK11). Well, they are probably 1/2 size too big, but gorgeous, and there was no way in hell I was going to send them back.

Luckily, I came from a big family with hand-me-down tricks. My trick was to buy women's footies in smaller sizes. I got black footies, sizes 6-10, in the women's dept. My dress socks go over them, of course. Ta-da! It fits just like it should. The smaller sized footies stretch and hold on to your foot like a fitted glove. There is no sliding b/w the two pair of socks, and the women's footies are sheer, so there isn't any sweating. That was a year ago and it's worked wonderfully. I can tell no difference in comfort b/w my C & J Hallams 11UK and my C & J Edgware pair 10.5UK, that fit as they should.

So, if AE redoes them, and the previous owner's foot imprint is no longer an issue, then you can tackle the 'too big' issue with this, without resorting to buying extra thick dress socks that may not come in the styles of your current socks. Just FYI coming to you from the wang of America.

 

[AlexE]

The heel seems to be a non-AE heel. This might be an issue when sending them to AE for recrafting. If only the rubber heel piece was replaced they might still be doing it, but I'd give the customer service a quick call just in case.

 

[fritzl]



And no, AE does not use sockliners,

what? are you sure we're talking the same thing?

 

[cincydavid]

I suspect AE would have an issue with the half sole, more than the heel replacement...

 

[Quadcammer]



I suspect AE would have an issue with the half sole, more than the heel replacement...

wasn't sure if that was watermarking/wear or a half sole. If its a half sole, you can forget AE recrafting.

 

[AlexE]



wasn't sure if that was watermarking/wear or a half sole. If its a half sole, you can forget AE recrafting.

+1, but you still might find a good cobbler who is capable of giving them a workover similar to the one by AE at a similar price point...Bennie's shoes in Atlanta would be such a place.

 

[fritzl]



+1, but you still might find a good cobbler who is capable of giving them a workover similar to the one by AE at a similar price point...Bennie's shoes in Atlanta would be such a place.

probably, these particular pair doesn't need a workover.

 

[AlexE]



probably, these particular pair doesn't need a workover.

did i say this? just presented an alternative to AE's recrafting in case the OP wants to go for one.

 

[fritzl]

probably, these particular pair doesn't need a workover.

did i say this? just presented an alternative to AE's recrafting in case the OP wants to go for one.

entschuldigung

 

[meister]



The imprint will never be perfect, but it will get better. Leather doesn't stop being malleable after one foot. If you apply pressure to new areas, those new areas will compress. And if the cork is replaced, you're even closer to a fit.
And no, AE does not use sockliners, but if a shoe is too large, it'll always be too large. You can stick an insert in there to take up some volume, but you're never going to change the shape of the shoe.

I recently had a vintage pair (1940s) with a foot impression that responded well to being hammered down (the cobbler did it). I think he wet them as part of this process and I then gave them a good stretch with those stretchers - both ways. The foot imnpression is basically gone. This bears out your thesis.

 

[cioni2k]

If they are a half size too big, give them to someone else or toss them. Do not waste $100 in recrafting a shoe you can find new/barely-used for $200 or less that doesn't even fit you. Where is your head!? They look like Fifth Ave's, no? I was able to find my Park Avenues with practically 0 creasing, almost brand new for about $180 in a size that fit me on Ebay. These shoes you show in the OP have seen better days and are not worth investing $100 into, At all!

 

[Joenobody0]



If they are a half size too big, give them to someone else or toss them. Do not waste $100 in recrafting a shoe you can find new/barely-used for $200 or less that doesn't even fit you. Where is your head!? They look like Fifth Ave's, no? I was able to find my Park Avenues with practically 0 creasing, almost brand new for about $180 in a size that fit me on Ebay. These shoes you show in the OP have seen better days and are not worth investing $100 into, At all!

You make too much sense. It's better to sink a bunch of money into a torn up pair of shoes that don't fit.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

The shoes don't fit. No matter what is done to the shoes that will never change. You have to evaluate your tolerance for wearing shoes that don't fit well; my tolerance is pretty low.

That out of the way what you appear to have is an excellent chance to practice and experiment with shoe cleaning and polishing. For a $4 investment you have a pair of (originally) good quality leather shoes that now need some TLC. Over on the shoe care thread you could browse some of the suggested/recommended approaches and put them into action. I'd guess that with not too much time but a fair amount of elbow grease some conditioner/cleaner and polish could substantially improve the appearance of those shoes.

 

[cptjeff]



what? are you sure we're talking the same thing?

Perhaps not. I'm thinking of the inserts many shoemakers put in on top of the leather insole. Which AE does not include.