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Sleek last syndrome

holymadness

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Anyone else suffer from this?

I've recently upgraded to sleeker, more chiseled lasts than I used to wear and now I find I can't go back to my old shoes. They look so blobby and clownish by comparison.
confused.gif
 

upnorth

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What are your current lasts/ brands and what did you use to own?

Traditional rounded last still work well with business suits IMO but I think what you witness is a state of mind and also the fact you live in France.. Have you also noticed a simultaneous shift to a slimmer silhouette on your suits/ clothing?
 

holymadness

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Originally Posted by upnorth
What are your current lasts/ brands and what did you use to own?

Traditional rounded last still work well with business suits IMO but I think what you witness is a state of mind and also the fact you live in France.. Have you also noticed a simultaneous shift to a slimmer silhouette on your suits/ clothing?

I used to wear Allen Edmonds and some lower-end French brands. I tended to pick round-toe models.

I have now converted to a shoe wardrobe made up entirely of shoes and boots on the C&J 348/358 last.

No, my suit silhouette hasn't changed.
tongue.gif
 

fritzl

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randob300

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Sleek lasts look silly on me; I prefer "blobby" styles to keep me in balance.
 

lasbar

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Originally Posted by randob300
Sleek lasts look silly on me; I prefer "blobby" styles to keep me in balance.

Blobby like Alden's models?

There is good blooby and bad Blooby ,the same benchmark applies to the sleek concept...

Gaziano does good sleek when others are not doing it with the same flair.
 

tonylumpkin

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I'm still not convinced that the sleeker, chiseled-toe lasts, currently so much in vogue, aren't the "square toed" monstrosities of five to ten years from now.

Classic is classic, and I don't see the chisel-toe having reached that status at this point.
 

lasbar

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Originally Posted by tonylumpkin
I'm still not convinced that the sleeker, chiseled-toe lasts, currently so much in vogue, aren't the "square toed" monstrosities of five to ten years from now.

Classic is classic, and I don't see the chisel-toe having reached that status at this point.


I have been buying great shoes for more than 20 years now and I must admit I do only notice the sleeker and more creative shoes when I go out.

If I meet someone for the first time and he is wearing great classic models , I would be less impressed than if he was wearing a beautiful pair of chiseled toe shoes a la Gaziano.

Classic shoes are quietly beautiful...
 

patrickBOOTH

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I love sleek lasts and that is pretty much all I wear, however if I see a blobby last and I know the shoe to be a good shoe I am just as much impressed based on the choice of maker, heritage, construction etc. I think you have to be careful with sleek lasts though. I perfer classic sleek over fashion forward sleek. Some sleek lasts made by amazing shoemakers, especially some Italian manufacturers boarderline on tacky garbage a la Zara shoes.
 

tonylumpkin

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Originally Posted by lasbar
I have been buying great shoes for more than 20 years now and I must admit I do only notice the sleeker and more creative shoes when I go out.

If I meet someone for the first time and he is wearing great classic models , I would be less impressed than if he was wearing a beautiful pair of chiseled toe shoes a la Gaziano.

Classic shoes are quietly beautiful...


I don't mean to say that I don't find some of the newer last to be very attractive, I'm just not convinced that in ten years I wouldn't be saying " I wore THEM?"
eh.gif
 

lasbar

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Originally Posted by tonylumpkin
I don't mean to say that I don't find some of the newer last to be very attractive, I'm just not convinced that in ten years I wouldn't be saying " I wore THEM?"
eh.gif


I just tend to go for classic wholecut or oxfords in general but I do notice more the sleeker lasts than the classic ones...

I'm bolder with patinas than shoe lasts..

I do admire people having the guts to wear more adventurous lasts...

The problem with sleeker lasts they can be seen as being faddish...
 

Toorman

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I enjoy sleeker lasts. The only real issue I have with them is that they don't always feel appropriate. There are times when a traditional last is more apropos - such as a job interview, a funeral, or simply trying to remain inconspicuous amongst the throngs, etc.
 

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