• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Stefano Bemer Thread

BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2017
Messages
5,585
Reaction score
28,996
I am trying to figure out if the cheaper bespoke option of stefano bemer "is worth it", it seems like they only offer a choice of already existing lasts. I thought the beauty of bespoke is the custom last just for your feet - am I missing something? Why is it called bespoke, isn't it essentially MTO? I guess the difference is that I can actually design my own shoes?!?

Our Blue Bespoke, instead, does not allow the customization of the sole (it comes bevelled, no fiddle back) and height of the heel (but you can indeed request to shave it slightly inward, in the Cuban style). We use our traditional 1940 Duer stitching machine to stitch the fore-foot portion of the sole (while we hand-stitch the shanks) onto the welt (which is always hand sawn in each of our lines). Our Blue bespoke service currently starts at 2650.00 €.

  1. First Appointment : design, skin, and last selected and measurements taken. We are always on the move, please check our trunk show agenda to see if we are in your area.
  2. Second Appointment : after about 6-8 weeks, we will call you in for the preliminary fitting.
  3. Shipment : after 10-12 weeks, we ship all orders to you using FedEx (3-5 days for delivery).

It is more a MTM service with many modifications on the last.. Think Saint Crispin's service with a MTM aspect along with the modifications.

The full bespoke is the best option they offer for the price. For that kind of money, the Blue Bespoke pricing structure, may not be worth it...for context my Blue Bespoke was considerably less about €1950 or so.

If you are in the U.S., Francis Waplinger, whose work I have seen, is the same price as the Blue Bespoke but full bespoke.
 
Last edited:

dauster

Distinguished Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2019
Messages
1,439
Reaction score
831
It is more a MTM service with many modifications on the last.. Think Saint Crispin's service with a MTM aspect along with the modifications.

The full bespoke is the best option they offer for the price. For that kind of money, the Blue Bespoke pricing structure, may not be worth it...for context my Blue Bespoke was considerably less about €1950 or so.

If you are in the U.S., Francis Waplinger, whose work I have seen, is the same price as the Blue Bespoke but full bespoke.
Thank you very much - as always great feedback. How long ago was it that you only paid €1950? Seems like that they raised prices significantly.
 

BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2017
Messages
5,585
Reaction score
28,996
Thank you very much - as always great feedback. How long ago was it that you only paid €1950? Seems like that they raised prices significantly.

Absolutely welcome.
It was two and a half years ago while in Florence. Late 2016 (October IIRC) so closer to three years.
 

Encore

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
3,223
Reaction score
10,966
J last in blue calf

15EB8D70-3A81-4627-86B9-5F045A0E2BC9.jpeg
601BF3F3-899E-46C1-8708-77624A8443A7.jpeg
42827971-A363-4764-A1E2-69B94AC54499.jpeg
 

Encore

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
3,223
Reaction score
10,966
Arch support is very good. I would place it with AM, but not to the level of St.C. For me, St.C has to be the stiffest arch support in the business (RTW). Saying that, you should have plenty of support with SB.
Thanks, I have a pair of JX monk, the shoes doesn't fit right but I keep not getting why....I assume it's due to the high instep (my instep is low), I tried using an additional insole, but the side of my big toe is badly scratched. I am gonna try a tongue pad later. I really like the shape of JX, would be such a pity if I cannot wear it...

I tried using an Orchotic and but with that, my 4th and 5th toes hurt a lot.
 

BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2017
Messages
5,585
Reaction score
28,996
Thanks, I have a pair of JX monk, the shoes doesn't fit right but I keep not getting why....I assume it's due to the high instep (my instep is low), I tried using an additional insole, but the side of my big toe is badly scratched. I am gonna try a tongue pad later. I really like the shape of JX, would be such a pity if I cannot wear it...

I tried using an Orchotic and but with that, my 4th and 5th toes hurt a lot.

I feel like most Italian shoemakers (AM, EB, SB, amongst others) make their shoes for people with higher insteps. Consequently, that is why I prefer those makeups over others.

Based on what you are saying, it definitely sounds like the shoe is big across the throat line, but tight across the toe box. I would say that the inner toe box was not finished properly (which would be unlikely considering SB's exceptional finish), but you can verify that.

I had something similar happening to me with a pair of Corthay (low instep & tight toe box). I promptly sent the shoes to the cobbler who stretched them out in the appropriate places. They are golden now. Perhaps try the same, but with the additional insole?
 

Encore

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
3,223
Reaction score
10,966
I feel like most Italian shoemakers (AM, EB, SB, amongst others) make their shoes for people with higher insteps. Consequently, that is why I prefer those makeups over others.

Based on what you are saying, it definitely sounds like the shoe is big across the throat line, but tight across the toe box. I would say that the inner toe box was not finished properly (which would be unlikely considering SB's exceptional finish), but you can verify that.

I had something similar happening to me with a pair of Corthay (low instep & tight toe box). I promptly sent the shoes to the cobbler who stretched them out in the appropriate places. They are golden now. Perhaps try the same, but with the additional insole?
Thanks, I think the shoe's length is just a bit too long for me, the toe box will work fine if I have some pressure from the instep to stop my feet from moving forward. therefore I tried to use a tongue pad to fix this. Tried it on with tongue pad for in house walking which seems fine, but need more testing tho... lol
 

Kobletas

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2017
Messages
74
Reaction score
95
Stefano Bemer's T last seems to be better suited for low instep, wide toebox feet
 

FlorentineArtis

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2019
Messages
1
Reaction score
9
So i couldn't find anyone discussing this brand. So i decided to start one.
http://stefanobemer.com
Does anyone have any experience with their shoes ?

So i couldn't find anyone discussing this brand. So i decided to start one.
http://stefanobemer.com
Does anyone have any experience with their shoes ?
Hello,
Yes, I most definitely have experience with the original Stefano Bemer; he was my brother and we worked together until his passing in 2012. The Brand "Stefano Bemer", was purchased and is now produced on a much larger scale. I have continued working and handcrafting shoes under my own name, honoring my brother by carrying on our philosophy of traditional handcrafted shoe making (of course my type of craftsmanship only allows for a limited quantity and my customers must have the patience to wait!). I can personally vouch for the quality of any shoe purchased at our shop in San Frediano before 2013.
Mario Bemer
 

LThomsen

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2019
Messages
591
Reaction score
280
Can any one share their experience with SB rtw shoes (essential line) in terms of quality, fit and finishing compared to AM, Stc, G & G, etc?
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 85 37.3%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 87 38.2%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 24 10.5%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 36 15.8%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 36 15.8%

Forum statistics

Threads
506,493
Messages
10,589,971
Members
224,259
Latest member
sephichapdson
Top