The Ultimate Vass (Footwear) Thread (Pictures, reviews, sizing, etc...)

[pkiula]



Yep. That's just me, but I have more and more of a preference for wider shoes these days.

Among the wide options, I have to say Vass is probably the best I have seen so far. There's an older Ferragamo (branded Hugo Boss) in my closet that seems similar in back-shape but it's nowhere near as clean and sharp as the lines of a Vass. (Which is probably why I'm in this thread at all )

 

[TheTukker]



Come now, let's not make it handbags at ten paces?



Most of my shoes are hand made. Vass is not the only option, not even at its price point.

Mind you, I'm not saying Vass is a "rip off". That's your phrase. I have taken pains to include these words every time I express my personal disappointment with Vass -- "To me", "Personally", "To my eyes". It's a personal opinion. To which we're all entitled.

The reason I am disappointed is NOT because Vass are low quality. I think they're up there in terms of the product they make. My disappointment is the shape of the shoe as it looks to me.

I promised pictures. I'm no shoe critic, so I don't know the words to explain this. But my eyes see a more pleasing "flow" in some other shoe cuts that I still have to find in the U-last of Vass (which is why I think the pics in this thread are misleading, except the recent ones where owners have kindly shared pics from "the top, the wearer's point of view").

The K-last which I have had the pleasure of seeing in person in Vass' workshop (so I hope you understand I'm a bit more in touch than you think) are much more pleasing to me.

After taking pictures from many angles, I think this collection of following shots of shoes **worn on my feet** shows the difference as I see it:



And here's another view of the same thing:



Please ignore the hideous condition my other shoes are in. Desperate need to clean, polish and stow them with respect. But the point of the pics is to illustrate the "unnatural" width of even the "narrow" (43E) Vass in u-last as seen from the top, which makes it stumpy, stunted, whatever the word is. I wonder what the "wide" version is! To my eyes.

Hope this helps..

I am certainly no shoe expert and thought I agreed with the views you have expressed here on Vass from the wearer's vantage point, but from the shoes you have posted, Vass is certainly one of your better looking shoes, if not the best. Personal opinion of course, but hard to argue with, if you ask me. Do yourself a favor: keep the Vass, get rid of the others, and order more Vass.

 

[meister]



Come now, let's not make it handbags at ten paces?



Most of my shoes are hand made. Vass is not the only option, not even at its price point.

Mind you, I'm not saying Vass is a "rip off". That's your phrase. I have taken pains to include these words every time I express my personal disappointment with Vass -- "To me", "Personally", "To my eyes". It's a personal opinion. To which we're all entitled.

The reason I am disappointed is NOT because Vass are low quality. I think they're up there in terms of the product they make. My disappointment is the shape of the shoe as it looks to me.

I promised pictures. I'm no shoe critic, so I don't know the words to explain this. But my eyes see a more pleasing "flow" in some other shoe cuts that I still have to find in the U-last of Vass (which is why I think the pics in this thread are misleading, except the recent ones where owners have kindly shared pics from "the top, the wearer's point of view").

The K-last which I have had the pleasure of seeing in person in Vass' workshop (so I hope you understand I'm a bit more in touch than you think) are much more pleasing to me.

After taking pictures from many angles, I think this collection of following shots of shoes **worn on my feet** shows the difference as I see it:



And here's another view of the same thing:



Please ignore the hideous condition my other shoes are in. Desperate need to clean, polish and stow them with respect. But the point of the pics is to illustrate the "unnatural" width of even the "narrow" (43E) Vass in u-last as seen from the top, which makes it stumpy, stunted, whatever the word is. I wonder what the "wide" version is! To my eyes.

Hope this helps..

I see you point as I would - as a US E (wide)/UKF width person - feel very chuffed to look down at that Vass shoe. However overall the below comment nails it:

I am certainly no shoe expert and thought I agreed with the views you have expressed here on Vass from the wearer's vantage point, but from the shoes you have posted, Vass is certainly one of your better looking shoes, if not the best. Personal opinion of course, but hard to argue with, if you ask me. Do yourself a favor: keep the Vass, get rid of the others, and order more Vass.

I would have to say the Magnanni is also a flattering last on your foot IMO.

 

[Pliny]

Vass specs- upper stitching is full of win

 

[pkiula]



Vass specs- upper stitching is full of win

Looks lovely from the front, as usual

What size are these? I think with the Vass cut, wide in the middle, it helps if the size if 44 and above as it gives the front part of the shoe more room to manage a flowing shape. That's just me.

 

[pkiula]



I see you point as I would - as a US E (wide)/UKF width person - feel very chuffed to look down at that Vass shoe. However overall the below comment nails it...

Keep the Vass and lose the others? Not so fast

If I were more impressionable I'd have likely done something like that. But it's good to have variety and the others look quite decent on my feet as well. The Ferragamo blucher for instance is very versatile.

I might develop a taste for Vass K-last though, by the looks of it. My next formal black cap toe may well be a Vass.

I would have to say the Magnanni is also a flattering last on your foot IMO.

Thanks. That gets compliments, but naturally that's also because of that sideways thing happening on it, and the burnishing/antiquing at the tip.

 

[TheTukker]



I would have to say the Magnanni is also a flattering last on your foot IMO.

I don't like the shoe, but agree that it's a nice last for his foot.

 

[Cal135]

Group foto, sort of.

 

[Cal135]

Black and Gognac

 

[ThinkDerm]

Any more on the K last?

 

[jet]

I would have to say the Magnanni is also a flattering last on your foot IMO.

I don't like the shoe, but agree that it's a nice last for his foot.

The magnanni IS the best shape out of those, the u is too triangular with the top cut off which all other angles do not depict. A shame really they can't develop a nice sleek last.

 

[ThinkDerm]



The magnanni IS the best shape out of those, the u is too triangular with the top cut off which all other angles do not depict. A shame really they can't develop a nice sleek last.

K last?

 

[fritzl]



The magnanni IS the best shape out of those, the u is too triangular with the top cut off which all other angles do not depict. A shame really they can't develop a nice sleek last.

don't think that's their goal. imo, the u-last is an experimental approach. the budapest last is by far their best selling product.

fwiw, the i-gent hype is a negligible fraction?

 

[jet]

agreed, would like to see pics of k last in the wild

 

[Pliny]



Black and Gognac
[

Budapest Oxford is good- how do u plan to wear the cognac?