Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[sam67]

I find it to be fine. I used it for a similar situation with a pair of inexpensive shell AEs that someone had botched with years of excess polish. Night and day difference. As with renomat generally --- go easy and condition afterwards, which you prob already knew perfectly well if you have a big jug of it.

So once I got all the old polish off, I see they were also using it to cover some fading. I didn't know shell did that until I looked it up.

 

[madhat]

So once I got all the old polish off, I see they were also using it to cover some fading. I didn't know shell did that until I looked it up.

Sun fading is real! And wanted in some cases.
Not vintage, but here's how much sun fading can change color. Note extreme differences in light...the olive (caused by brown coming through the green) is definitely lighter than the bottle green.
Before

After

Not mine, but definitely a life goal, these started out as Dark #8 all over. (I forget who owns these)

 

[jpm1]

1978 (I think) Florsheim White Grain Plain Toe Shoe

 

[madhat]

1978 (I think) Florsheim White Grain Plain Toe Shoe
View attachment 1417085 View attachment 1417086 View attachment 1417087 View attachment 1417088

Very cool... Would be almost perfect if they didn't have such a square toe!

 

[jpm1]

Very cool... Would be almost perfect if they didn't have such a square toe!

I don’t love the square either but it’s growing on me.

 

[vestbash]

B7= February 1957

Thank you

 

[suitforcourt]

1978 (I think) Florsheim White Grain Plain Toe Shoe
View attachment 1417085 View attachment 1417086 View attachment 1417087 View attachment 1417088

@Oshare - now I have to find a pair. Can't be outdone by other thread members.

 

[jpm1]

@Oshare - now I have to find a pair. Can't be outdone by other thread members.

It’s time!

 

[GoldenHarvestMedal]

Just got this pair. Looking for more info on those.

Thank you.

 

[sam67]

Sun fading is real! And wanted in some cases.
Not vintage, but here's how much sun fading can change color. Note extreme differences in light...the olive (caused by brown coming through the green) is definitely lighter than the bottle green.
Before
View attachment 1417081
After
View attachment 1417082
Not mine, but definitely a life goal, these started out as Dark #8 all over. (I forget who owns these)
View attachment 1417083

Crazy. I had no idea it would be as drastic.

 

[jpm1]

Just got this pair. Looking for more info on those.

Thank you.

July of 1997 it appears. Tail end of MiUSA for Florsheim.

 

[stook1]

Sun fading is real! And wanted in some cases.
Not vintage, but here's how much sun fading can change color. Note extreme differences in light...the olive (caused by brown coming through the green) is definitely lighter than the bottle green.
Before
View attachment 1417081
After
View attachment 1417082
Not mine, but definitely a life goal, these started out as Dark #8 all over. (I forget who owns these)
View attachment 1417083

Interesting fade on that #8 pair... Your green ones are, of course, super (as we determined earlier in the day, lol). I think I am going to fade one of my #8 pairs just can't seem to make up my mind which ones.

 

[wasmisterfu]

You never cease to amaze me with your AE knowledge. Thanks for this. I can’t do the 65 in my normal size. I guess I can’t do the boulevard last either then.

Well, yeah, probably not because the Boulevard last is the 65 (one and the same). When you say you can’t do the 65 in your normal size, what size does it work in? It is a very old-school last: long, somewhat narrow with low volume - not a high instep friendly last.

BTW, the way the names worked was the last would generally be named for the shoe it was introduced on. For example, the 97 (aka 7) last is the MacNeil last, introduced in 1963. The 65 (aka 5) was the Boulevard last named for that model, which ran from the early days of AE, earlier than the oldest catalog in the archive, all the way to the mid-80’s. I bet the 65 is probably the longest running, continuously used last in the shoe business (not to mention, I’m pretty sure a number of other shoemakers outright copied the 65, since lasts, like other elements of apparel, can’t be copyrighted and are generally not patentable).

 

[friendlygoz]

Well, yeah, probably not because the Boulevard last is the 65 (one and the same). When you say you can’t do the 65 in your normal size, what size does it work in? It is a very old-school last: long, somewhat narrow with low volume - not a high instep friendly last.

BTW, the way the names worked was the last would generally be named for the shoe it was introduced on. For example, the 97 (aka 7) last is the MacNeil last, introduced in 1963. The 65 (aka 5) was the Boulevard last named for that model, which ran from the early days of AE, earlier than the oldest catalog in the archive, all the way to the mid-80’s. I bet the 65 is probably the longest running, continuously used last in the shoe business (not to mention, I’m pretty sure a number of other shoemakers outright copied the 65, since lasts, like other elements of apparel, can’t be copyrighted and are generally not patentable).

I get massive gaping on the 65 in my normal 9D size. I've fried 8.5E. It's a little better. I should probably try 8.5EE. I have some vintage Strands and Boulevards, both from the 80s. Neither fit me great, but I live with it because I really like the shoes. Still, I'm generally staying away from 65 until I can figure out the right size for me on that last.

 

[stook1]

I get massive gaping on the 65 in my normal 9D size. I've fried 8.5E. It's a little better. I should probably try 8.5EE. I have some vintage Strands and Boulevards, both from the 80s. Neither fit me great, but I live with it because I really like the shoes. Still, I'm generally staying away from 65 until I can figure out the right size for me on that last.

Consider trying an 8 EEE as well. I realize that sounds nutty. I've narrowed down my 65 last sizing to a few different options and I am still not sure which seems to fit the best for me. It's a funky last for my foot shape but I seem to be able to roll with a 9EEE, 9.5EE, 9.5EEE, 10D, and 10E depending upon the model and sock. For the strand I can't wear a 10 since I will crease the cap, which bugs me. I've never actually owned a 9EEE but it felt pretty similar to the 9.5EE. In fact, I think the instep worked a little better on the 9EEE but the heel was a hair wider. Be forewarned that EE is an oddball width for AE these days. They're around but I am almost 100% sure that stores no longer stock EE, whereas 5-10 years ago they did.