Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[eTrojan]

They are still for sale. Maybe you should offer $300.

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Not to be a pedant, but our seller might consider hiring a copywriter or editor with some of his earnings.

"Please study the pictures really good"

"You are encouraged to observe the pictures really good and make sober judgment for yourself!!!"

"WE DON'T PRESSURE NOBODY!!!"

 

[eTrojan]

I wore my black and white Nunn-Bush spectators yesterday. I'm not sure if I rocked the look or not.

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Being bold enough to wear spectators is all it takes to rock the look. It doesn't matter which pair I wear, they always get compliments, regardless of my other sartorial choices for the day.

 

[eTrojan]

Calling all this footed brothers... this came across the transom on the Facebook page that @suitforcourt created:
“Any of my friends on here have pencil feet? specifically 11 AAA? I have come across a cachet of extremely high end Vintage shoes!”
@eTrojan - would these work for you?

Only if I cut off my toes.

[13 A]

 

[jpm1]

2 of probably my oldest vintage pairs. Allen Edmonds Empire from 1957. They are basically museum pieces at this point as the leather is brittle and the top-lines are extremely rough.

I worked for Allen Edmonds for about 7 years. At one time had over 70 pairs of AE but have whittled my collection down to 3 pairs - these and early 00’s black park avenue.

 

[jpm1]

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Is 16 years old enough to be considered vintage? Alden x Arthur Beren Circa 2004 (most likely). Arthur Beren was a long time Alden dealer in San Francisco until closing a few years ago.

They are a Plaza last makeup in a beautiful medium brown scotch grain with the Ram medallion. They were originally made with a white/semi-transparent Commando Sole that Alden offered briefly at one time. It was a very hard rubber compared to the smoke commando soles used today. It was also prone to crack based on my pair. Bill LaRossa in S. Weymouth, Massachusetts resoled these last year with a double leather sole.

The first picture was taken this morning. I deep cleaned these for several hours to remove all the years of gunk that had built up on them. The cleaning revealed a very beautiful shade of brown that was masked by years of grime and darker polish.

So I just confirmed that these are actually from 1994 so slightly more vintage at 26 years old than I thought.

 

[friendlygoz]

Only if I cut off my toes.

[13 A]

Seems like a reasonable sacrifice.

 

[happypebble]

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Cordwainer Wright short wing bals. This is my second pair of CW and they are wonderful shoes. Don’t know too much history on the brand other than CW is the top line of E.T. Wright out of Rockland, Ma. Their work/shaping through the arches is amazing.

I have three pairs of Cordwainer Wrights, and in each case they are *so* worth the money. Quality materials. Workmanship/construction is excellent, and the shoes are very comfortable. I recommend the brand without hesitation. Here's one pair:

 

[wasmisterfu]

Plus, the toes are stained!

Oh wow, they are. That’s not good... at least not at the 30,000 dollar price point.

 

[wasmisterfu]

I wore my black and white Nunn-Bush spectators yesterday. I'm not sure if I rocked the look or not.

View attachment 1396166

View attachment 1396169

I can safely say that, yes, you did “rock the look”.

 

[wasmisterfu]

Not to be a pedant, but our seller might consider hiring a copywriter or editor with some of his earnings.

"Please study the pictures really good"

"You are encouraged to observe the pictures really good and make sober judgment for yourself!!!"

"WE DON'T PRESSURE NOBODY!!!"

 

[wasmisterfu]

So I just confirmed that these are actually from 1994 so slightly more vintage at 26 years old than I thought.

That makes them official vintage.

 

[Nealjpage]

I can safely say that, yes, you did “rock the look”.

Thanks.

 

[Nealjpage]

J&M Aristocraft tassel loafers. Any 13 AAA guys want me to proxy these?

 

[jpm1]

I have three pairs of Cordwainer Wrights, and in each case they are *so* worth the money. Quality materials. Workmanship/construction is excellent, and the shoes are very comfortable. I recommend the brand without hesitation. Here's one pair: View attachment 1396316

Fantastic pair

 

[davidVC]

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2 of probably my oldest vintage pairs. Allen Edmonds Empire from 1957. They are basically museum pieces at this point as the leather is brittle and the top-lines are extremely rough.

I worked for Allen Edmonds for about 7 years. At one time had over 70 pairs of AE but have whittled my collection down to 3 pairs - these and early 00’s black park avenue.

Wow. Those are amazing