Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[wolfdale]

hey guys, ive just been to super8, the guy who runs the shop is incredibly nice, it was worth the trip just for getting to meet him. He recommended me a couple shops in koenji (safari #3), of which im on my way to now. Im also going to visit the shops @Oshare recommended also.

I found these tassel loafers there, for about usd 260. Theyve been barely worn and are from the late 80s. I didnt know the brand but apparently they used to be good. It looks like cordovan, but its calf. It only fits slightly big. What do you guys think? Should i snatch it up?

 

[Satoman1]

hey guys, ive just been to super8, the guy who runs the shop is incredibly nice, it was worth the trip just for getting to meet him. He recommended me a couple shops in koenji (safari #3), of which im on my way to now. Im also going to visit the shops @Oshare recommended also.

I found these tassel loafers there, for about usd 260. Theyve been barely worn and are from the late 80s. I didnt know the brand but apparently they used to be good. It looks like cordovan, but its calf. It only fits slightly big. What do you guys think? Should i snatch it up?

Would be nice if you have some pictures of the shop and the shoes.

 

[wolfdale]

Would be nice if you have some pictures of the shop and the shoes.

I wanted to keep the suspense!! 😂

 

[wolfdale]

The forum keeps deleting my pics because theyre too big, so apologies for having to post twice. I visited a shop the guy from super8 (gucci) recommended to me, called safari #3 in koenji. That shop is amazing!! I bought a pair of alden loafers in shell and of churchs shoes in suede for about 350 usd each. Ill post pictures soon!!

 

[Satoman1]

Another pair of Stratford spot in the wild for $20, this time is my right size!! the pair i have is one size too big.
On the way shipping to me. Kinda lucky day.

 

[wolfdale]

Another pair of Stratford spot in the wild for $20, this time is my right size!! the pair i have is one size too big.
On the way shipping to me. Kinda lucky day.

Love the grain!!

 

[wolfdale]

Ok guys, so for the record, theres a ton of stuff at whistler in koenji but service was terrible and condition was not good for most items, as @Oshare anticipated.

Super8shoes in sendagaya has an amazing owner (“Gucci”) with a somewhat small stock, but everything they have is in top notch condition.

Then I went to Safari #3 in Koenji, as recommended by Gucci, and bought some suede churchs and some alden loafers that i would love if someone could help identify. I posted both to each respective thread on the forum as well. Any idea why alden is under the streetwear section in the forum though??

 

[pasadena man]

Any idea why alden is under the streetwear section in the forum though??

Surprised me the first time I noticed it. Might ask on the Alden thread.

My guess: Alden is a little chunky/"rustic Ivy" vs. a number of other prominent brands; AE, vintage Florsheim, C & J, Church's. Some don't find them suit appropriate (an opinion with which I strongly disagree); hence streetwear, not CM.

 

[actionjbone]

These new-to-me Weyenbergs cleaned up pretty well.

 

[Oshare]

Ok guys, so for the record, theres a ton of stuff at whistler in koenji but service was terrible and condition was not good for most items, as @Oshare anticipated.

Super8shoes in sendagaya has an amazing owner (“Gucci”) with a somewhat small stock, but everything they have is in top notch condition.

Then I went to Safari #3 in Koenji, as recommended by Gucci, and bought some suede churchs and some alden loafers that i would love if someone could help identify. I posted both to each respective thread on the forum as well. Any idea why alden is under the streetwear section in the forum though??

Nice pick ups at Safari #3. I hadn't heard of that store, but will have to check it out sometime.

My impression is that Whistler and Chart treat their stuff as sort of counter culture (for Japan) grungy hipster stuff. Definitely not as "Classic Menswear"... but they do have an awful lot of stuff to look at.

Enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan!

 

[Satoman1]

Another pair of Stratford spot in the wild for $20, this time is my right size!! the pair i have is one size too big.
On the way shipping to me. Kinda lucky day.

One more good pick from the same 2nd shop for $30, AE Boulevard from the 80s i think, can't say no to grain leather and 7 eyelets. It's the same size as the Stratford pair above so I think they come from the same previous owner.

Edit: Looks like I was wrong, Boulevard doesn't have a cashmere calf version, maybe MacGregor?

Edit 2: https://poshmark.com/listing/Allen-...ain-Leather-Mens-11C-65da6d42678c3a40e8cda408
I found a similar pair in better condition on poshmark when researching, size is 11C and price was $60 - quite a steal for a pair of AE from the 1970s I guess. Just sharing here in case someone wear 11C.

 

[smfdoc]

One more good pick from the same 2nd shop for $30, AE Boulevard from the 80s i think, can't say no to grain leather and 7 eyelets. It's the same size as the Stratford pair above so I think they come from the same previous owner.

Edit: Looks like I was wrong, Boulevard doesn't have a cashmere calf version, maybe MacGregor?

Edit 2: https://poshmark.com/listing/Allen-...ain-Leather-Mens-11C-65da6d42678c3a40e8cda408
I found a similar pair in better condition on poshmark when researching, size is 11C and price was $60 - quite a steal for a pair of AE from the 1970s I guess. Just sharing here in case someone wear 11C.

It will be interesting to see if they are McGregors or Boulevards. Both had seven eyelets and the exact same medallion pattern. Visually they appear to have been the same and were just made on different lasts. The Boulevard was apparently their fuller fit shoe as they made those up through EEE whereas the McGregor topped out with an E width.

 

[Satoman1]

It will be interesting to see if they are McGregors or Boulevards. Both had seven eyelets and the exact same medallion pattern. Visually they appear to have been the same and were just made on different lasts. The Boulevard was apparently their fuller fit shoe as they made those up through EEE whereas the McGregor topped out with an E width.

I looked few catalogs and Boulevard does not have the Cashmere grain leather version. So it's either MacGregor or Lloyd.

 

[smfdoc]

I looked few catalogs and Boulevard does not have the Cashmere grain leather version. So it's either MacGregor or Lloyd.

The Lloyd is interesting. I do not have it in my limited catalogs, but I have seen pictures of it in both a 6 and a 7 eyelet version. The medallion is also correct, so it could be a Lloyd.

 

[CWOyaji]

Ok guys, so for the record, theres a ton of stuff at whistler in koenji but service was terrible and condition was not good for most items, as @Oshare anticipated.

Super8shoes in sendagaya has an amazing owner (“Gucci”) with a somewhat small stock, but everything they have is in top notch condition.

Then I went to Safari #3 in Koenji, as recommended by Gucci, and bought some suede churchs and some alden loafers that i would love if someone could help identify. I posted both to each respective thread on the forum as well. Any idea why alden is under the streetwear section in the forum though??

The Aldens look like the model 987. I posted about these shops and the neighborhood in general back in 2018 when a dollar bought 110 yen; I'm sure the prices look better now at 150. Have a look: Koenji