Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[CWOyaji]

Not sure where you live but it's not Santa Cruz. I went out yesterday looking for some test shoes for a dye project and managed to find the only pair of brown top grain leather in the entire city.

^San Mateo County. The high population density helps, I’m sure. Also I’ve noticed that people in Santa Cruz dress more casually in general. I imagine that fewer people and more of them wearing boat shoes or flip flops [N.B. it's a beautiful beach town] means fewer dress shoe finds there.

 

[HalfHuskyBite]

Picked up some 93602’s from the thrift I believe.
Wondering if I should do a full re-sole with JR soles or go with Dainite. Will post again after shoe care is applied.

 

[M635Guy]

Picked up some 93602’s from the thrift I believe.
Wondering if I should do a full re-sole with JR soles or go with Dainite. Will post again after shoe care is applied.

Hard to tell on mobile, but the soles look good and aren't original anyway. I'd just run 'em out before resole.

 

[wasmisterfu]

^San Mateo County. The high population density helps, I’m sure. Also, I’ve noticed that people in Santa Cruz dress more casually in general. I imagine that fewer people and more of them wearing boat shoes or flip flops means less dress shoe finds there.

Yet here in NY Metro, where dress shoes outnumber all other types, where we have an AE store on 55th, 49th, 44th, 43rd, etc. (1 out of every 10 AE stores is inside this 25 mile radius), where every imaginable brand of high-end shoe has large retail footprints, where I see lots of really nice shoes everyday (nicer than mine)... not a damn thing lands in GW or thrift shops.

My only working theory is that people around here keep’em and wear’em until they’re no longer donation worthy. But really, I’m totally baffled... sheer numbers should be on my side. I see C&J’s/Peal&Co’s on the trains, subways, sidewalks... so why aren’t there any in the local GW? Why no Alden’s, AE’s, Ferragamo’s, or vintage Florsheim’s... anything?

Meanwhile, in flip-flop, hippy-dippy, granola eating California, where you degenerates don’t even wear dress shoes (hell half of you don’t even wear shoes), you got hand lasted Barrie’s, C&J’s, vintage everything, coming out of your orifices. Totally not fair.

 

[stook1]

For what it's worth, same exact experience here in CT (burbs of NYC). Even the thrift stores in the super expensive commuter towns have horrible shoe selections. They have expensive label clothing --- shoes though, total junk. I don't get it either. I have to imagine that this region absolutely destroys the rest of the country in terms of sales for higher end dress shoes.

Yet here in NY Metro, where dress shoes outnumber all other types, where we have an AE store on 55th, 49th, 44th, 43rd, etc. (1 out of every 10 AE stores is inside this 25 mile radius), where every imaginable brand of high-end shoe has large retail footprints, where I see lots of really nice shoes everyday (nicer than mine)... not a damn thing lands in GW or thrift shops.

My only working theory is that people around here keep’em and wear’em until they’re no longer donation worthy. But really, I’m totally baffled... sheer numbers should be on my side. I see C&J’s/Peal&Co’s on the trains, subways, sidewalks... so why aren’t there any in the local GW? Why no Alden’s, AE’s, Ferragamo’s, or vintage Florsheim’s... anything?

Meanwhile, in flip-flop, hippy-dippy, granola eating California, where you degenerates don’t even wear dress shoes (hell half of you don’t even wear shoes), you got hand lasted Barrie’s, C&J’s, vintage everything, coming out of your orifices. Totally not fair.

 

[CWOyaji]

^It's a living. But check out @SpooPoker out of LI over on the thrift thread. He has figured it out.

 

[suitforcourt]

Picked up some 93602’s from the thrift I believe.
Wondering if I should do a full re-sole with JR soles or go with Dainite. Will post again after shoe care is applied.

I always vote for JR soles with cat paw heels. Gives you traction and durability.

That said, I am now on my 3rd pair of Dainite soles. And they are really versatile in the event of inclement weather. I will try the Vibram Eton as well, as it looks like Dainite.

Hell, I have a pair of shell MacNeils that I have been debating about Dainite Vs JR.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[suitforcourt]

^It's a living. But check out @SpooPoker out of LI over on the thrift thread. He has figured it out.

I read an article that he put down the deposit on his second Ferrari. His entire income is now based on thrifting.

If I could do the same, I would burn all my degrees and my license. I'd rather be looking for hand lasted Barrie shoes rather than figuring out how to convince a judge my client is innocent. Not the same exhilaration or high.

 

[wasmisterfu]

For what it's worth, same exact experience here in CT (burbs of NYC). Even the thrift stores in the super expensive commuter towns have horrible shoe selections. They have expensive label clothing --- shoes though, total junk. I don't get it either. I have to imagine that this region absolutely destroys the rest of the country in terms of sales for higher end dress shoes.

Yeah, I know, I’ve even looked in shops up your way (when visiting my father-in-law up in Fairfield). Hell, you’d think there’d be boat shoes even, considering that’s like the official weekend shoe of southern CT, the island and northern NJ. I really don’t get it. Everyone I work with wears dress shoes, many of them very nice. Where are they all going?

 

[stook1]

So just FYI, you're encroaching on my territory going to my store in Westport. I thought we were friends!
Not to worry --- nothing good there!

Yeah, I know, I’ve even looked in shops up your way (when visiting my father-in-law up in Fairfield). Hell, you’d think there’d be boat shoes even, considering that’s like the official weekend shoe of southern CT, the island and northern NJ. I really don’t get it. Everyone I work with wears dress shoes, many of them very nice. Where are they all going?

 

[ccpl14]

Strange way to list, but looks like some Golden Harvest in 9.5D and 9.5E.

VTG Florsheim Imperials Brown Leather Wingtip Oxford Laced Shoes Men’s 9.5 C D E | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VTG Florsheim Imperials Brown Leather Wingtip Oxford Laced Shoes Men’s 9.5 C D E at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

rover.ebay.com

Not my listing

 

[wasmisterfu]

So just FYI, you're encroaching on my territory going to my store in Westport. I thought we were friends!
Not to worry --- nothing good there!

Yeah, I know... Aldo’s, glued Cole Haan’s, Stacy Adam’s, weird square toed things...

 

[stook1]

I must have missed the Aldos. Will try to get back this week.

Yeah, I know... Aldo’s, glued Cole Haan’s, Stacy Adam’s, weird square toed things...

 

[instigateur]

A new look me. Vintage AE Boone's with shorts and without socks. My wife liked it

 

[wasmisterfu]

A new look me. Vintage AE Boone's with shorts and without socks. My wife liked it View attachment 1210315

It’s a good look. Nice laces.