Where Would You Wear These?

[Roger]

(Recently run on AAAC, but I'd like the opinions of this crowd too)
___________________________________________________

I'm interested in purchasing a pair of suede/leather oxfords (like those below), but have hesitated because of uncertainties about likely use. Is there an ideal context or situation for shoes like this? How general is their wearability? Here are the two examples I'm most interested in:

http://www.gazianogirling.com/astaire.html

http://www.budapester-shoes.com/hand...PRODUKT_ID=308

With the G&Gs, I'd probably go with regular smooth calf instead of the pin-grain finish shown and would get them with the DG70 smart round last. In both, I'd go with these colors--dark brown and similar-colored suede.

Which do you prefer, and how useful would either be?

 

[designprofessor]

Roger, i own the G&G's and love them.
I wear them in fall, but as some of the cooler days of spring lingered, I kept them in rotation.
I'm a prof, so i wear them to work /lecture. The dark on dark leather color
saves the shoe from beingstrictly a spring / summer spectator, but don't know why it couldn't be. It feels more fall winter to me.
Comfortable shoe, and I got mine the same as it is featured in the catalog.
It has been paired with about every suit /sporcoat combination I have.
Gorgeous shoe IMO, never fails to get a compliment or two when i wear them.

So my take is you could wear them most of the time,in most contexts, with a good variety of options.

 

[designprofessor]

Left: Martegani, iron /cognac leather spectator- gets more spring /summer /early fall wear.
Right: G&G Astaire: - more fall /winter

 

[Mildly Consumptive]

The Astaires caught my eye the first time I looked at the G&G site. Personally, I'd wear them pretty well anywhere in Fall/Winter. I'm not a business man though, so when I say anywhere, I don't include an office.

 

[Roger]

Designprofessor, thanks for your thoughts on this. I too am a prof, but hadn't thought about these for lecturing or research activities. You may have changed my mind. I agree that, in this dark shade, they would seem to be more appropriate for fall/winter/early spring. Are yours made on the DG70 last (smart round last) or the traditional round last (GG06)? I had thought that the DG70 made the most sense for me. I had also thought about adding a toe medallion (as with the Vass) if I went with the G&G, but am not sure of that.

 

[designprofessor]

Smart round.
I had asked Tony at the time of ordering about changing to a different last. (Classic sq.?)
He seemed hesitant, so I left it as it appears in the catalog.
Your idea of a medalion could be nice addition.