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Wingtips and Longwings, Design Aesthetic

justsayno

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Do you like wingtips/longwings?

I don't get the look. Most wingtips are brogues and the punctures make the shoes look 'busy'. Then there is the dove and wing pattern that is slapped on the front of the shoe. To top it all off, a patterned brogue on the cap. There's so much going on!

Anyway, I hope to hear from the perspective from all you wingtip lovers. Why do you like your wingtips?
teacha.gif
 

randallr

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They are very versatile. They can be both dressed down and up yet they are classic. I really need a good pair.
 

JayJay

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I like wingtips, and have several styles in shoes and high lace boots. Most are double-soled in smooth or pebble/scotch grain shell cordovan. I find that the wingtip works very well for my love of a heavy, clunky shoe in the leather I like most, shell cordovan.

As stated by randallr, they are versatile for both dress and casual wear. I wear mine casually with cords, chinos, and such, as well as with suits.
 

grimslade

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Originally Posted by randallr
They are very versatile. They can be both dressed down and up yet they are classic. I really need a good pair.

Here you go.
teacha.gif



Wing-tips are great because they break up the lines of the shoe and create visual interest
 

Parker

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C'mon, man. How can you not love these?
dsc0002wf7.jpg
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Just say yes!
 

RyJ Maduro

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Right now, I've only a pair of conventional burgundy wingtips; I'd very much like a pair of longwings and a pair of austerity brogues.
 

justsayno

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eh.gif



Looks like there are ants crawling all over the shoes!
lol8[1].gif

Originally Posted by Parker
C'mon, man. How can you not love these?
dsc0002wf7.jpg
dsc0125wg1.jpg


Just say yes!
 

Egdon Heath

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Originally Posted by justsayno
I don't get the look. Most wingtips are brogues and the punctures make the shoes look 'busy'. Then there is the dove and wing pattern that is slapped on the front of the shoe. To top it all off, a patterned brogue on the cap. There's so much going on!
Why do you like your wingtips?
teacha.gif
For the reasons you just stated.​
 

yo!

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I used to hate wingtips for all of the same reasons as you do. I thought that they were stupid, ugly, and over-the-top.

One day, for no reason at all, I started liking them. Now if I could I would own only wingtips.

Seriously, I really like wing tips.

Just not longwings. I do not enjoy those.
 

indy116

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I like the looks of the longwing. Don' t own any, but I like em when I see em.
 

Michael Ay329

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Let's talk about wingtip gunboats...What is it?... previous posts led me to believe a gunboat is a wing tip design as some are longwings...others are Budapesters

A traditional rounded Budapester...in a darker brown/cognac would look well mixed with Corduroy, and flannel trousers considering a wing tip's roots was that of a stylish country shoe.
 

free man

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I like wingtips in suede, and I am actually looking for a pair right now. But regular brown or black leather, meh. I don't like the look nearly as much.
 

Tarmac

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Originally Posted by Michael Ay329
Let's talk about wingtip gunboats...What is it?... previous posts led me to believe a gunboat is a wing tip design as some are longwings...others are Budapesters

A traditional rounded Budapester...in a darker brown/cognac would look well mixed with Corduroy, and flannel trousers considering a wing tip's roots was that of a stylish country shoe.


Gunboats is a word to describe something heavy, sturdy, chunky looking. Traditional longwings are double-soled, fully brogued, and have a 360 welt often with heavy leathers like cordovan or scotch. People here just use the term to describe such shoes. Usually anything double-soled and 360-welted is referred to as chunky.

As far as questioning that essence, logic, or design of wingtips, you have to think about how shoes are constructed. Almost all of the oldest traditional shoes have a single layer of leather on the vamp, formed around a foot-shape, think of a simple monk strap or a wholecut. People wanted to find ways to make 2 layers at stress points, either as a way to actually double the leather layers, or to piece together smaller pieces of leather. In order to do this, you could either put a cap, like in a captoe, or use a wrap-around toe piece, like in a wingtip. You could leave off the "tip" part and probably have no effect on function, but it was deemed more attractive and has stayed as a tradition.
 

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