Church's Appreciation Thread

Sorry but I own a couple of post Prada Church's including the classic Consul in black and a pair of Graftons
Honestly my C&J benchgrades, Carmina and Tricker's are much better both in style and quality.

Here you go yall.

These were purchased in the fall of 1981 in Cambridge England by my father. We lived there from 81-84. So, they are more than 25 years old. They have been worn heavily by him, and by myself with out trees or any leather care.
The patina is a little false, but mostly totally authentic.
These are insanely comfortable.

I'm very happy with the one pair of Church's I own. They have Milan on the insole alongside the other cities, so I assume they are post Prada. I got them second hand and am about to send them for re-crafting having briefly tried them on (very comfortable). The leather is soft, very finely creased at the toe. They seem very sturdily built, more so than the two pairs of Grenson's masterpiece I own, though I wouldn't call them 'clunky'.

Originally Posted by antirabbit

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Here you go yall.

These were purchased in the fall of 1981 in Cambridge England by my father. We lived there from 81-84. So, they are more than 25 years old. They have been worn heavily by him, and by myself with out trees or any leather care.
The patina is a little false, but mostly totally authentic.
These are insanely comfortable.

Very bizarre last.

??? They are old. The soles are not original either.

I think my suede Chetwynds on the 173 are post-Prada & I like them very much. The first high-end shoes I was exposed to were Church's, so I had to find a place for them in my limited collection.

I agree with Foo about seeing them as the "Alden of England", what with their black sole edges on brown uppered shoes & such. Built just as well as the next shoe, and are comfortable.

They also offer a nice, sturdy box

I like the solid, robust look to their shoes, but agree that post Prada quality is often iffy. Not as good as my Tricker's and Crockett and Jones. Main gripe is with the price point: way, way overpriced. "Handgrade" Crockett and Jones or "Custom Grade" Church's? No contest.

Originally Posted by antirabbit

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Here you go yall.

These were purchased in the fall of 1981 in Cambridge England by my father. We lived there from 81-84. So, they are more than 25 years old. They have been worn heavily by him, and by myself with out trees or any leather care.
The patina is a little false, but mostly totally authentic.
These are insanely comfortable.

Hi Antirabbit,
Thank you for sharing

Just a thought...but have you considered using one of those spring-type shoe trees?
Look here> http://www.styleforum.net/attachment...0&d=1231355307
Just to maintain shape, or regain shape?

I know Cedar should be used,
and I do on my own shoes,
but whenever I get a nice pair of older shoes from a thift store,
I find that by lotioning the shoe with my hands,
working the leather until it softens,
then using a spring-tree to regain the original shape,
I get (usually) 70-85 % of the original shape back.

Sometimes I will even stuff some bubble wrap into a pair,
like for a month or so...lotioning & working the leather (gently) every week.

It's just a thought...not like the student can teach the master anything,
but in respect of your fathers shoes.

Again, thank you for sharing the photos!
They look comfy

Lastly, (no pun intended)

To adress the original thread....

Church's are hopelessly out of my reach.
I have seen them occasionally at thrift stores,
but they always, and I mean always seem to be a size 7 or 8
whereas I am a 10.5-11 (43-44)

All I can do is admire and share your gentlemens joy.
Church's look wonderful!

Church's are hopelessly out of my reach.
I have seen them occasionally at thrift stores,
but they always, and I mean always seem to be a size 7 or 8
whereas I am a 10.5-11 (43-44)

All I can do is admire and share your gentlemens joy.
Church's look wonderful![/quote]

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Stay away from Allen Edmonds. AE is the gateway drug. First you are just doing AE, next thing you know you are doing Church's, C&J, Trickers, and eventually you are taking Edward Geen through a needle.

Those AE's will give you your fix at first, then you will look at that cluncky all rubber heel like your hot girl friend that gained 30 pounds. You will long for the combo heel and nail pattern of another.

It is best that you do not travel down this path at all.

just picked these up in Paris last week

awesome shoes, amazingly comfortable. actually saw a few pairs I really liked over there

Originally Posted by Get Smart

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just picked these up in Paris last week

awesome shoes, amazingly comfortable. actually saw a few pairs I really liked over there

like the shoes...but TOTALLY LOVE THE SOCKS

Where'd you get those?

Originally Posted by Get Smart

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just picked these up in Paris last week

awesome shoes, amazingly comfortable. actually saw a few pairs I really liked over there

Those are awesome. What color is the leather? I may have to copy you and get some of those for my streetwear rotation.

Originally Posted by antirabbit

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like the shoes...but TOTALLY LOVE THE SOCKS

Where'd you get those?

thanks, they're brown Paul Smith gingham socks (also in navy gingham or black gingham)

Originally Posted by Closer

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Those are awesome. What color is the leather? I may have to copy you and get some of those for my streetwear rotation.

thanks, they are grey. also came in a reddish burgundy

Originally Posted by Closer

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Stay away from Allen Edmonds. AE is the gateway drug. First you are just doing AE, next thing you know you are doing Church's, C&J, Trickers, and eventually you are taking Edward Geen through a needle.

Those AE's will give you your fix at first, then you will look at that cluncky all rubber heel like your hot girl friend that gained 30 pounds. You will long for the combo heel and nail pattern of another.

It is best that you do not travel down this path at all.

Thanks for the warning,
but I am afraid it's too late.
I am already on the AE train

Remember the last moments of Dr Strangelove...Slim Pickins riding the you-know-what.
I'm there.

ok. Enjoy the ride. See you at the bottom....