Today's Shoes

Gravati wingtip bals in walnut waterproof suede (15902, 640 last). These are another Gravati special order, one of the first ones that I did. The idea for these shoes came from a pair of fawn suede Ferragamo Tramezzas that came out a few years ago. I liked the shoes but wanted something with my own stamp. The color of suede that I selected was a bit darker and a heck of a lot oranger, and I made it more of a casual shoe than the Ferragamo shoe that was its model. It has natural-colored Rapid stitching along the sole edges and matching natural laces, and it has a relatively extended double sole (along with extended heels). The sole and heel treatments are identical to the tan Gravati 16407s that I have. Had I to do over again, I would have selected a last a little less clunky than the 640. Oh, well. Them's the breaks.

Shortly after I got these shoes, I was wearing them while working on a Saturday afternoon. I had a carton of greasy hot and sour soup on my desk, which I promptly knocked off and spilled all over my new shoes. I was scared to death that I had just ruined my brand new shoes, but they cleaned up just fine with some white vinegar and water. You can't tell today that any greasy pseudo-Chinese soup ever spilled all over them, a testament to just how resilient the waterproof suede Gravati uses is.