Today's Shoes

Day

Vass three-eyelet plain-toe side-lace shoes in dark burgundy calfskin with single leather soles (Hunter's Goyser model, P2 last). One of Alan Flusser's arguments regarding shoes is that colors other than black and brown look painted-on, cheap, and artificial. He singles out burgundy (at least in calfskin), among other colors like blue and gray, for disdain. I have a great deal of respect for Flusser's aesthetic sensibilities, but I think that he's wrong about burgundy calfskin. It's true that burgundy looks awful when it's used on cheap, corrected-grain shoes; but cheap, corrected-grain shoes look awful regardless of the color of the leather. Burgundy is just another shade in the brown leather family, and if it's done properly by a high-quality tannery, the result can be very attractive. In case you're wondering, Vass uses excellent tanneries for all their leathers, including their dark burgundy calf.

Evening

Sutor Mantellassi three-eyelet chukka boots in navy blue suede with Norwegian construction and rubber soles.