Today's Shoes

Day

Cleverley bespoke half-brogue galosh bals in English tan calf with quarter-inch leather soles. These shoes were the first bespoke shoes that I ever ordered, and they were almost enough to make me swear off bespoke shoes forever. They were much, much too tight at the first fitting and were better but still not good enough at the second. The finished shoes were sent to me after that, and they were a terrible disappointment: the quality of the waist and the finishing of the sole were substandard, especially when one considered the price. I returned them to Cleverley, and they were remade. When I got them back, they were better but still not what I expected: the waist was still not as close-cut as it should have been, and there were lines of discoloration that ran along the vamp perpendicular to the toe cap. George Glasgow knocked several hundred pounds off the price, and I agreed to keep them. Subsequent orders from Cleverley have been much more satisfactory. People should remember, though, that things can still go wrong with bespoke clothing, even from makers of impeccable reputation.

Evening

Martegani Cortona penny loafers. I have to get these in dark brown, too.

Today's Shoes

Day

Gravati punch cap bal ankle boot in dark brown calf with leather soles (10278, 683 last).

Evening

Martegani long-vamp penny loafer in English tan with a thin leather sole (Cortona model).

Today's Shoes

Day

Cleverley bespoke split-toe bluchers in Russian reindeer calf. It really is amazing how comfortable these shoes are.

Evening

Martegani long-vamp penny loafers in London tan calf (Cortona model).

Today's Shoes

Day

Edward Green half-brogue bluchers in British tan calf (EG calls it Edwardian Antique -- Cardiff model, 89 last). Edward Green made these shoes for Ralph Lauren, and I got them on sale from Bluefly. These are among the most elegant bluchers that I've ever seen: the coloration, the brogueing, and the lack of the heel counter are just perfect. Whatever else one can say about Ralph Lauren, he does know good shoes. Well, sometimes, at least.

Evening

Martegani Cortona penny loafers. They're the perfect accompaniment for my brand-new orange gingham check shirt.

Today's Shoes

Day

Gravati plain-toe side elastic shoes in Radica 055 (deep burgundy -- 16624, last 683). Harold's in the Heights had this shoe made up in black calf with close-cut soles for use as a formal shoe. I liked the pattern so much that I did a special order of the pattern in Radica. Side-elastic shoes are tremendously versatile, and I like them a great deal. I'll have to redo this pattern in other configurations.

Evening

Martegani Cortona penny loafers in British tan calf. Yes, I've posted about these before. Even I have to repeat shoes sometimes. It just goes to shoe that I could use some more loafers. I'm thinking of a long-vamp penny from Gravati in a mid-brown shade of some grained leather. That'd fit the bill.