If you need a pair of workhorse dress or dress casual shoes in this tough economy, read on. Recrafting option For recrafting, all you need is a nearby Goodwill, Salvation Army or thrift shop and a little luck. If you have a favorite thrift shop, you’ve probably seen an occasional pair of Allen-Edmonds or Alden […]
Recession-savvy footwear: Recrafting/resoling shoes Read More »
In this blog post, Lauren Goldstein Crowe, a luxury goods consultant, decries the moribund state of men’s shoes. She may be right that it’s moribund but then she laments “Where, oh where, is the Christian Louboutin of men’s footwear?” Louboutin is of course the well-known “high-end” women’s shoe designer. Apparently he and Manolo Blahnik sell
Men’s shoes: Do we need a Christian Louboutin? Read More »
At the height of the financial crisis a couple of weeks ago, I found myself in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) observing from afar the US-led meltdown in financial liquidity, solvency and accountability with a certain measure of disbelief. Nonetheless, I was in the region on vacation and had a specific place to visit
Vietnamese shoemaking: Tran Quoc Lan Read More »
I spent a very pleasant morning today chatting with Sarah Adlam and Emma Lakin. This is their first visit to Los Angeles. I also was there for my fitting, which Emma conducted. Below is their visiting schedule. If you’ve have any interest in fine bespoke shoes, do visit them while they’re here in LA or
Foster & Son fall schedule Read More »
After Paris and London, my next destination was Vienna. Judging from the discussion threads posted in English language forums, you might think Italy (specifically, Naples) has a near monopoly on the soft shoulder. Think again. The soft or “runde” shoulder is alive and well in Mitteleuropa or Central and Eastern Europe. Call it the Viennese
Vienna: Knize, Niedersuesz and Netousek Read More »
In late February I visited a number of cities (London, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Florence and Naples) primarily to research a few critical items for a book project. I shall roll out my commentary on each city in that order. The first city was London and my first stop there was Foster & Son. Foster &
London: Foster & Son, Anderson & Sheppard, Norton & Sons and Gieves & Hawkes Read More »
I was in Honolulu last week for a quick visit. It doesn’t get much better than 80 degrees with light trade winds in Waikiki in February. Since I was in town, I also visited Leather Soul in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (which is currently under renovation but already looks great). Also recommended: stroll down
Leather Soul Hawaii Read More »
The Boston Globe recently published an article on Alden, the venerable American shoe company and the last remaining shoe and bootmaker in New England. Allen-Edmonds is the only other American RTW men’s shoemaker with production still in the United States. Although shoe aficionados often move on to the English or Italian shoemakers, both Alden and
Boston Globe on the Alden Shoe Company Read More »
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